Questions From the Public...
COME Tomorrow Evening
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Washington Community School
To Find Out -- How our BOE Candidates Net Out!
Following is a list of questions that were received by the public with regard to our upcoming BOE Candidates Forum. Several of these questions will be asked tomorrow night, however because this is only a 2 hours forum it would be impossible to ask all the questions submitted.
So - to our BOE Candidates --here is what is on the hearts and minds of your constituents
From NJ Forum:
The board approved the superintendent's reorganization plan, which included the creation of high-paying administrative positions while eliminating teachers and guidance counselors. What ideas do you have for restoring teaching positions in the next contract?
The current superintendent has been accused of micromanaging just about everything in the district and thereby not allowing the principals to deal with handling problems by themselves and with their own ideas. How do you feel about the superintendent and board of education meddling in the daily operations of each school?
What do you think should be done about the increased size of classes?
Our secondary schools currently and for a long time have eliminated "remedial" classes. The classes are heterogeneously grouped placing all levels of students in one classroom. How do you feel about heterogeneous grouping for high school students?
Should we create "remedial" classes for our students who fall below accepted levels on their standardized tests? If so, what should the cap size be for those classes?
Will the establishment of a new charter school and a school for the performing arts dilutes the "talent pool" of students who attend Plainfield High School?
How do you feel about privatizing some of the services in the district and thereby eliminating district personnel such as custodians, bus drivers, etc.?
We have a growing number of special education students in the district who must be "included" in the regular classrooms thereby adding to the size of the classes. Why do you suppose the numbers are growing and how do you think the district should deal with it?
Plainfield receives a sizeable amount of state aid for education. Why then are we still without the resources that the surrounding districts have -- such as computers and other technology?
How has the board wasted money in the past and how would you correct this?
How do you propose overseeing the wasteful spending by non-teaching departments throughout the district such as the two huge flat screen tv's hanging on the wall in the buildings' and grounds' department?
Do you think the settlement of the superintendent's salary should have been negotiated by someone who was experienced in bargaining rather than offering a salary, which could have been settled for less? How could the district have saved money in its settlement of the superintendent's salary?
From the PEPTalk BlogWhat is the most urgent problem facing the school system and what specific solution do you have to address it?
Despite the influx of state aid, Plainfield still embarrassingly lacks technology and resources to keep pace with other districts. How did this happen and what has to be done to correct it?
What issues face our growing Latino population and how will you address them?
Can any of the incumbents speak about any initiative that they've introduced and talk about how it is doing in the district?
Do you advocate a change in the way things are done by the board? If so, what would you change?
Would you be opposed to rotating the board meetings among the neighborhood schools? Or would you defer to the superintendent's present system?
Do you favor putting control of individual schools into the hands of the principals or into the hands of the superintendent?
Do you favor or would you promote having the board of education meetings televised locally?
What is your stance on social promotions in the elementary and middle schools?
Given the choice of cutting a social service or cutting teaching jobs, which would you support? Why?
Has the Plainfield Public School System outgrown the need for an employee's union?
Plainfield no longer has an adult high school. Should an adult high school be created? Why? Why not?
How is it not hypocritical to want to be a member of the BOE and makes important decisions for the children of others that will impact them for years to come, if the candidate's own choice for their own children is to enroll them in a charter school? How would they as a BOE member be able to be taken seriously and advocate fairly for PPS and encourage parents and children when the perception is "not my child" regarding allowing PPS to educate their child?
