By TOM YANCEY

Staff Writer

Four candidates for two seats on the Greeneville Board of Education in the June 3 election participated in a community forum Tuesday evening at the Capitol Theatre.

About 100 people attended and nearly all stayed more than two hours, until the end. The event was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Greeneville.

Candidates answered questions from the audience, through moderator Homer Marcum, and from Bobby Rader, news director of WGRV radio, and John M. Jones Jr., editor of The Greeneville Sun, representing the media.

Two Seats Being Sought

Incumbent board members Jerry Anderson and Cindy Luttrell face challengers, Olivia Roberts Lodge and Fred Quarles.

Introductions

The candidates introduced themselves and then took turns answering questions. Each candidate was also allowed one minute to rebut other answers or expound on their own.

Quarles said he moved to Greeneville in 1961, and took a teaching and coaching position at Greeneville High School and taught until 1964. He then worked for Magnavox before going to work at Tennessee Eastman, retiring from there in 1995.

Anderson, a Purdue graduate, has been in manufacturing for 32 years, mostly in accounting and finance jobs. He is now the chief financial officer for Marsh Petroleum. Anderson has been married for 34 years.

He has served on the school board for 11 years, seven as treasurer, two as vice chairman and two as chairman, the post he now holds. He has earned the Tennessee School Board Association "master school board member" designation.

Lodge said she is seeking the board seat because "I want to be involved." Lodge said she has a degree in education, and both her parents were educators, as are several other family members.

Her family includes two students, Lodge said, one a 2006 GHS graduate and another a student now. Lodge said she wants Greeneville schools to "be the best they can be."

Luttrell was appointed to fill the one-year vacancy created by the death of former board chairman Kay Leonard, and elected the following year. Luttrell is the wife of Alan Luttrell, and they have two children, Chelsea and Rachel, both GHS students.

Luttrell said she works in customer service at Takoma Regional Hospital.

New Middle School?

The first question dealt with plans announced at a recent school board retreat, calling for the closing of Highland Year-Round School and construction of a new middle school.

Candidates were asked their views.

Quarles said the most discussion he has heard about this topic concerned money, and said the board needs to "measure every dollar we spend more than once."

He noted that 10 different plans were presented. Quarles said the board needs to decide whether to act on a plan in the next two or three years. He said some of the plans he has heard about will greatly disrupt current patterns, and thinks the cost may be more than expected.

Anderson praised the 25-year plan created by Director of Schools Lyle Ailshie and the central office, and said public input on them will be sought this summer and fall.

Many of the plans will address needs for more space. He noted that Highland School has experienced decreasing enrollment.

Lodge said it is imperative to be responsible in evaluating facility needs, and the $22.8 million funding request needs to be looked at carefully.

She pointed out that the city school system has in the past closed Andrew Johnson, Roby, George Clem and Crescent schools, but all of those buildings "are presently being used."

Lodge said renovations and additions at GHS provide a good example of what can be done to "a building that's already paid for. Greeneville High School is world class."

Luttrell said the 10 proposals provide "a lot of things to consider," but added, "That doesn't change the fact that we have serious facility needs." She noted that the middle school band members cannot practice in the same room together.

Luttrell said she would like to see a joint workshop meeting with the board of mayor and aldermen on facility needs.

Quarles noted in his follow-up response that he was glad to learn of the planned public forum. He agreed that the gym at GMS is inadequate, and suggested it be converted to classrooms and a new gym be built nearby.

Anderson, in his follow-up, said the new school will not be built next year, but will be a three- to five-year project.

At some point, he said, "the fire marshal will not allow kids at Highland." He said Highland School has no handicapped access to its second floor, and operates on a waiver it must renew each year.

Lodge followed up by pointing out that Ailshie was quoted in The Greeneville Sun as saying he would like to start the new school in 2010.

Luttrell noted that when superintendents from other systems visit, they often wonder aloud how a school as small as Highland can remain open.

Assets And Challenges

The candidates were asked to name the best things about Greeneville schools, and to identify challenges.

Anderson listed "great teachers" as an asset, as well as "great community involvement."

The biggest challenge, he said, is funding.

Lodge also cited "dedicated and hardworking teachers," and also concerned parents. Lodge said an issue she sees is the need to better support classroom teachers, and to carefully evaluate facility needs.

Luttrell cited "rigor of academics" as a strength of the system, and the fact that the system, though small, is recognized nationally. The budget is an ongoing challenge, she said.

Quarles said honors classes at GHS are "one of the best things, but noted it is just as important to "keep in mind all students, average students," many of whom will work in industry and need more technical training than they now receive.

Quarles said the system needs to take advantage of citizens who offer their volunteer help more than has happened in the past, because offers have been made.

Anderson said another challenge is the need to strengthen before- and after-school programs.

In her follow-up, Lodge said the rules that exempt students at GHS who have A or B averages from finals, provided they have not missed many classes, is something that should be reconsidered. When students know they will have to face a final exam, they have to keep up with lessons to the end of the term, and learn more.

Quarles said there are "ways to work around" brick and mortar issues, and added, "Even in an old, old building, it's the teacher that counts."

America Diploma Project

One question was directed specifically at Lodge, and asked how she would implement the America Diploma project.

Lodge said that how that should be done is not clear, but added, "I'm a good researcher, and if I were on the board," she would make it her business to be thoroughly familiar with it.

Luttrell said the Tennessee Diploma is related to new curriculum standards calling for more math and science.

Quarles asked to have the question repeated, and then answered, "Very diligently," triggering laughter.

Anderson said the program actually will take effect with seventh-graders this fall, but will not be fully implemented for six or seven years.

He said Greeneville will actually be phasing the America Diploma in "before the state does," and he is concerned that the program will be "watered down" before it is fully implemented, as the Gateway tests have been.

Lodge said she appreciated the clarifications, and said she was "excited to learn that we'll be taking the initiative." Lodge said as much of the implementation as possible needs to be "left to classroom teachers."

Block Scheduling

Candidates were asked their views on block scheduling, which divides the school day into four, 90-minute classes.

Luttrell said she was not really familiar with the schedule that preceded the block schedule. She said the system is "moving toward" a modified block to accommodate honors, pre-Advanced Placement and AP courses.

Quarles said the block is good for certain subjects, especially those that require labs, but questioned its value in a subject like civics.

Anderson said the block schedule "does require revising how we teach," but "teachers for the most part have done an excellent job" of adapting. He said modifications should alleviate "some issues."

Anderson said science and band classes do operate better on the block schedule.

Lodge said she is glad that the system is "revisiting" the block schedule, because the current system "limits our children's choices."

She also said it is "unrealistic" to expect teenagers to be able to focus on one subject for 90 minutes, and lack of the ability to take more electives "causes them to miss some great opportunities," such as taking a foreign language or art.

Luttrell said "teachers have been up to the challenge" of the block schedule.

Quarles, in his follow up, said the block schedule "does away with study hall, which is good, I think," because it makes students study at home with their parents.

Anderson said he believes the block schedule is "one reason our ACT scores are so high."

Lodge also pointed out that the block schedule multiplies the negative effects of an absence. If a student misses a day, under the block system, it's the same as missing two days, and the same is true if a teacher misses a day or a week.

School Discipline

Candidates were asked if "the state of discipline is adequate in the school system, especially at GHS."

Quarles said discipline "is not adequate at this time," and there is a "need for more accountability and more responsibility" at all levels.

Anderson said "discipline at the high school and middle school is always a concern," and noted that Luttrell has asked for a review of the discipline policy.

"I got my discipline at home," Anderson said, but that is not the case in many homes, hence the need for more before school and after school programs, he said, including "therapy services for some of these children."

Lodge said discipline and safety are the top concerns that parents voice to her. She acknowledged that teachers are not getting as much support from parents now.

But Lodge said that, to be effective, discipline rules need to be "concise, clear and consistently followed."

Quarles said "discipline nowadays is much harder than it was 20 or 30 or 50 years ago," and "begins at home" if it is to be effective.

Quarles said leadership at schools cannot be replaced with "10 policies, or 100 policies."

Anderson said improvements in discipline are sought constantly.

Lodge said she is "excited that the Greeneville Police Department is partnering in education," and said she thinks police officers are "happy to have the opportunity to play a bigger role."

Luttrell said the presence of uniformed officers "sends a message," but such programs are in jeopardy from budget cuts.

'No Child Left Behind'

Candidates were asked about the federal "No Child Left Behind" law (NCLB), which is implemented at the state level.

Anderson said NCLB is an unfunded federal mandate that school systems have to live with, because they receive 10 percent of funding from the federal government.

Anderson said NCLB "has identified subgroups" that need more attention, and that is a good thing.

Lodge said NCLB has its "good points," but it puts an undue burden on teachers.

Lutrell said the intent of NCLB is good, but it has the effect of categorizing children and penalizing school systems for goals that can't be met.

Quarles said the "tremendous burden" requires teachers to be superior. Quarles said he is "surprised that school boards across the country have fallen for this" and not balked at what he sees as political implementation that is impossible to meet. "It will break us," he said.

Anderson said he sees a move to reduce the burden because large cities and states cannot afford to meet it.

Summations

Luttrell said she is "not in this for the money," adding, "My only agenda is what's best for the child." She said she hopes to make decisions with integrity, an open mind, and fairness.

Lodge said, "We are all proud of our schools and of dedicated and hardworking teachers." She pledged to try to make "sound and thoughful decisions concerning educational goals," and said, "I will be a voice for you."

Anderson said it is a challenge for the school system to respond to "laws" that come from five or six state and federal sources, but the Greeneville school system is doing a good job. He said school systems that Greeneville looked to as examples are now looking to Greeneville for guidance.

Quarles thanked those responsible for the forum for providing an opportunity for an enlightening discussion. "Anything that can't be challenged will become complacent or dictatorial," he said.

If elected, Quarles said he would be a "tough" addition to the board.

"The most important thing to me is my two grandchildren in the city school system," he said.

Artie Wehenkel, a past president of the Kiwanis Club, thanked the candidates and those who attended.

Wehenkel said a 35 percent voter turnout is not acceptable, and urged a large voter turnout.

For video coverage of the Town Meeting go to www.greenevillesun.com