Candidates Forum: Terrence Williams

Patch asked each school board candidate the same questions via email for our online candidate's forum. A different candidate's answers will be posted every day over the next week. This is the fourth installment. Read . Read . Read .

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background and why you should be elected or reelected to the Monrovia Unified School District Board of Education.

I am a Monrovian for 22 years and involved in the school district for 18 years. My wife Bobbie and I have been involved for the last 15 years with Little League, PTSA and School Site Councils. We have four children in the MUSD with one graduating this year, two at and one at who happens to be autistic.

I should be elected to the Governing School Board of Monrovia because I bring a passionate parent observation and position. I also represent a geographical diversity to the board with being a part of the unincorporated area of Monrovia.  

2. What unique qualifications do you have to guide us through the ever tightening and shrinking budgets due to funding issues caused by the budget mess in Sacramento? (submitted by blogger )

I have the ability as a parent through my efforts in the community to passionately reach out to other parents bridging a gap between parent, teacher and administrators. My work ethic and business savvy gives me a focus with prioritizing our spending to focus on the needs of the students only. 

My exposure to the PTSA and School Site Council committees, along with my current efforts with working in the schools, helps me bring another strong voice of appeal to the businesses in our community for more resources and assistance. Bringing more parents to the table with quarterly parent-teacher meetings can help assist the efforts of the teachers in the classroom by making parents partners in the classroom and at home.

3. With limited funding, what are your priorities for educating our students? (submitted by reader Betty Sandford)

I would like to go back to the basics with reading and writing and utilizing the parents as aides to help subsidize our teacher's efforts. I plan on soliciting a schedule for each school where parents can assist during the week to help relieve the administrators and teachers.

4. Do you think No Child Left Behind is working? If not, how do you intend to influence the State Board of Education on the option to opt-out of No Child Left Behind, as well as any other regulation of education that the teachers insist is holding kids back. (submitted by reader Danielle Elgin) 

I believe the purpose of the No Child left Behind program does have its benefits based on how it was originally designed with not wanting to leave any child behind. But with any program, adjustment and amendment should be made in order to benefit the child moving forward despite its original intent.

5. What do you think of the test score trends in the district? Are state test scores an accurate measure of the performance of teachers and the school district?

I believe the test scores is a goal all of our schools can attain. As far as acknowledging if its an accurate measure, I would like to believe that the teachers, parents and district performance would be the real measuring stick.

6. Did you send your children to Monrovia schools? If so, what did you think of the education they received. If not, why not?

Yes, all four of my children are in Monrovia schools with one graduating this year. I believe they received the best education possible with so many passionate teachers in our district, especially during all of the budget cuts.

7. Considering the reaction from some in the community to the rejection of Rent being performed at Monrovia High School, what moral responsibility does the superintendent and school board have in determining what students are exposed to? What principles would guide you in such decisions?

The only moral obligation the superintendent and school board has is for us to continue to make our schools a positive learning environment. The principles that guide me would be that any exposure to our kids would be considered as learning and constructive formats. Despite how we feel about any subject matter or topic, it should be done with much thought and respect to those who will witness and present it.

8. One issue the district has grappled with is how to manage community use of school facilities by outside groups like the Monrovia Youth Baseball League. How do you think this has been handled, and what, if anything, would you do differently? 

I would have handled it differently as a past Little League parent and play-by-play announcer by asking the outside groups to be financially responsible for the upkeep of the field and facilities used. All youth programs are stepping stones for middle and high school athletics. It also gives our kids and parents in Monrovia a place to be "in our own community" and guarantees their presence as future students with being a part of our excellent academic, culturally and athletic learner centers that we currently enjoy at the MUSD.

9. Given the continued budget pressures, what has the current school board done well to navigate the district out of the crisis. What about their performance needs improvement?

I believe the school board has done well with the budget that has been given to them. Improvement needs to be towards communicating more with the parents to become educational partners as we continue to see budget shortages.