1.) What actions do you plan to take to ensure that the new CORE standards are met?

Callan: The school board’s job is to ensure the work is being done to implement Common Core to the best of our abilities. The district needs to be sure teachers are fully trained, and support is available during and after the transition. We need to make sure the assessments match the curriculum, and student growth measurements are identified and consistent for teachers to use.

The transition to the new assessments and measurement methods will require a re-calibration of student, teacher, and parent expectations as new baselines are established.

We need to hear from the teachers and the staff during the transition so support can be rallied around any unexpected and unintended issues.

Meryweather: Ensure the community is well informed, listen to concerns and make sure that the District has the appropriate resources to adequately train the teachers and align the curriculum to the new standards and testing protocols.

2.) There are many students who simply fall through the cracks for whatever reason; a bad home life, drugs or abuse. What will you do to make certain these kids get the help they need?

Callan: I believe we should add additional social and emotional health support at a level that allows each building to connect with students as they are identified.   Developing a support plan which follows kids in need through their K-12 journey, and identifying them as early as possible allowing support to build and continue as these students face their most difficult challenges in their teen years. I think partnering with the community is crucial so the support doesn’t end when the bell rings.

I also feel strongly that we need to offer more choices and alternatives to the standard high school pathway. If we can find a way for struggling kids to succeed in one area, it gives them more desire to work through the rest, with support.

Meryweather: The social emotional health of our students is a top priority. While there already are many supports in place, we need to expand the timely access to counselors within the building. I have proposed a board committee to collaborate with community organizations to address the numerous concerns from the Healthy Youth Survey data.

3.) You have both mentioned partnering with businesses to get internships or job shadowing opportunities for students. How will you approach this endeavor?

Callan: I want to ensure all elements of the community (business, community organizations, service organizations, the district, teachers, parents and students) have a voice in this dialogue. We can create meaningful, experiential learning opportunities for our kids by identifying what programs our kids need, and then putting out a specific call for action to the business community.

ISF and the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce offer a great start. We can do more with local businesses and fabrication shops. I also think we can expand our partnerships with the Eastside business leadership community, county extension programs, as well the health, arts, and sports industries.

Meryweather: The board should have more frequent contact and dialogue with the local employers to assess our educational alignment with meeting the needs of future skills. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce I would like to expand the relationship between the school board and their education committee, partnering on such projects as the job skills fair, mentors and internships.

4.) School boards spend a great deal of time monitoring policies. Why not channel more of that energy into education and cut through the rhetoric?

Callan: The system of governance and policies for the school district is the foundation upon which everything else is based. The strength of that foundation has a direct impact on the district’s ability to execute effectively and in a fiscally responsible way, providing every opportunity for every child to succeed.

Meryweather: Our board is one of 12 in the state that use the Policy Governance Model, while the monitoring of the Executive Limitations, ends, etc., may seem tedious to the public it is how the board conducts its due diligence to ensure the district is making reasonable progress towards our educational goals and in compliance with state requirements.

5.) So much emphasis has been put on STEM, robotics and other technical programs, but the arts are extremely important for the whole child. Will you support and promote the arts in schools — theater, music and the visual arts?

Callan: Absolutely, art is defined as part of basic education for a reason. Sensory learning and thinking skills, connecting with the physical world and learning to create is part of how a student learns to connect with the world.

The arts in all forms create opportunities for sensory learning. For example, when I brought the Seattle Junior League’s Art of Discovery program to Grand Ridge Elementary the focus was on teaching visual thinking skills, finding ways to understand and express what one feels, through experiencing museum artwork.

Meryweather: My priority is “STEAM”- Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math, as the Arts are a core subject. I have been actively advocating for the arts for over a decade, from creating art enrichment opportunities to funding for ISF’s Dedicated Fine Arts Fund and will continue to do so on the board.