Tucker McClendon
Candidate, School Board District 8
Responses submitted May 2, 2018 to UnifiEd via Google Forms. Responses are published here exactly as submitted without editing.
Responses submitted May 2, 2018 to UnifiEd via Google Forms. Responses are published here exactly as submitted without editing.
Question 1 – Racial & Socioeconomic Desegregation
As a school board member, I commit to working together with the Hamilton County Department of Education (HCDE) to develop a plan to end socioeconomic and racial segregation. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes. I plan to work every day to ensure that all students of Hamilton County get the education they need and deserve.
Question 2 – Racial & Socioeconomic Desegregation
As a school board member, I commit to actively partnering with community members to demand the end of socioeconomic and racial segregation in our schools. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes. Demand is a strong word, but I plan to work with anyone that wants to come to the table to tackle this deep-rooted issue.
Yes. Demand is a strong word, but I plan to work with anyone that wants to come to the table to tackle this deep-rooted issue.
Question 3 – Supporting the People in Our Schools
As a school board member, I commit to supporting better relationships and engagement by working together with the schools in my district to ensure students and teachers have a voice in issues that matter to them. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes, I plan to hold town hall meetings at least twice a semester to hear from students, teachers, and parents about the issues they are facing in their schools.
Yes, I plan to hold town hall meetings at least twice a semester to hear from students, teachers, and parents about the issues they are facing in their schools.
Question 4 – Supporting the People in Our Schools
As a school board member, I commit to working with central office to ensure teaching and student programs provide personalized support, especially to those with special needs and minority identities (like English-language learners and LGBTQ+ students). Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes. I plan to work every day to ensure that all students of Hamilton County get the education and support they need and deserve.
Yes. I plan to work every day to ensure that all students of Hamilton County get the education and support they need and deserve.
Question 5 – Community Engagement & Empowerment
As a school board member, I commit to working with school leadership to provide creative, accessible avenues for parents and community members to support schools and children. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes! I plan to start a District 8 advisory board that will tackle issues such as this. We must come together as a district and county if we want to be the fastest improving school district in the county.
Yes! I plan to start a District 8 advisory board that will tackle issues such as this. We must come together as a district and county if we want to be the fastest improving school district in the county.
Question 6 – Community Engagement & Empowerment
As a school board member, I commit to partnering with local organizations and businesses to support and provide resources in our schools. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes, I plan to reach out to numerous organizations and businesses to help support our schools. I plan to create a District 8 advisory which will have several seats just for community stakes holders such as local organizations and businesses.
Yes, I plan to reach out to numerous organizations and businesses to help support our schools. I plan to create a District 8 advisory which will have several seats just for community stakes holders such as local organizations and businesses.
Question 7 – Supporting the Whole Child
As a school board member, I commit to working with schools to ensure students’ mental and emotional health needs are supported. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes. We need a plan to ensure every student has easy and open access to a school counselor and I plan to take the lead on ensuring this for our students. We also need to look at the responsibility and roles of our current school counselors to make sure we are using them efficiently.
Yes. We need a plan to ensure every student has easy and open access to a school counselor and I plan to take the lead on ensuring this for our students. We also need to look at the responsibility and roles of our current school counselors to make sure we are using them efficiently.
Question 8 – Supporting the Whole Child
As a school board member, I commit to partnering with and supporting community organizations to ensure children can access mentoring, field trips, and early childhood education. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes. We need to bring as many stakeholders to the table as possible to ensure that we are giving our student’s as many avenues to learns and grow. I will fight for more early education programs, easier access to allowing community members to mentor and to field trips.
Yes. We need to bring as many stakeholders to the table as possible to ensure that we are giving our student’s as many avenues to learns and grow. I will fight for more early education programs, easier access to allowing community members to mentor and to field trips.
Question 9 – Funding & Budgeting
As a school board member, I commit to prioritizing funds for capital expenses to make sure all school facilities are safe and healthy learning spaces, and ensuring there is a long-term plan to keep them that way. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes, I plan to work with the county commission to make sure funding in place so we can have safe and healthy learning spaces. We need to come together to realistically plan for the future and set a plan in place to deal with those needs and to make sure that the necessary funds are available.
Yes, I plan to work with the county commission to make sure funding in place so we can have safe and healthy learning spaces. We need to come together to realistically plan for the future and set a plan in place to deal with those needs and to make sure that the necessary funds are available.
Question 10 – Funding & Budgeting
As a school board member, I commit to prioritizing funding to recruit, support, and keep the best teachers. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes, Hamilton County is nowhere near where we need to be in supporting our teachers compared to the rest of the state. I plan to everything in my power as a school board member to make sure we recruit the best teachers possible and to support and keep the best teachers.
Yes, Hamilton County is nowhere near where we need to be in supporting our teachers compared to the rest of the state. I plan to everything in my power as a school board member to make sure we recruit the best teachers possible and to support and keep the best teachers.
Question 11- Supporting the Whole Child
As a school board member, I commit to ensuring all students have access to early childhood education programs so every child enters kindergarten ready to learn. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes. I think it is critically important to make sure all of our students have access to early childhood education. I will support any program that does this as long as funding allows.
Yes. I think it is critically important to make sure all of our students have access to early childhood education. I will support any program that does this as long as funding allows.
Question 12 – UnifiEd PACT for Public Education
As a school board member, I commit to working with community partners and HCDE to expand community schools throughout the county to provide holistic support to neighborhoods and communities. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes. I think we need to realize the education is a community issue and that we ALL need to come together to give our students the best possible education possible because currently, we are not doing that.
Yes. I think we need to realize the education is a community issue and that we ALL need to come together to give our students the best possible education possible because currently, we are not doing that.
Question 13 – UnifiEd PACT for Public Education
As a school board member, I commit to setting standards for our board and actively participating in a transparent self-assessment process. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes, I think we need to set-up a yearly self-assessment process. I would work with the policy committee chair to ensure we make a policy to make this official.
Yes, I think we need to set-up a yearly self-assessment process. I would work with the policy committee chair to ensure we make a policy to make this official.
Question 14 – UnifiEd PACT for Public Education
As a school board member, I commit to ensuring current school system funds are efficiently spent. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes, I support a zero base budgeting to ensure every line item is needed and will benefit the overall education of our students.
Yes, I support a zero base budgeting to ensure every line item is needed and will benefit the overall education of our students.
Question 15 – UnifiEd PACT for Public Education
As a school board member, I commit to working with HCDE to create a 5-year budget and strategic plan connecting money to improved student outcomes. Yes or No. If yes, how do you plan to accomplish this goal? If no, why not?
Yes, I think we need to create 3, 5 and 10 year strategic plans. I also would be supportive of creating a 3 year budget.
Yes, I think we need to create 3, 5 and 10 year strategic plans. I also would be supportive of creating a 3 year budget.