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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 27, 1975)
} { Page 6 THE BATTALION THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1975 School Board—candidates for Position 7 John Sandstedt The candidates for the two positions on the board of trus tees for the A&M Consolidated School District were inter viewed by Battalion staff writ ers. The school board election is April 5. John Sandstedt What do you feel are your main qualifications for holding a position on the Consolidated School Board? I feel that the main qualifications are two: an interest in education and sufficient popularity to get enough votes to be elected. How critical are the classroom space needs and resulting over WANTED: A LATE MODEL A&M DRILL PRESS IN NEW CONDITION. PLEASE WRITE: INCLUDING ALL DETAILS TO: J. E. BLANTON 3042 CANDLEWICK DALLAS, TEXAS 75234 crowding at the schools in the dis trict? Is a bond election warranted? My understanding is that the condition is very severe at the elementary level and less severe at the middle and high school levels. In my opinion a bond election is not warranted at this time. Should the district increase its faculty on both the elementary and secondary levels in order to expand the curriculum offered its stu dents? What courses would you like to see included in the curriculum? Should the Community Education Program be expanded? I would be in favor of an increase in faculty if we have the money to pay for it. At the present time the vocational side of the curriculum should be expanded, since it is my opinion that we re already doing a pretty good job in the academic side. I am in favor of expanding the Community Education Program if funds permit. A report submitted last fall by the district to the Texas Education Agency listed about 25 per cent of the black students in the district in a category of “underachievers” or “slow learners.” Only 4 per cent of non-black students were included in this category. As a board member, what would you do to try and minimize this discrepancy? I see no action that I as a board member can take to minimize the differences in achievement levels of white and Negro students. To me this difference is a result of cultural and environmental factors over Texas A&M University Town Hall presents The Texas A&M University Symphonic Band in an Open Air Concert Thurs., April 3, 1975 12:45 p.m. in the MSC Fountain Mall Area, Next to the Rudder Tower No Admission Charge “STEP INTO THE MSC CIRCLE” which the school board members have little control. Have you been satisfied with the performance of Supt. Fred Hopson and the current school board? I support the policies of Supt. Fred Hopson and the current school board in general. Obviously there are probably some specific ques tions on which I would differ with one or more members on the school board. What do you consider to be the long-range goals of the district? To me the goal of a school district is unchanging. The goal is the best possible education for our children with the resources and personnel at our disposal. The things that change are the methods of attaining it. When I was in high school, class was held in Pfifer Hall, near the site of the Physics Building on campus today. It was a condemned dormit ory. Now we have a sparkling new high school. In 25 years I would hope that it would be even better. ★★★ Aileen Wenck What do you feel are your main qualifications for holding a position on the Consolidated School Board? I have the educational experience necessary. I have taught freshman English for four years, creative dramatics for six years in the Bryan elementary schools and to elemen tary education majors at TAMU. I have talked to many teachers during the course of my work with my stu dent teachers, as well as local prin cipals. I have two children in the district. This allows me to under stand the problems from the point of view of teacher, parent and ad ministrator. . How critical are the classroom Aileen Wenck March 24, 1975 College Station, Tex. Editor, Battalion, Campus The recent article, “How They Voted” in the Battalion reflected unfairly on the College Station City Council, and particularly councilmen Don Dale and Larry Bravenec. A Charge: They are accused of yielding to citizen pressure, and of NOT yielding to citizen pressure. It is difficult to defend against such inconsistent charges. The Truth: a councilman’s responsibility is to exercise measured judgement in considering the issues that come before the council. Inevitably in some cases it conforms to citizen concern and wishes, and in other cases it does not. But to call a public hearing and then ignore the testimony is to violate a basic part of the democratic process. A Charge: The city council failed to approve a Texas Highway proposal to widen “Dominik, Munson, Glade, and Timber” streets. Dale and Bravenec were cited for joining the unanimous council, to avoid “citizen wrath” on the issue. The statement is utterly without fact, and in all fairness one of truth is needed. The Truth: Neither Bravenec nor Dale nor other members of the council at any time favored widening the streets in question with the consequest disruption of patterns of living in established residential areas. They have not believed that citizens in long estab lished residential areas should suffer for the primary accommodation of those in newly-developed areas. This policy represented their best judgement based on fairness and regard for the common good. It was not dictated by so-called “wrath” of any segment of citizens, as claimed in the article. These are only illustrations of unfair statements. Space here does not permit a recital of line-by-line misrepresentations which reflect adversely on members of the present council. I am not a candidate for re-election. My concern here is for honesty of statement, and fairness in interpretation of the record of councilmen who have been alert to the interests of College Station, and diligent in the discharge of responsibility. Fred R. Brison Councilman, City of College Station space needs and resulting over crowding at the schools in the dis trict? Is a bond election warranted? I was horrified by conditions at South Knoll and College Hills Elementary Schools. There is no place for the teacher to take the children. At College Hills the glass above the doors in the classrooms is broken out and has not been re placed. This results in noise which is distracting to both the teacher and the student. At College Hills one counselor has her office in a closet. (See WENCK, page 8) ★★★ James Hennigan What do you feel are your main qualifications for holding a position on the Consolidated School Board? I feel I am qualified for Position 7 due to my experience as a registered James Hennigan engineer and having taught for two years at a junior high and six years at the university level. How critical are the classroom space needs and resulting over crowding at the schools in the dis trict? Is a bond election warranted? It doesn’t appear to be critical at this time and a bond election isn’t needed now but the school system should always have plans to accomp lish smooth growth patterns. Should the district increase its faculty on both the elementary and secondary levels in order to expand the curriculum offered its stu dents? What courses would you like to see included in the curriculum? Should Community Education be expanded? More teachers and vocational courses would be great but we must stay within the budget based on the expected taxes received. I would like to see more courses offered for the Adult Continuing Education at the nominal fee now being required. A report submitted last fall by the district to the Texas Education Agency listed about 25 percent of the black students in the district in a category of “underachievers” or “slow learner.” Only 4 percent of non-black students were included in this category. As a board member, what would you do to try and minimize this discrepancy? We should continue and attempt to expand those courses in the career and vocational fields, again within the budget. Have you been satisfied with the performance of Supt. Fred Hopson and the current school board? Yes, however I feel we should continue to have a good relationship between the management and the personnel in order to operate the school smoothly. What do you consider to be the long-range goals of the district? Mainly to obtain a better balance between the college bound and the vocational students. ★★★ Joseph Natowitz What do you feel are your main qualifications for holding a position on the Consolidated School Board? I would list as my qualifications my teaching experience and the fact that I’ve been attending the school board meetings and understand the problems facing it. And I think I’d say just my interest in the schools. How critical are the classroom space needs and resulting over crowding at the schools in the dis trict? Is a bond election warranted? At the rate that we’re growing, we absolutely have to plan a new school facility immediately. Perhaps we’ve already waited too long. New elementary facilities and more voca tional space in the high school are needed. A bond election is inevita ble. Should the district increase its faculty on both the elementary and secondary levels in order to expand the curriculum offered its stu dents? What courses would you like to see included in the curriculum? Should Community Education Program be expanded? Yes, we should increase the fa culty. The main thing in expanding the curriculum is to increase voca tional courses in the middle schools and creative arts courses at all levels. As far as the Community Education Program goes, I think it should be expanded. A report submitted last fall by tbe district to the Texas Education Agency listed about 25 per cent of the black students in the district in a category of “underachievers” or “slow learners.” Only 4 per cent of non-black students were included in this category. As a board member, what would you do to try and minimize this discrepancy? I think two things need to be done. First, design the curriculum so that it treats students as individu als and offers students opportunity and encouragement to learn. Sec ond, improved counseling services are very important to identify learn ing problems and to correct them. Have you been satisfied with tbe performance of Supt. Fred Hopson and the current school board? Hopson is a very competent ad ministrator and he is making a real effort to significantly improve the school system. I think the current school board has operated primarily in a caretaker capacity and has not provided sufficient leadership in planning for the future. What do you consider to be tbe long-range goals of the district? I don’t want to be rhetorical but 1 think the long-range goals are quite obvious — that College Station should have a high quality of educa tion that generates real interest in learning. There has to be a com pletely different attitude on the school board — a positive one that looks to provide the best possible education by drawing on all the po tential in the community. 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