District 1 Candidate Martha Barrett Questionnaire

7/31/2019 District 1 Candidate Martha Barrett Questionnaire

1/14

JACKSONVILLEPUBLIC EDUCATION FUND

245RIVERSIDEAVENUE SUITE 310JACKSONVILLE,FLORIDA 32202

904.356.7757FAX 904.394.2005WWW.JAXPEF.ORG

2012SCHOOLBOARD

CANDIDATEQUESTIONNAIRE

TheJacksonvillePublicEducationFund,SaveDuvalSchools,DuvalCounty

PTA,JacksonvilleKidsCoalitionandJacksonvilleUrbanLeagueare

nonpartisanorganizations. Wedonotsupportorendorseanyspecificcandidate.

Ourgoalistoeducatethecommunityandpromoteincreasedparticipationinschool

boardelections.

Candidateresponsestoallquestionswillbepublishedverbatimonaspecialweb

siteatwww.schoolboard2012.org.Whilecandidatesarestronglyencouragedto

completethequestionnaireinitsentirety,partialornon-participationwillnot

preventcandidatesfromparticipatinginsubsequentpublicforumsorother

election-relatedeventshostedbytheseorganizations.

ThedeadlineforreturningthissurveyisJuly2,2012.Noresponseswillbe

acceptedafterthisdateandallresponseswillbepublishedsimultaneouslytothe

websitesubsequenttothisdate.

CandidateName: ____________________________________________________________

SchoolBoardDistrict: __________

CampaignWebSite: ____________________________________________________________

PrimaryCampaignContact

Name: ____________________________________________________________

E-mailAddress: ____________________________________________________________

PhoneNumber: ____________________________________________________________

Martha Barret

1

www.votemarthabarrett.com

Martha Barrett

[email protected]

904-343-7846


2/14

3

CandidateBiographicalInformation

Pleaseprovideashortbiographicalsummaryofnomorethan500wordsthatcan

beusedonwww.schoolboard2012.orgwebsiteandinotherpublications:

Martha Barrett is the Senior Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibilityfor Bank of American. Martha is currently responsible for the strategicplanning, coordinating, and leveraging of the bank's local philanthropiccontributions, managing events and sponsorships, and facilitatingrelationships with community and opinion leaders. In this role, she overseesthe local foundation and sponsorship budgets as well as managing localmarket delivery team. Through her role she promotes a healthy, vitalcommunity through sustained leadership in philanthropy, volunteerism,community development lending and investing, the environment and arts&culture. Martha has been with Bank of America since 2001.

Martha served as the Business Development Director for Jim King Companiesand she was an Assistant Vice President for Independent Life and AccidentInsurance Company.

Martha served in the Jimmy Carter administration in Washington, D.C. andalso was an aide to Florida United States Senator Richard Stone inWashington, D.C.

She returned to Jacksonville in late 1978 to work for the new mayor, JakeGodbold. She was the mayor's press aide and served in the Godboldadministration for eight and a half years. She served the mayor in many

capacities including as liaison to the United States Conference of Mayors.

Martha was elected unopposed to the Duval County School Board in 2000and 2004. She chaired the board in 2004. She was re-elected to the SchoolBoard in a special election in September, 2009.

Since Martha has been on the board, a Strategic Plan and Data Dashboardhave been established, several reading initiatives have been introduced aswell as the Read It Forward Jacksonville Initiative, rigorous graduationrequirements have taken hold for high school graduates and AccelerationPrograms have been introduced in every neighborhood high school and

Career Academies have been expanded in neighborhood high schools.

She currently serves on the boards of the Cultural Council of NortheastFlorida, Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra,Communities in Schools, Florida State College Foundation and Florida Housein Washington, D.C. She also serves as an Advisory Board member of TheBridge of Northeast Florida and Cathedral Arts Project and she is a graduateof Leadership Jacksonville and Leadership Florida.


3/14

4

Instructions

Pleaseanswereachofthequestionsbelow.Ifyouneedadditionalspaceorwish

toelaborateonyouranswerstooneormorequestions,pleasefeelfreeto

attachadditionalpagestothisquestionnaire.Pleasemakesure,however,to

identifythequestiontowhichyouarerespondingbynumbersowecancorrectlyalignyourresponseswiththeproperquestion.

Youmayrespondbyemail,fax,orpostalmail.Directionsonhowtodosoareatthe

endofthesurveydocument.

Questions

Overall

1. IfyouhadtogivetheDuvalCountyPublicSchoolsagrade,howwouldyourateitscurrentperformanceateducating

a. High-performingstudents?

_____ A _____ B _____ C _____ D _____ F

b. Averagestudents?

_____ A _____ B _____ C _____ D _____ F

c. At-riskstudents?

_____ A _____ B _____ C _____ D _____ F

2. InwhatrespectsdoyouthinkDuvalCountyPublicSchoolsaredoingwellintheirmissiontoeducatestudentsinJacksonville?

I believe that through the district's strategic plan we have seen significantprogress. The "Six Steps to Stronger Schools" have been a proven roadmap for schools. The high school Acceleration Programs has been a realsuccess for our students. Our neighborhood high schools have at leastone of these programs in each school.

These are:AICE...Advanced Certificate of EducationEarly CollegeIB Program DiplomaAP HonorsAVID...Advancement via Individual Determination

The board has been very pleased with these programs as well as the 23


4/14

5

3. InwhatrespectsdoyouthinkDCPSneedstoimprovesignificantly?Whatspecificchangesdoyouwanttomakeinschooldistrictpoliciesorprogramstomaketheseimprovements?

StrategicPlan

DuvalCountyPublicSchoolshasastrategicplanapprovedbytheschoolboardin2010thatguidestheday-to-daymanagementandactivitiesofthesuperintendent.A

copyofthestrategicplancanbeaccessedathttp://www.duvalschools.org/static/aboutdcps/superintendent/strategic_plan.asp.

Forthefollowingquestions,pleasecitethestrategynumberandtitle(e.g.Strategy1.A:Provideadditionalsupportforalllowperformingstudentsinallschools).

4. Onwhichspecificstrategydoyouseeasmostcriticalforthedistrictstafftofocusin2013?

The reading scores are still poor. We have to get students reading on

grade level. The school board initiated "Read It Forward Jacksonville" lastsummer. There are extensive pre K programs and also the system islooking at broader menu of options in grades 6 through 12. The system isadding an additional honor in our lowest performing schools. Discipline isa major concern for the school system. The board just passed an updatedpolicy on discipline at the June board meeting. Our graduation rate mustimprove although it has gone up the last few years but we have a longway to go.

The significant strategy that I see is 1(c) 1 Students Demonstrating TrueGains in Reading. This is ensuring that all students will read on gradelevel. This strategy includes goals 1, 2 and 3 in the strategic plan. Wehave put the "Read It Forward Jacksonville" program and there areextensive pre K programs and also broader menu of options in grades to

6 to 12. The school system is also adding an additional hour for reading inour lowest performing schools.


5/14

6

5. Whichspecificstrategyormeasurablewouldyouproposerevisingoreliminatingandwhatwouldyouchangeaboutit?

Governance

6. Pleaseprovideadescriptionofhowyouwoulddifferentiatebetweenthegovernanceresponsibilityoftheschoolboardandthemanagementroleof

thesuperintendent.

The specific strategy I would propose revising is 1(B) 2 Students enrolledin rigorous courses who are African American. We want to make sure thatall of our students are not just enrolled in courses but they are successfulin these courses!! We must not just increase the participation but alsoincrease the success rate!!

The school board's role is to govern which the superintendent andadministration manage the schools on a daily basis.

The school board should exercise governance and policy making actions.The school board should:

Adopt policiesAdopt budgetsAdopt local students learning programsEvaluate programs and policy effectivenessVisits schools in districtActive in communityAttend worthwhile education conferencesConduct Town Hall meetings

The school board also has to evaluate the superintendent's performanceon an annual basis. I went through the Broad training program severalyears ago and I very much aware of the fact that the board is a policymaking body and the superintendent runs the district.


6/14

7

7. Describeinyourdecisionshowyouwouldbalancetheinterestsofyourspecificneighborhoodschoolboarddistrictwiththeinterestsoftheentireschoolsystemiftheycomeintoconflict.

TheDuvalCountySchoolBoardiscurrentlyengagedinasearchforthenext

superintendent,whowillreplaceretiringSuperintendentEdPratt-Dannalsin

December2012.

8. Whatdoyouconsiderthekeyqualificationsthenextsuperintendentshouldpossessinordertobemosteffective?

I have always been supportive of the entire district. While board members

are elected from two city council districts, we truly represent the entireschool district. I have always voted for new schools and necessary capitalimprovements and programs for schools in and out of my district.

I expect the staff to tell us where these improvements should be made. Atthis point we do not have anymore funding to build new schools but whenwe did I always supported them. Since I have been on the board we havebuilt two schools in my district..Arlington Middle..the old one was torndown to make room for the new one and a brand new elementaryschool...Waterleaf.

A leader who solicits respect and values the input of stakeholders at alllevels of the organization and who has demonstrated leadership inutilizing that input to create and sustain a culture of shared decisionmaking. A leader who supports and empowers principals, teachers andstaff to improve organizational and student performing outcomes. Aproactive visionary someone with strong organizational skills, able tocollaboratively align and focus internal and external stakeholders' effortsto accelerate progress on achieving the district's goals for students andorganizational performance.

Possesses ability and understands the importance of developing mutually

beneficial relationships with the business community.

Possesses experience with strategic planning and the ability to manage alarge diverse school district.

A very successful communicator.


7/14

8

9. TheschoolboardisintheprocessofdevelopinganewformalevaluationinstrumentfortheSuperintendent.Inadditiontothisannualevaluation,pleasedescribehowyouwouldproposeprovidingformativefeedbacktothe

nextsuperintendentonhis/herperformanceonanongoingbasis.

FinancialResourcesandBudgeting

TheDuvalCountySchoolBoardisresponsibleforadoptinganannualbudgetthat

outlinesexpectedexpenses.Acopyofcurrentbudgetdocumentscanbeaccessedat

http://www.duvalschools.org/static/aboutdcps/departments/budget/budget_resources.asp.Pleasereviewthesedocumentssothatyoucan

answerquestions#10-12asspecificallyaspossible.

10.Whatspecificareasofthedistrictbudgetwouldyouprioritize,particularlyifadditionalresourcesbecameavailable?

The Duval County School Board passed a new Superintendent Evaluationpolicy on June 11, 2012.

The formal evaluation will consist of both qualitative and quantitativecomponents and will be aligned with the District's Strategic Plan. Theboard will determine the components and values of the formal evaluationno later than the month of June each year and if no action then the boardwill use the prior evaluation instrument. This process will provide forconstructive feedback on the superintendent's performance, the intentbeing the continuous improvement of the Duval County School District.

It is important for each board member to meet with the superintendent ona quarterly basis to communicate his or her feelings about the

Our first priority is to safeguard the classroom and provide adequatequality educational opportunities for all children.


8/14

9

11.Withrevenuesexpectedtocontinuetodeclineinthecomingyears,additionalbudgetcutsareallbutacertainty.Whatspecificareasofthebudgetwouldyourecommendreducingfirst?

12.Theschooldistrictgenerallymaintainsacarry-forwardbalanceandreservefundinitsbudgetingprocess,aportionofwhichisrequiredbystatelaw.

Howwouldyoubalancethemaintainingofareserveinexcessofthestaterequirementandcontinuingtofundprogramsandservicesduringtightfiscal

times?

Having been through several years of cuts we are already at a point ofdiminishing returns. There is no easy way forward. Many of ouroperational areas have been reduced by at lease 25% and mostemployees have not had a raise in over four years. We are in survival roleat this point!! My priorities remain in the classroom. We have to reducecapital expenditures before anything else and protect the classrooms atall costs!!

While the state audits for a minimum of 3% fund balance, most

professional associations such as the Government Finance OfficersAffairs Association recommends an industry average of 5% to 10%. Thereis very little relief in sight and with a continued unstable economic climate,my priority for any excess would be to first continue the most pressingeducational priorities which is saving the classroom and academicachievement at all costs!!


9/14

10

13.Toensurethedistricthasadequatefiscalresourcesandavoidsbudgetshortfallsinthefuture,what,ifany,revenuesourcesshouldtheschooldistrictpursueandonwhattimetable(e.g.increasedlocalpropertyorsales

taxes,statewidetaxincreases,etc.)?

Community,ParentandExternalRelationships

14.Howwouldyouproposestrengtheningtherelationshipsbetweenparents,

schoolsandcommunitymembers?

The Florida Legislature should fund our school districts at the adequatefunding rates!! This action has not been done in years!!

We need to continue to increase our grants from the state and federalgovernment.

I do not think that we can count on any tax increase and so we must besmart and visionary in our approach to our fiscal resources.

The district has a new Director of the Community and Family Engagement

Office.

This office is now connecting with the overall community including thefaith based community, volunteers, business community and parents andnon profits

I believe that it is very important for board members to be involved withthis office.

Board members are out in the community an can assist that office byrecruiting volunteers.

An example is that about six years ago I was approached by Helen Laneand her sister. They wanted to get involved in a school in our district. Thesisters were taken around to look at several schools and they choseCarter G. Woodson. Now Carter Woodson is an elementary medicalmagnet and I know that they have made a real difference at that school.

This should be our goal...to have a major group or individuals adopt all ofour schools!!


10/14

11

15.Howwouldyouensurethattheschooldistrictremainstransparenttothecommunityintermsofstudentacademicperformance,financialmanagement,schoolboardmeetings,publicrecordsandotherareas?

16.ThereareanumberofexternalorganizationsthatinteractwithandworktosupporttheDuvalCountyPublicSchools,fromthePTAtotheMayorsOffice

tolocalnonprofits.Pleasedescribetheidealrelationshipwithentitiesliketheseandhowyoumayleveragetheirservicestosupportstudents.

Our board meetings are live and shown on the DCPS website. Any person

can attend our meeting...workshops and board meetings.

We have to be transparent and with the sunshine law we must have opencommunication with the media!!

Town Hall meetings help with out board communication and our strategicplan and data dashboard is on the DCPS website.

We are always trying to be more transparent.

The PTA, Mayor's Offic, JPEF and other non profits serve a veryimportant role for the school system.

These groups lobby in Tallahassee and are up to date on all of the issues.Many of our non profits are in our schools and they do a great job. UnitedWay, Communities in Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters are just anexample of the non profits who are in the schools and we need them!!They make a significant difference in students lives!!

It is incumbent for school board members to be involved in these nonprofits and to understand and appreciate what these agencies do for our

students and teachers!!


11/14

12

Legislative&StateIssues

TheactionsanddecisionsoftheFloridaLegislatureandStateBoardofEducation

haveasignificantimpactontheeducationofJacksonvillestudents.

17.WhatlaworpolicypassedinthepastfewyearsbytheFloridaLegislatureorStateBoardofEducationhadthegreatestpositiveimpactoneducationinJacksonville?

18.WhatlaworpolicypassedinthepastfewyearsbytheFloridaLegislatureorStateBoardofEducationhadthegreatestnegativeimpactoneducationin

Jacksonville?

When State Senator Jim King was President of the Florida State Senatein 2004 to 2006, he went to bat for our district.

Duval County always had a very low DCD which is the District CostDifferential...Senator King made sure that our allocation per student wassignificantly increased!!

Sen. King fought for Duval County wand the south Florida legislatorswere not happy with him but we in Duval County should always thank himfor his vision and action!!

A net increase for each year was $8 million for three years for theallocation of our FEFP which is the Florida Educational FinancialProgram.

The class size amendment has hurt our schools.

Research shows that the only students who are significantly affected bythe class size are those in Grades 1-3.

Our district has spent millions on this law while we lose significantteachers and aides due to this amendment. Principals have to lay off keyresource teachers and media and guidance counselors in order to meetthis mandate.

This is a great example of an underfunded mandate from the statelegislature.


12/14

13

MajorPolicyIssues

19.Whatdoyouseeastheadvantagesand/ordisadvantagestousingstandardizedtestingdataasaportionofateachersevaluation?

20.DuvalCountycurrentlyoperatesmagnetprogramsinmorethan50schools,including13dedicatedmagnetschools.Howdothedistrictsmagnet

programspositivelyand/ornegativelyimpactoverallstudentachievementinJacksonville?

Teachers will be graded on FCAT scores on a 50% basis. I think that thispercentage is too much. We are losing out on enrichment pieces and nolonger teach the whole child!! We are teaching to the test!! We have torealize that we need to be teaching the whole child and not just a test!!Arts, music and other areas teach the whole child..there is more to lifethan the FCAT.

Our magnet programs are very successful!!!

The board realized that we needed to offer accelerated programs in all ofour neighborhood high schools!! We are seeing a return to neighborhoodhigh schools as a result of these programs.

I wrote about these programs in question 2.

I am proud of Terry Parker in my school district..TP will have a IB programthis coming school year!!


13/14

14

21.Whatimpactdoesout-of-districtschoolchoicecharterschools,tax-creditscholarships/vouchers,opportunityscholarships,andsimilarprogramshaveonthesuccessofstudentsinJacksonville?

22.Currently,theFloridaConstitutionlimitsclasssizestonomorethan18studentsinGradesK-3,22studentsinGrades4-8and25studentsinGrades

9-12,asmeasuredattheactualclasslevel.Fromyourperspectiveasapotentialboardmember,istheimpactofthismeasurepositiveornegativein

theeffectiveeducationofstudentsandmanagementofourdistrict?Why?

Many charters are doing will and many are not. Test scores are fairly lowin some.

I am for choice but we need to monitor the charter schools on a continualbasis.

I answered this on question #18.


14/14

15

23.Currently,nearly60percentofhighschoolgraduatesneedremedialcourseworkbeforebeingeligibletotakecredit-bearingcoursesatFloridaStateCollegeatJacksonville.Whatwouldyouproposetoincreasethe

numberofstudentsgraduatingcollegeandcareerreadyandreducethe

numbersrequiringremediation?

24.Ifyouhavechildren,whattypeofschooldo/didtheyattend?(markallthatapply)

_____ Public(insideDuvalCounty)

_____ Public(outsideDuvalCounty)

_____ Private

_____ Charter

_____ HomeEducation

_____ Other:______________________________________________________________________

I would like to point out that not all of the high school graduates are fromDuval County schools. Potential students can apply from every countyand many are older students who are not necessarily Duval Countygraduates!! High school students currently take the SAT, ACT and PERT.PERT is the assessment for entrance into community college.

The school system is putting in more rigorous course work in elementaryand middle school especially in math and reading. These courses willassist students for the rigor of college work.

The school board voted several years ago to increase requirements forhigh school graduation. Our career academies are very successful andstudents can graduate with a diploma and certification from the particularcareer academy area. The board also made sure that accelerationprograms are in every high school.

All of these actions should assist in making sure that our students arecollege ready.

Documents

District 1 Candidate Martha Barrett Questionnaire