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District 11 school board candidates talk mental health, diversity, books, safety

Chattanooga Times Free Press - 7/15/2022

Jul. 15—Two of three candidates vying for the District 11 seat on the Hamilton County school board showed up Thursday night for the third in a debate series sponsored by Chattanooga 2.0, the Chattanooga Times Free Press and Local 3 News.

Democrat Jill Black of Lookout Mountain faced off against independent Steve McKinney of Chattanooga. Republican Virginia Anne Manson of Lookout Mountain was originally scheduled to attend the debate but had a personal conflict. She was unable to find an alternative date. Manson submitted the following statement, which was read aloud by moderators.

"It is with deep sadness I will not be able to be with you this evening," Manson wrote. "A leader in our community has recently lost a family member, and it is imperative to be with the family during this time. Though it was attempted to find a new date to move this important event to allow my attendance, it was ultimately decided by those who planned the forum to continue as scheduled ... Our schools are the most important asset in our community. It is incumbent upon us to make sure today our next generation is educated to lead tomorrow."

(WATCH: 2022 Hamilton County school board debates)

The District 11 candidate who wins the Aug. 4 general election will represent the Alton Park, East Lake, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Valley and St. Elmo communities. The district includes the following schools: Battle Academy for Teaching and Learning, Clifton Hills Elementary, Donaldson Calvin Elementary, East Lake Academy of Fine Arts, East Lake Elementary, East Side Elementary, Graduation Success Program, Howard Connect Academy, Howard High School, Lookout Mountain Elementary, Lookout Valley Elementary and Lookout Valley Middle/High.

Here's what the candidates had to say about matters covered during the debate:

THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

A District 11 resident asked the candidates what they thought the purpose of public education was.

"I want the students to be able to love to learn, and I think critical thinking will help open up that pathway for that," McKinney said. "Some, I think, will be college bound and some for future-ready type jobs. But I think it's a big deal for them to develop the love of learning. And I think the public school system can certainly do that."

Black said the role of public education is to provide children with skills they can use throughout their lives.

"We use all kinds of skills, emotional skills and the knowledge that we learn through the basic curriculum that we're taught through education every day in the workforce," Black said. "So, no matter what we choose to do, public education is to prepare us for our lives."

STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH

Following the pandemic, the mental health of students at school has been a topic of debate. The candidates weighed in on how they would support efforts at Hamilton County Schools to address the mental health of students.

"I think that having good mental health in the schools is a very positive step that has to be in place," McKinney said. "I think that it is important that we do have attention on the mental health. And more social workers, I think, would be a help in the school setting. I think that a school that has strong mental health is a better school than one that doesn't."

Black said the district must hire more staff to relieve the pressure on teachers.

"We absolutely need to invest more in our support staff that can help our students who are struggling with the effects of the last two years and things that were existing before," Black said.

DIVERSITY IN SCHOOLS

District 11 includes some of the most affluent and impoverished schools in Hamilton County, moderators said. Both candidates said they were well-equipped to handle each school's unique needs.

"The diversity of this community is exactly why I decided to run for school board," Black said.

"Having (a background in social work) as well as being someone who is parenting children who are in the public schools, those two perspectives gives me the skill that I need to represent such a diverse district," Black said. "But we do have to stay in relationship. It's about living in community with one another, and we need to do a better job about that."

McKinney also stressed the importance of relationships.

"I think that we've got to stay in touch with the schools, McKinney said. "We need to have relationships with the principals so they can talk to us. I think that we've got to be trusted, but we also have got to listen to what they have to say and share that among those that are stakeholders."

COVID-19

In the last few weeks, COVID-19 cases have surged across the country. Should numbers rise to previous levels, McKinney said he would not recommend mandated mask wearing at schools, and that the decision should be left to parents.

Black said the state has already passed legislation that prevents local school districts from implementing mask mandates. Moderators asked her what her personal opinions were on the matter.

"My family and I, personally, listen to health experts and follow the advice of our local health department," Black said.

SCHOOL BULLYING

The Times Free Press previously reported that certain kinds of bullying, namely racial bullying, have increased at Hamilton County Schools.

"I support a solutions-based discipline policy that helps children address the root of the problem," Black said. "We need to hire more support staff like social workers and interventionists. All behavior is communication, and we have to figure out what those bullies are trying to communicate to us and the need that is not being met for them."

McKinney suggested forming committees that can dissect the problem.

"The committee will be comprised of teachers and of parents trying to get to the bottom of what are some ways that we can resolve (this issue)," McKinney said.

BOOK BANS

Hamilton County Schools had a committee that recently reviewed the processes for selecting and objecting to reading materials. Some parents have complained about the content of books that contain themes of LGBTQ issues, sex or race.

"I think that parents need to have some level of involvement but not in deciding what the curriculum might be," McKinney said. "I think that there's a partnership that needs to be placed between the parents and teachers, but I'm all in favor, as a teacher, of let the teachers teach."

Black agreed.

"Certainly, we as parents and caregivers for our students have a responsibility to monitor the media and books that our children choose to read," Black said. "However, when it comes to Hamilton County schools, we have 45,000 students in our school system. They come from hugely diverse backgrounds, cultures, religions and family structures. We are not always going to agree on what is appropriate or should be taught. So, it all comes down to the fact that I trust teachers, librarians and literacy experts to be the professionals that they are."

INFRASTRUCTURE

The Hamilton County Schools system faces nearly $1 billion in deferred building repairs, and the new board will have to make some tough decisions going forward.

Both candidates said they would prioritize the needs of existing schools over building new ones.

"This particular conversation, for me, has to shift in light of the recent gun violence that our communities continue to be vulnerable to," Black said. "Any of our existing schools that are using portable buildings for their staff and students and have part of their school community outside of a secured school building don't have a safe and secure campus when it comes to the risk of gun violence."

McKinney agreed, saying that in order to move the district forward, existing buildings must be fixed first.

"I think that the schools definitely need some attention for the facilities' safety and just bringing the schools up to a level where they can be safer, but also a little bit more current (is) a priority for me," McKinney said.

Contact Carmen Nesbitt at cnesbitt@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6327. Follow her on Twitter @carmen_nesbitt.

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