In the second of three articles featuring a question-and-answer format with Philomath School Board candidates, Erin McMullen, Troy Muir and Todd Smith share their perspectives on various topics.
Up for the Position 3 position on the board are McMullen, a local farmer and business owner; Muir, a local business owner; and Smith, a farm manager.
School Board candidate Q-and-A with Klipfel and Konkler
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…
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?
McMullen: “I served on the board of directors at Muddy Creek Charter School for six years (2016-2021). I was involved in discussion and decision making that ranged from the hiring of an ED to curriculum, mission/vision fulfillment to budget. We worked closely with the OSBA to ensure that our policies and procedures were current and that obligations to our charter district were upheld. I also volunteered at Muddy Creek and continued that volunteerism within the Philomath School District when my children started attending Philomath schools. I served on the middle school site council and currently volunteer in classrooms at Clemens.”
Muir: “I have volunteered and worked in the district for the last 31 years, working closely with administrators and teachers to get the most out of our student athletes.”
Smith: “My time as a Hazelnut commissioner taught me the importance of routinely talking with the people I represent. I was known as the person that would go out of my way to talk to strangers, listen to their concerns and ideas, I would bring the concerns and ideas back to board meetings to share even when I did not agree which allowed better outcomes. Many people that get on boards will not ask the hard questions and then follow up on the hard questions, I will. I understand that I am on the board to be the voice of all.”
Q2: How will you measure the success of our schools beyond standardized test scores?
McMullen: “Test scores tell a very small story about our schools and I believe that the true story needs to be told by our students. The stories about their successes, both inside and outside of the classroom is the lens through which we can truly assess our success. Not every child tests well, not every child learns in a standardized way, and while I know that these tests are mandatory and necessary for funding and assessment, I am encouraged when parents, teachers and administrators take the time to share how our children thrive in other ways as well.”
Muir: “I will measure student success by their ability to earn their diploma and have a plan ready to enter the workforce, trade school or college.”
Smith: “Simple, reduced parent complaint, less students requesting to be moved out of classes, having to have more higher-level classes in high school because so many students that want to take higher-level classes.”
Q3: What is your approach to school safety, including both physical security and student mental health?
McMullen: “It’s imperative that we work to educate our children around mental health and give them safe spaces to find help as they need it. We need to support mental health education in our classrooms, encourage empathy and inclusivity and maintain a zero tolerance policy regarding bullying, both at school and in our community. I have appreciated the efforts by the district in the last few years to strengthen the physical security of our schools.”
Muir: “We have to make sure our schools are a secure learning environment for our students to maximize their abilities in the classroom and whatever is needed in building upgrades should always be a priority. Mental health is also something that can’t be ignored and should be supported with the necessary funding when looking at overall school safety.”
Smith: “I would like to see a uniformed police officer roaming schools as one of many solutions. It will give the students the opportunity to get to know the police; allow the police to get to know students, which in turn will help prevent students from being “kids” and making poor decisions which could affect their future; and allow police to be aware of negative things happening in our community, allowing them to address issues before they get out of hand. It will make it easier for police to be educators rather than enforcers, which will make Philomath a better community.”
Q4: How will you ensure equity and inclusion for all students, including those with special needs or from marginalized communities?
McMullen: “Our community can continue to have conversations around why equity and inclusion is important and what that looks like in the classroom. Being in the classrooms I see the value of these efforts everyday. Every child learns in a different way; there is no “right” way or “wrong” way and it is our job as the adults, the educators, the parents, to find ways to enable each child to learn and thrive. Our town and our society is best served when each individual thrives and we have the opportunity to help build a great future by starting with our kids.”
Muir: “I feel that everyone has a voice and I am always open to listening to everyone’s views on topics and needs within our district.”
Smith: “I believe that all students, no matter where they live or their beliefs, have challenges in their lives and have the right to be treated with respect. All humans are created equal.”
Q5: How do you plan to handle budgeting and funding decisions, especially in times of financial constraints?
McMullen: “Budgeting and funding decisions are never easy. In uncertain times they become even more challenging. The district and the board will need to take a long, hard look at priorities, fund allocation and future expectations to make the best decisions for the schools. Communication between schools, teachers, community members and administration needs to happen regularly to help inform the people who are making decisions on those priorities. Personally, I want to see our district support students and provide an education that enables them to move forward, pursue their dreams and do that with a keen eye to long-term financial sustainability.”
Muir: “There are many funding issues that our district will be facing in the near future, and I think with my business background and experience, I will be able to help the district make smart decisions on how to make the budget best work with what we are allotted.”
Smith: “At a high level, budget decisions come down to: 1) What is essential?: 2) What is agreed to in contracts?; 3) What is best for the students?; 4) If we spend extra today will it save in the future?; 5) What would be nice?: 6) Where can we get extra money?” Each one of these have many levels to them but in simple terms this is how I look at budgets. The saying, “If no one is happy with the deal then it is a good fair deal,” that is how I look at budgets.”
