Re-Elect Marci Busby

League of Women Voters' Q&A - Marci Busby

 

1.  Of the 3 major issues facing your district, which is the most urgent?

 

The most urgent issue facing our district is funding. On September 24, 2015 the Snoqualmie Valley Board of Directors unanimously approved a special resolution compelling the State Legislature to fully fund education for all children in Washington State without further delay. The SVSD Board of Directors keep in frequent and regular contact with our legislators.  Levy dollars are an important aspect of school funding.  For many years our philosophy has been to pursue the maximum levy amount.  This is particularly important to Snoqualmie Valley schools because in relation to our neighboring districts, we are severely disadvantaged when it comes to per pupil funding.  Consequently, it has been our position to pursue the maximum levy amount to ensure we are providing programming and compensation that will ensure our student's school experience is on par with neighboring districts.  Currently, the state is undergoing significant changes in terms of guidelines for local levies. As those guidelines become clearer, as a board we will be looking to make sound decisions regarding future levy proposal measures.

 

2. What is your position on Charter Schools as a part of your Public School System?

 

I am committed to great public schools for all students.  As taxpayer-funded schools, charter schools must be held accountable to the same safeguards and high standards of accountability, transparency and equity as public schools. Unfortunately, in many places where charter schools exist, they do not have to comply with the same laws, protections and certification requirements as public schools.  If a charter school was proposed and it would be operated in a manner that is transparent, accountable and equitable to ensure a quality education for all students, then I could be supportive of exploring this option.

 

3. What is your position on testing of your students?

 

Washington State schools administer a variety of student assessments based on federal, state and district requirements. Standardized tests can be helpful in placing a student in the appropriate class for their current level of knowledge.  Standardized tests provide a snapshot in time. Teacher-driven classroom-based assessments provide critical data to help measure student success and understanding of concepts, as well as to help identify areas for student growth and where more focused instruction may be needed. Standardized tests are one type of indicator, among many others that are considered, for advancing student achievement and for tailoring instruction to meet specific student needs.

 

4. What is your opinion on "start times" for elementary and secondary school?

 

Sleep research supports later start times for adolescents, so schools across the nation are studying this topic and many are making schedule adjustments. The SVSD recently launched a School Start Time Advisory Committee this fall of 2017, to study options for possible implementation of changes in September of 2018. A committee of teachers, parents, and administrators have been meeting twice a month since September.  The charge of the committee is as follows: 

- To review the research findings regarding adolescent biorhythms and school success.

- To review the experience of other school districts that have adopted later start and dismissal times or considered doing so but did not.

-To identify the implications of later start times and dismissal times for high school programming and activities, and for school and district operations. 

-To implement outreach strategies to gather the thinking of school and community stakeholder groups.

-To consider the potential benefits to students, the input received, and the implications of late start and dismissal times.

-To determine whether there are feasible solutions to enact later and dismissals times for secondary schools.

-To submit findings and recommendations to the Superintendent for consideration. 

 

The five most pressing reasons to change start times for adolescents are: 

1. Academic outcomes

2. Attentiveness, mood and behavior

3. Student sleep

4. Automotive accidents

5. Attendance and tardiness

 

I look forward to hearing their recommendations and will be deferring to the educational experts when deciding on start times for elementary and secondary schools. The SVSD decision is still to be determined.

 

5. How can the On-time Graduation rate be improved?

 

The SVSD established an On-time Graduation Task Force in 2014. The purpose of the Task Force included developing a comprehensive three-year plan to increase on time graduation and extended graduation rates, with specific recommendations for implementation. The results, when fully implemented, provides a comprehensive system of supports and interventions to assist all stakeholders in better preparing our students for college, career and citizenship. This has yielded significant improvement in graduation rates where they are now over 90 percent.

 

One example of an outcome from this plan is Mount Si High School implementing Pride Time, which occurs every Wednesday. The time is intended to give students academic support time built into the school day and to help them develop their High School and Beyond Plans. Teachers and counselors have stated that they need time to individually connect with students regarding grades, homework and to build a relationship with the students. During Pride Time, students can also work on homework and meet with their teachers to ask questions. Tutoring is also available to assist students in their classes.

 

6. How should bullying be addressed?

 

Bullying should be addressed immediately. All adults including parents, educators, staff, and coaches need to be able to identify bullying, know how to report the incident, and have resources to stop the bullying. Students deserve a safe school environment in which to learn and reach their full educational potential. Washington State has RCW 28A.300.285 that addresses harassment, intimidation and bullying prevention policies and procedures. Counselung should be offered to the individual who is being bullied, as well as the offending person. Disciplinary action should be given in accordance with district policy and state laws. Educating children from a very young age that bullying is not acceptable, and how they can help by reporting when they witness or experience bullying, will go a long way in reducing bullying incidents. I know our schools work to reinforce these lessons at all grade levels, with enhanced focus in recent years around online risks and cyber safety.

 

7. What would be your plan to see that your school district students earn their civics credit required by the new state law?

 

According to OSPI, the goal of the Civic Education Initiative is to ensure that every student is provided a civic education from kindergarten through high school graduation. There are three primary laws and regulations for Civic Education; (1) State learning standards-RCW 28A.150.210;  (2) Civic Credit requirement-RCW 28A.230.093 and (3) Social Studies Assessments-RCW 28A.230.095.

 

The College, Career and Civic Life (C3) framework establishes clear and strong standards for social studies instruction as follows: 

1. Enhance the rigor of social studies and disciplines (civics, economics, geography and history).

2. Build critical thinking, problem solving and participating skills for engaged citizenship.

3. Align social studies academic programs to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies.

 

There are six proven practices for enhancing civic education:

1. Classroom instruction on history, government, law and democracy

2. Discussion of current events/controversial issues

3. Service learning

4. Extracurricular activities

5. School governance

6. Simulations of democratic processes

 

 

My job as a board member, is to support the district and state initiatives to ensure all students meet the new civic requirement.

 

8. What is your opinion of student suspension for classroom disruption?

 

Traditional expulsion/suspension increases student absence with students getting further behind. The middle schools and high schools are using restorative justice and looking for alternatives to expulsion and suspension. I feel all students deserve a calm and supportive  learning environment. Classroom disruptions should not be tolerated and should be addressed immediately. The district disciplinary policy and procedures should be followed regarding student suspension. Parents, school staff, and administration need to work together to assist the student who is acting out and prevent further classroom outbursts. I believe every student in our district deserves an education that supports and honors their talents and skills so they can succeed in their own way and fulfill their dreams.