Incumbent Jamie Walsh will square off against longtime Aberdeen educator William Dyer for Position 4 on the Aberdeen School District board in November’s general election. They answered a few questions supplied by the Daily World.
Why did you initially want to be on the school board?
Walsh: “I joined the Aberdeen School Board in July of 2014 because I was concerned about the local community and teaching staff losing control of what is taught in our schools. In exchange for the opportunity to be a part of the process, I offered my design, architectural and contract expertise to the board.”
Dyer: “This is the first time I have sought elected office. I see public education as a central belief of democracy and the key to giving our students the opportunity to succeed. I have two children enrolled in the Aberdeen School District who are also participating in yearbook, leadership, athletics, music, and theater. I am running for the Aberdeen School Board, Position 4 because I will offer an experienced voice to the board.”
What has been your personal involvement with education in our community?
Walsh: “For the past 12 years I have been a customer of the Aberdeen School District and I have applied this end-user experience as a district parent to my school board work. Three of our children have graduated from Aberdeen High School. We will graduate two more in the next six years. I do not work for the staff of the district or any other special interest group. I work for the parents of the district and my fellow Aberdeen taxpayers.”
Dyer: “I have been an educator for 28 years, 19 years in the Aberdeen School District. I am a Nationally Board Certified Teacher and was named the Aberdeen School District Teacher of the Year in 2010. I am Professor of Music at Grays Harbor College where I lecture on classes in music, direct ensembles and conduct the Grays Harbor Symphony Orchestra. I will be an instructor in the new Grays Harbor College Bachelors of Science in Teacher Education program, helping educate tomorrow’s teachers. I will bring experience and knowledge to the school board.”
What makes you stand out from your opponent?
Walsh: “My expertise in design, architecture and contracts are critical assets that will be useful to the Board as we move forward. We currently have plans to relocate and build a new Stevens Elementary School which will require a public bond for funding. I believe this future project was the main reason I was appointed in 2014. I am a licensed architect and run my design business out of my home. I understand firsthand financial concerns here on the Harbor. I think this private sector experience makes me keenly aware of challenges my fellow taxpayers face. I have only voted for balanced (or zero-based) budgets, never deficit budgets. We have managed the Stewart Field Grandstand and Lighting Remodeling Project from cash flow without incurring any debt.”
Dyer: “In addition to my experience in the classroom, I am knowledgeable about educational processes and best practices. I have a Doctorate in Music Education from Boston University, a Masters in Music from Northwestern University and a Bachelors in Music Education from the University of Puget Sound.”
What do you feel is the number one challenge facing our schools today?
Walsh: “Literacy. Verbal, numeric and technological literacy. Technology is changing at a rapid rate. The balance between teaching our children the basics and preparing them for the future is a challenge. We need to focus on technological skills that will serve them well here locally in our community into the future without losing sight of the basics.”
Dyer: “There is no shortage of challenges facing today’s schools: inadequate funding, over-testing, school climate, and more. One priority I have is teacher education programs. Hiring and keeping effective, inspired educational professionals should be the number one goal for our district. Partnering with (the college) will allow the district to build early relationships with these new educators. We need strong teacher candidates who can help meet the academic and social-emotional needs of our ever-diversifying population.”
What is a priority concern you might have regarding the district that has not been raised?
Walsh: “Disaster preparedness. The district has done some planning but needs to do more. New school funding should move our children out of harm’s way — out of the tsunami inundation zone as mapped by the Washington Department of Natural Resources — to higher ground. Any new school, in the case of a disaster, should serve as a community-wide congregating site where the community can receive temporary shelter, meals and medical attention. I love living and working on the Harbor. The threat of earthquakes and tsunamis does not scare me. But we need to be prepared. Using our new school construction resources to also prepare for a natural disaster is money well-spent that benefits the entire community.”
Dyer: “We must improve parent/community involvement, especially in our growing diverse community. Cooperation between district staff, community and parents is vital for creating opportunities for student growth and achievement. Students with involved parents earn higher grades, have better attendance, improved behavior, graduate and continue onto postsecondary education. I support current district programs for building community, such as parent nights at AJ West centering on cultural heritage, back-to-school days, conferences, communication through Skyward, updates to the district website and Miller Family Fun Nights. It is essential to employ new strategies to increase attendance for our growing diverse community. Strategies may include offering events at varying times during the day, evening and weekend hours, further building trust in the community by actively welcoming all students and families, improving school-family communication, recognizing diverse family structures, making school events more accessible to families and removing language barriers by providing interpreters at all school events.”
