In the first of three articles featuring a question-and-answer format with Philomath School Board candidates, Tom Klipfel and Kerin Konkler share their perspectives on various topics.
Klipfel, a retired supply chain professional, and Konkler, a family nurse practitioner, are vying for Position 1 on the board. The position carries a four-year term.
The Benton County Elections office planned to begin mailing out ballots this week for the May 20 special election.
The Philomath News invited all five candidates to participate in the Q-and-A in an effort to provide more insight to voters.
Each candidate had a strict 100-word limit for each question (answers that exceeded 100 words were edited) and was invited to submit a photo of their choosing.
Q1: What is your experience with education or public service, and how has it prepared you for this role?
Klipfel: “I served on the Budget Committee for the city of Philomath for 11 years and as chair for six years, where I learned about local government and the municipal budgeting process. I served on the Philomath School Board for 10 years and as chair for two years. I oversaw the operation of the school district, learned academic standards, managed through budgeting during the multi-year recession and negotiated union contracts. Most notably, I co-led the campaign to pass the bond measure to build the new high school and the operating levy to avoid deep cuts during the 2008 recession.”
Konkler: “This would be my first leadership position in public service. I have volunteered with various organizations over the years, but the majority of what I will cite as experience is my role as a health-care provider within the community. I have cared for both children and adults, and have had many leadership roles within health organizations. The relationships I have made with the community coupled with my leadership skills and experience would help immensely with this position.”
Q2: How will you measure the success of our schools beyond standardized test scores?
Klipfel: “As school board chair, I led the board to create an all-encompassing vision to drive the district to the next level of performance. We established “Graduate every student and transition each into a job, training, or college.” Ultimately, this is the primary objective of a K-12 school. And while some would argue this goal is only focused on seniors in high school, the only way to achieve that goal is to ensure every child, in every grade, is making the progress necessary to stay on track, and teachers’ assessments are the best way to gauge that progress.”
Konkler: “I think that looking at classic data points of graduation rates is helpful, but also going further like employment within five years of graduation. Soliciting feedback from within — like utilizing surveys for staff and students — can help the School Board define areas that need meaningful improvement, areas of success and provide meaningful data that can be measured. The goal is to turn out students that are well prepared and empowered to be thoughtful, productive and contributing members of their communities. Students should be equipped with critical thinking skills and self sufficiency necessary for success in our rapidly changing world.”
Q3: What is your approach to school safety, including both physical security and student mental health?
Klipfel: “The School Board should always ensure we have all reasonable protocols to ensure the physical safety of students. As for the mental health of students, I truly believe the best way to make children feel cared for, safe, and even loved, is to ensure every student has a personal relationship with a staff member, whether that is a teacher, administrator or support staff, so every child feels welcome and connected to their school community. This staff member would have occasional, informal engagements with these students to ensure they are doing alright or find additional support for the student as needed.”
Konkler: “School safety, to me, includes big, rare problems like weapons and smaller, everyday problems like bullying. Providing safe spaces with trusted adults for students to open up and just be kids should be a priority. Continuing common-sense protocols like locked doors during school hours is important. I would consider utilizing easy-to-use technology, like different buttons in rooms that would alert other staff to both large safety problems, like lockdown, as well as need for assistance over smaller issues such as a disruptive student with escalating physical concerns.”
Q4: How will you ensure equity and inclusion for all students, including those with special needs or from marginalized communities?
Klipfel: “Every single student should feel welcomed and supported at Philomath schools, regardless of who they are, where they come from, etc. From my experience of my three children attending Philomath schools through K-12, I believe the prevailing culture is very caring and supportive. As a board member, I want to maintain that positive culture and provide a wide range of programs, even during budget crunches, to offer diverse opportunities. Furthermore, the board should always use available state performance data of typically underserved communities to ensure we are providing the necessary support and resources for those students to succeed.”
Konkler: “A goal would be a student-focused approach to learning, with the goal of “learning for life.” This can be achieved through evidenced-based research methods, such as utilizing a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework to promote positive behavior and create a safe, supportive learning environment. This proactively teaches, models and reinforces clear behavior expectations across all school settings. PBIS framework aims to foster a positive school climate where all students can achieve academic, social and behavioral success. This method cultivates an equitable, proactive approach to behavior that maximizes instructional time and creates consistent, predictable learning environments.”
Q5: How do you plan to handle budgeting and funding decisions, especially in times of financial constraints?
Klipfel: “Most of my 10 years on the Philomath School Board were during the devastating post-2008 recession, so I have seen firsthand the impacts of state funding reductions. However, the board was very judicious in where we made cuts to get through those lean times. Most notably, we shared the goal of not eliminating programs (for example, middle school music) whenever possible because we knew how incredibly difficult it is, even impossible, to resurrect those programs. Therefore, we focused on cuts that, while painful in the short term, (for example, not replacing retiring staff), could be easily corrected when funding returned.”
Konkler: “A priority would be to try and prevent elimination of entire programs. Engagement is really important. If there are periods of financial hardship, it is crucial to be up front with the community and solicit feedback. Obtaining input from stakeholders — staff, parents, community members, and students — will be key in finding a sustainable path forward. Open, meaningful dialogue can help find creative solutions. The board should also explore various funding sources, such as bond measures, grants, or other financing options.”
