Stillwater LWV Home >> VoterService >> Candidates' Info & Responses
Since the League of Women Voters believes that informed citizens are basic to our democracy, before each election the LWV provides the voters with information about candidates for public office.
The League of Women Voters of Stillwater sent a questionnaire to each of the candidates for the following offices. The responses to those questions are presented here. The answers to the questions have not been altered or edited by the League. Due to space restrictions the LWV did put a limit on the number of words for each response. If the candidate’s answer exceeded that number, the answer was cut at that point (denoted by ***). The candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for public office.
Stillwater School Board
Responses to the LWV Questions
Julie Couch |
John Price |
What in your background qualifies you for being on the School Board? |
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Education -- My BS in accounting from OSU is especially useful since the board considers many financial issues. In addition, I have a BA from OU in political science. At OU, I also completed the social studies teaching certificate requirements. Past Experience -- I served two terms on the board from 1990 to 2000. I gained much knowledge about the district's operation during those years. Volunteer Activities -- I volunteered in numerous PTA roles when my daughters were in school. Interaction with Others -- I enjoy meeting and talking with people, a useful quality for a board member. |
As a product of Stillwater Public Schools, an attorney, and father of four current students, I feel confident in my ability to serve the district and have done so since June 2005. Nevertheless, to be "qualified" to serve on the School Board, a person simply must care about education and the opportunities it affords the students who receive it. I value education and consider myself extremely fortunate to have attended Stillwater Public Schools. I want to help ensure that same good fortune for future generations of students. |
| What do you see as the relationship between the Board of Education (BOE) and the administration? | |
The BOE sets policy for the school district and serves as a governing and oversight board for the school district patrons. The administration is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school district's business. Although there are several board and building level administrators, the BOE's main interaction is with the school superintendent. The BOE works with the superintendent in carrying out the business and policies of the school district. |
It should be a relationship built upon trust, where the BOE sets policy and allows its administrators to implement that policy. A BOE member must remain current on the issues that face our public schools, and it is imperative that the administration and BOE communicate effectively and work together toward solutions. We are fortunate to have an excellent administrative team who work diligently to provide every opportunity possible for the students of our district. |
| With the reductions in state appropriations, what more can be done by the Stillwater schools to accommodate these decreases? | |
When cutting expenditures, the district's focus should be to cut as far from the classroom as possible. The district can save by reducing non-contractual activity trips, out-of-district travel and paper allocations for each site. Special activity and training stipends can be reduced. Some bus routes can be consolidated. Since personnel costs account for the high percentage of the district's budget, during reduced funding the district should review personnel costs. A process should be in place to determine whether any vacancy necessitates a replacement. Attrition is the preferred method for reducing personnel costs. |
With 87% of the general fund going to salaries and fixed expenses, there is limited discretionary money. This presents significant challenges when trying to impact the district budget. In anticipation of difficult economic times, SPS built a 10% fund balance as a hedge against the funding cuts currently experienced. As cuts in state aid continue for the remainder of this school year and through the 2010-2011 school year, we must remain frugal in the use of the budget's remaining 13%. In addition to controlling costs, we are becoming more aggressive in pursuing grants and renting facilities to increase revenue.
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| What more can the schools do to be "greener"? | |
| Energy usage monitoring and
recycling are standard ways the schools can become "greener." The
district has a formal energy monitoring program. Switching the buses
to natural gas could be an energy saving plan. The district should
explore obtaining a pilot program grant for installing a green roof at one
of the sites. The entire district should adopt a "green" attitude through example and instruction so students learn the value and wise use of natural resources. This could be a challenging, learning process for the students. For example, each site's students could propose ideas for providing greener school lunches. |
The district continues to use an energy program that has saved over $1 million in utilities since the program's inception. The long-range facilities committee is considering the installation of geothermal units in some buildings through the use of future bond funds. Additional efforts include recycling bins at each site for use by the school and community and the recycling of printer cartridges - we should always seek opportunities to reduce, reuse, and recycle. We must also constantly evaluate and, as appropriate, renovate older buildings to extend their life and implement energy efficient technologies ensuring they are as "green" as possible. |
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Page Last Reviewed: 1-21-2010