Online Candidate Forum
Lake County School Board District 4
Part 3
This concludes the question-and-answer portion of the Online Candidate Forum for Lake County School Board District 4 seat between Thuy Lowe, Debbie Stivender and Cheryl Thomas. Citizens for Better Government, L.L.C. would like to thank each one of the candidates for their participation in this forum, and we believe the candidates represented themselves in a very professional manner.
We hope our readers have enjoyed getting to know the candidates, and we welcome your comments and questions at www.lakecountygov.info; or, you can sign up for quick and easy delivery of The Right Side of the Lake newsletter through your Facebook by “Liking” The Right Side of the Lake.
Forum Questions and Answers Part 3
Q: What is your position on school impact fees?
Thuy Lowe
Impact fees are typically used to expand public infrastructure to serve growing communities. It has been concluded that there will be no growth in Lake County for the next few years. Impact fees are not necessary while growth is limited; I advocate that the school board should constantly monitor the growth in Lake County to determine when impact fees should be re-instated.
Debbie Stivender
I have never been a true supporter of impact fees. I am more of a proponent for user fees. When the economy rebounds, a tiered fee would be the way to go, but only after a formula has been established that does not halt all growth, as was done in the past.
Cheryl Thomas
Impact fees were great when the county was experiencing economic growth. Property values have decline 30% and they are not expected to increase any time soon. I believe it is the need for quality educational facilities, and job creation is important to economic development. The more fees are suspended the more people will come to buy a house in Lake County.
Q: How would you propose funding school construction?
Thuy Lowe
Impact fees will be used to fund new or expanded infrastructure to accommodate new growth in the county. However, if the economy is still stagnant over the next five years, I would look at other revenue source to fund school construction.
Debbie Stivender
Construction dollars for future schools is a hard one. We need to create a funding source that goes directly into construction and maintenance of existing and future buildings. In the past, the majority of the dollars were from new developments in the county. The district used to receive PECO funds from the state for our maintenance of facilities. Now that funding goes to charter schools and other items. I am open to feasible ideas.
Cheryl Thomas
To continue to provide new facilities for our District there would have to be a tax increase.
Q: Do you think the Lake County School District should have a local preference policy to ensure Lake County vendors and contractors are given an advantage when the district purchases goods and services?
Thuy Lowe
The school district needs to recycle the dollars back into its community by supporting the area businesses to help stimulate economic growth.
Debbie Stivender
Last year, the board created a Local Preference Committee comprised of local business leaders, to review our existing procedures and contract language. The committee concluded that the district was following the professional guidelines set by the state. I have personally continued to review our policies and contracts, and even asked the board to appoint me as liaison to the Purchasing Department to work with staff. With the help of the professional review committee, we have been able to implement some changes that will benefit our local vendors and businesses. There is still work to be done that will be of benefit for our district and our community as we move forward. I will continue to work with our local businesses to find that balance between local vendors and the district’s state requirements. I do understand the need to spend our local dollars at home.
Cheryl Thomas
Yes, I believe when selecting vendors the Board should choose a local company that provides the best quality for the price of services and goods that will be delivered.
Q: If you are the incumbent, why should you be re-elected; and, if you are a challenger, why should the incumbent be voted out of office?
Thuy Lowe
School members need to be involved in their school district to understand all weaknesses, strengths, threats, and opportunities of its organization. I intend to visit our school campuses and work with various departments to find inefficiencies.
Debbie Stivender
As the incumbent in District 4, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the voters’ confidence in 2008. I have learned a great deal over the last three and one-half years, about what it takes to educate a child for life and success in that life! With this public office, I have made it my full-time job. I rolled up my sleeves and went to work. I initiated many programs (that I’d like to complete for the district), serve on many committees and civic organizations relating to the district and community. I love seeing how our educators make a positive lifelong impact on their students. It truly is the best job on earth!
Cheryl Thomas
I believe it is time for fresh ideas, and innovative thinking on the Lake County School Board. We have to take a close look at the facts and see where we are going with Student Achievement, and spending.
Q: In the last year, what is the Lake County School District’s greatest achievement and failure?
Thuy Lowe
Our school district has received an A+ bond rating by Standard & Poor’s, but it ranks 44th out 67 school districts in the State of Florida for its academic performance.
Debbie Stivender
We have had many achievements such as opening health and wellness centers for our employees, hosting the first-ever STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) Bowl for third and fourth graders, highest scores ever for 8th graders in FCAT reading, math and science, doubled the high school career academies from 19 to 38, increased graduation rates and lower drop-out rates. There are so many that I can’t choose just one. The district being graded at a “B” seems to be perceived as a failure; however, I see all the great accomplishments and look at the grade as a challenge. The goal of everyone at the district is to accomplish and keep that “A” rating for years to come.
Cheryl Thomas
The greatest achievement would be the Graduation Rate increase. Our high school in Lake county percentage was higher than the State of Florida and that is to be commended. Our failure would have to be in moving our lower quartile to achieve academic gains on the FCAT test.
Q: Are you in favor of renewing the county option 1-cent sales tax and how should it be distributed?
Thuy Lowe
Yes, I’m in favor of renewing the county option 1-cent sales tax in 2017. The proceeds of this tax will be used for infrastructure, for equipment, and for debt service for borrowings used for these purposes.
Debbie Stivender
Yes, I am in favor of the renewal of the 1-cent sales tax in 2017. In 2002, as a county commissioner, I was involved in the renewal campaign and felt that bringing in the school district as a one-third partner was very important. The monies generated made it possible for the school district to renovate all of our older high schools. If renewed and shared with the school district again, I would propose that we use the funds to renovate the older elementary and middle schools and pay-off some of our debt service if legally possible.
Cheryl Thomas
Yes, the county tax 1-cent should be renewed and should be split 1/3 to all parties.
The final process of our Online Candidate Forum is for each candidate to present their closing statement in which they can present their argument as to why they should be elected as well as rebut something another candidate said. Closing statements are limited to 750 words and will remain confidential until they are published next week.
Once again, we would like to thank all of the candidates who participated in our Online Candidate Forum, and we hope our readers enjoy this unique way to find out about the candidates and issues. We encourage everyone to vote-exercise your right in a free society.
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