School Board Candidates Meet The Public -- District 1 Teresa Cosgrove, Matt Dick, Raphael Wolff
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
The "Meet the Candidates" forum was held at 7 p.m. at Lakeview Middle School. It was sponsored by OrthoWorx, Warsaw Community Education Association, American Association of University Women and the Times-Union.
After each of the eight attending candidates for the four seats gave their two-minute opening remarks, the districts were then sent to separate rooms to answer prepared and public questions.
District 1 candidates are Matt Dick, Raphael Wolff and Teresa Cosgrove. Cosgrove was unable to attend the candidate forum, but did provide her responses to the prepared questions. After the candidates answered those, the public had the opportunity to ask questions.
AAUW asked what the candidates considered Warsaw School's greatest strengths and challenges, and what should the priorities be for the school district's future.
Wolff said, "I believe Warsaw Community Schools' greatest strength is a core of teachers and school board members committed to excellence in the classroom."
He said he was concerned that students in the middle are being left behind and not getting access to the needed resources.
"I feel one of Warsaw School's greatest strengths is the community and families that feed our system," said Dick. "... I feel the curriculum currently being offered by our schools is extremely strong and I also feel our school system is blessed with a number of talented teachers who are motivated to have a positive influence on our kids' lives."
Cosgrove wrote the greatest strength of WCS is that it's not a large school corporation like that of the urban cities.
"While it is bigger than most surrounding schools, it still has the small town heart and soul," she wrote.
WCEA asked, "Given Warsaw Community School's finite financial resources (and a cut of 2.5 million from the budget this year), how would you prioritize spending to make WCS a better place for students to learn and teachers to work?"
Dick responded, "The number one priority, in my opinion, would have to be with the teachers and staff that have day-to-day interaction with our kids. This is the ground level and I feel the most important part of the learning process."
"I would cut anything not directly related to the classroom. As far as specifics, I would take input from the various stakeholders before deciding what to cut," said Wolff.
During public questions, Julie Harvey asked Wolff to explain his answer more.
"I want to draw a bright red line around the classroom and protect it," said Wolff. "I want to protect the classroom."
Cosgrove wrote, "Creative budgeting is my motto. That is something that I have learned in my own personal life. ... I don't know specifics of how I would spend, but in general I would make sure the money is used so the children have a great school to study in, great dedicated administrators running the schools and great dedicated teachers teaching the students."
OrthoWorx asked, "How do you think the Warsaw schools impact area employers' ability to recruit and retain a qualified professional workforce, and what are your plans to assure that the school system helps attract the best talent to Warsaw?"
Wolff said he did not like the line "attract the best talent to Warsaw".
"This phrase suggest a business model," Wolff said. "The 'what works best in business will work in education' thinking does not work in public schools. Generally speaking, new teachers are hired out of college because new hires represent the least stress on the school budget. Money is used in business to attract talent. In public education, the money to attract talent idea only applies to coaches and administrators."
Dick said he felt WCS is an extremely attractive system. Forbes magazine recently ranked Warsaw as the number 11 top city to raise a family in the country, and that included the school's graduation rate as part of the rankings. He also said the technology department at the high school and the four new elementaries are second to none.
"I feel it is important that our teachers in our system have a voice and a say in new programs, and that they should continue to be proactive in adjusting to the ways the younger generations learns best," Dick said. "I would be very open to suggestions from our teachers that work with our kids on a daily basis."
A patron later said that though the city of Warsaw was ranked 11th by Forbes, the school system's drop-out rate was probably the worst in the top 15.
Dick said he supports the Kosciusko Education Committee's efforts in increasing the graduation rate.
"I think the Warsaw School system is great," Cosgrove wrote in part. "I think it has a great impact on employers' ability to attract professional employees to the Orthopedic Capital of the World."
The Times-Union question asked the candidates what their overall impression was with the new schools construction projects now that they are all mostly completed.
"It seems that Dr. Hintz, the school board, and all involved have done a great job with all of the new buildings," said Dick. "I have not had a chance to tour all of them yet, but they appear very impressive. I think opening four new schools at once is an extremely challenging endeavor for any corporation, and it seems like they have pulled it off successfully."
Wolff said the buildings are built, so his focus is on content and making sure new hires are content majors and not education majors.
"I believe in adding value," Wolff said. "I want to make sure that whatever certificate or diploma students earn has meaning. Not every student will pursue education beyond high school. Consequently, their time in our school system should provide them with the skills they need to open other doors of opportunity."
Cosgrove said she is impressed at the location of Madison. There is great traffic flow and she personally likes the rural setting.
Asked about discipline in the schools, Dick said he was in favor of giving teachers the opportunity to discipline. If he is elected, as a board member he said he would support the teachers. Wolff said disruptive students should be removed, but there is a process.
Another question asked the candidates for ideas on how they can reward the good teachers but correct the bad ones.
Dick said teachers are some of the lowest-paid professionals, though they don't do it for the money but love for the children and to impact the children's lives. Besides better pay, teachers also could get positive exposure in the press, he said.
Wolff said studies show merit pay doesn't work. Teachers need more coaching and respect to improve.[[In-content Ad]]
The "Meet the Candidates" forum was held at 7 p.m. at Lakeview Middle School. It was sponsored by OrthoWorx, Warsaw Community Education Association, American Association of University Women and the Times-Union.
After each of the eight attending candidates for the four seats gave their two-minute opening remarks, the districts were then sent to separate rooms to answer prepared and public questions.
District 1 candidates are Matt Dick, Raphael Wolff and Teresa Cosgrove. Cosgrove was unable to attend the candidate forum, but did provide her responses to the prepared questions. After the candidates answered those, the public had the opportunity to ask questions.
AAUW asked what the candidates considered Warsaw School's greatest strengths and challenges, and what should the priorities be for the school district's future.
Wolff said, "I believe Warsaw Community Schools' greatest strength is a core of teachers and school board members committed to excellence in the classroom."
He said he was concerned that students in the middle are being left behind and not getting access to the needed resources.
"I feel one of Warsaw School's greatest strengths is the community and families that feed our system," said Dick. "... I feel the curriculum currently being offered by our schools is extremely strong and I also feel our school system is blessed with a number of talented teachers who are motivated to have a positive influence on our kids' lives."
Cosgrove wrote the greatest strength of WCS is that it's not a large school corporation like that of the urban cities.
"While it is bigger than most surrounding schools, it still has the small town heart and soul," she wrote.
WCEA asked, "Given Warsaw Community School's finite financial resources (and a cut of 2.5 million from the budget this year), how would you prioritize spending to make WCS a better place for students to learn and teachers to work?"
Dick responded, "The number one priority, in my opinion, would have to be with the teachers and staff that have day-to-day interaction with our kids. This is the ground level and I feel the most important part of the learning process."
"I would cut anything not directly related to the classroom. As far as specifics, I would take input from the various stakeholders before deciding what to cut," said Wolff.
During public questions, Julie Harvey asked Wolff to explain his answer more.
"I want to draw a bright red line around the classroom and protect it," said Wolff. "I want to protect the classroom."
Cosgrove wrote, "Creative budgeting is my motto. That is something that I have learned in my own personal life. ... I don't know specifics of how I would spend, but in general I would make sure the money is used so the children have a great school to study in, great dedicated administrators running the schools and great dedicated teachers teaching the students."
OrthoWorx asked, "How do you think the Warsaw schools impact area employers' ability to recruit and retain a qualified professional workforce, and what are your plans to assure that the school system helps attract the best talent to Warsaw?"
Wolff said he did not like the line "attract the best talent to Warsaw".
"This phrase suggest a business model," Wolff said. "The 'what works best in business will work in education' thinking does not work in public schools. Generally speaking, new teachers are hired out of college because new hires represent the least stress on the school budget. Money is used in business to attract talent. In public education, the money to attract talent idea only applies to coaches and administrators."
Dick said he felt WCS is an extremely attractive system. Forbes magazine recently ranked Warsaw as the number 11 top city to raise a family in the country, and that included the school's graduation rate as part of the rankings. He also said the technology department at the high school and the four new elementaries are second to none.
"I feel it is important that our teachers in our system have a voice and a say in new programs, and that they should continue to be proactive in adjusting to the ways the younger generations learns best," Dick said. "I would be very open to suggestions from our teachers that work with our kids on a daily basis."
A patron later said that though the city of Warsaw was ranked 11th by Forbes, the school system's drop-out rate was probably the worst in the top 15.
Dick said he supports the Kosciusko Education Committee's efforts in increasing the graduation rate.
"I think the Warsaw School system is great," Cosgrove wrote in part. "I think it has a great impact on employers' ability to attract professional employees to the Orthopedic Capital of the World."
The Times-Union question asked the candidates what their overall impression was with the new schools construction projects now that they are all mostly completed.
"It seems that Dr. Hintz, the school board, and all involved have done a great job with all of the new buildings," said Dick. "I have not had a chance to tour all of them yet, but they appear very impressive. I think opening four new schools at once is an extremely challenging endeavor for any corporation, and it seems like they have pulled it off successfully."
Wolff said the buildings are built, so his focus is on content and making sure new hires are content majors and not education majors.
"I believe in adding value," Wolff said. "I want to make sure that whatever certificate or diploma students earn has meaning. Not every student will pursue education beyond high school. Consequently, their time in our school system should provide them with the skills they need to open other doors of opportunity."
Cosgrove said she is impressed at the location of Madison. There is great traffic flow and she personally likes the rural setting.
Asked about discipline in the schools, Dick said he was in favor of giving teachers the opportunity to discipline. If he is elected, as a board member he said he would support the teachers. Wolff said disruptive students should be removed, but there is a process.
Another question asked the candidates for ideas on how they can reward the good teachers but correct the bad ones.
Dick said teachers are some of the lowest-paid professionals, though they don't do it for the money but love for the children and to impact the children's lives. Besides better pay, teachers also could get positive exposure in the press, he said.
Wolff said studies show merit pay doesn't work. Teachers need more coaching and respect to improve.[[In-content Ad]]
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