Website: VoteCliffLewis.com

Ranked Choice:

I support programs that replace traditional and/or remedial courses with advanced and/or college level courses in our district.
Neutral

I believe that the racial demographics of the school districts should equitably represent the population of Baton Rouge.
Strongly Agree

I support the creation of a separate school district for St. George.
Strongly Disagree

Family poverty levels affect student test scores, therefore we need a system that takes overall school poverty level into account in order to give a more accurate measure of student performance.
Neutral

The school district should have the authority to mandate vaccines for children in public schools.
Neutral

The school district should provide curriculum that is sensitive to race, gender, and culture.
Agree

Recess time should be required in both elementary AND middle schools.
Agree

Short Answer:

What is your relationship with the public school system? (Did you attend, did/are your children/grandchildren attend(ing)). Have you attended school board meetings in the past? How would your presence improve the board?
I have worked as a Parental Engagement Coordinator in the East Baton Rouge public school system for 14 years. That equates too over 2,530+ days of engaging with parents, students and their families. This work has been done in traditional public school, charter schools and RSD state run schools.
I have 3 adult children all of whom attended EBR public schools. I have 10 grandchildren all of whom attended and/or still enrolled in the EBR public school system.
Yes, I’ve been attending school board meetings for the past 10 years.
I believe my presence on the school would lend legitimacy to the conversations surrounding what actually takes place in our schools on a daily basics.
I have seen firsthand how policies enacted by this local board and the LDOE have impacted students, their families and faculty.
Furthermore, I believe 16 years as a college football coach taught me the importance of collaborative efforts in getting the job done in ways that benefit everyone involved.

Do you support the creation of more charter schools in Baton Rouge? What criteria would you use to determine whether to approve them? What solution would you propose to address the growing budget deficits as charters receive more dedicated funds from the general budget?
When it comes to the creation of more charter schools in Baton Rouge, there are several criteria that must be addressed. Those criteria are outlined specifically in bulletin 126 on the Louisianan Believes website.
However, as a voting member of the EBR school board. I would want to see and conduct a thorough review of 1.) the providers most recent 5-year academic performance records. 2) the providers history of recruiting and retention of highly qualified teachers, specifically African American men in school leadership positions. 3) history of fiscal responsibility. 4) distribution of resources through-out their other schools. 5) number of schools located in cities and states with similar or comparable demographics to Baton Rouge. 6) history of suspension and/or expulsions of African American children, children with disabilities and children who may be classified as homeless.
Type 1 charters are authorized by local boards. Many parents want and believe in choice for their children.

What role does a school board member play in addressing the local challenges concerning teacher retention and hiring? How will you address the district’s teacher shortage?
It is our responsibility as policy makers to ensure that ALL children receive a fair and equitable education. That will not happen if we cannot retain qualified teachers and recruit more of them. I believe an effective strategy to do both is to PAY them a competitive livable wage.
We can be more creative in classroom presentations by employing satellite instruction. This way a veteran teachers could assist a younger inexperienced teacher by being present via satellite in the classroom with them while they both teach the same subjects.
We can also borrow from the model used by Community Colleges and employ Adjunct (teachers) professors.
The Industrial Tax Exemption Program gives exemption of property tax to industry. What is your criteria for approving or denying ITEP exemptions for the school board portion of the tax?
Grant the exemptions only if serves to strengthen our local economy, improve our workforce and GUARANTEE a percentage of the tax savings are returned to the school system in some other way. And those dollars should be earmarked for schools with the greatest need.

Would you like to clarify any of your ranked choice responses?
No

Website: EvelynWareJackson.com

Ranked Choice:

I support programs that replace traditional and/or remedial courses with advanced and/or college level courses in our district.
Disagree

I believe that the racial demographics of the school districts should equitably represent the population of Baton Rouge.
Strongly Agree

I support the creation of a separate school district for St. George.
Disagree

Family poverty levels affect student test scores, therefore we need a system that takes overall school poverty level into account in order to give a more accurate measure of student performance.
Agree

The school district should have the authority to mandate vaccines for children in public schools.
Agree

The school district should provide curriculum that is sensitive to race, gender, and culture.
Strongly Agree

Recess time should be required in both elementary AND middle schools.
Strongly Agree

Short Answer:

What is your relationship with the public school system? (Did you attend, did/are your children/grandchildren attend(ing)). Have you attended school board meetings in the past? How would your presence improve the board?
I serve as a current member of the school board and all 3 of my children are graduates of EBR schools. Two from McKinley and one from Baton Rouge Magnet High. I have attended all but two school board meetings in the past 12 years and have been a voice of reason during that time. I have not been polarized in my views and vote independently. I bring experience as a parent, a small businesswoman, and the founder of a non-profit community development corporation that focuses on STEAM based workforce training opportunities for youth and adults. We improve the quality of housing and curb appeal of businesses in Baton Rouge neighborhoods based on Arts and Culture with a STEM twist.
( redstickproject.org ) I have heard from many parents and teachers across the district that at present I am the only board member who is running for re-election that they can trust to bring their voices to the table. I will continue to work to protect the rights of students, parents and teachers.

Do you support the creation of more charter schools in Baton Rouge? What criteria would you use to determine whether to approve them? What solution would you propose to address the growing budget deficits as charters receive more dedicated funds from the general budget?
I have supported charter schools and believe we have enough to help serve the population of kids in the district. The criteria used to approve are location in an area where we have few schools, innovation, a need to partner at a certain school, or a service the district does not or cannot provide. With the assortment of schools we have in the district, including the new charter in the southern part of the district and the two new traditional schools in that part of the district I see no reason to hit the budget again in the area of charter schools. I have continually asked for attention to neighborhood schools as a strong foundation for improving Baton Rouge neighborhoods and to reduce the excuse for reviewing more charter applications. The Community Schools Model recommended in SR 133 should be implemented in schools that could benefit from it.

What role does a school board member play in addressing the local challenges concerning teacher retention and hiring? How will you address the district’s teacher shortage?
The way we treat teachers is critical for retention. The board members must be willing to speak on behalf of the needs in the classroom and for raises and stipends. More of the ESSER funds could and should go to the areas of need that it was created to improve instead of unnecessary contracts that do little for students. The staffing model used to staff schools should be based on need, not numbers for true equity. The pool of teachers requesting reassignments should be considered first before displacing staff like it was done in the spring. Individual school budgets should be funded first. No teacher should be coming out of pocket for needs in the classroom.
The Industrial Tax Exemption Program gives exemption of property tax to industry. What is your criteria for approving or denying ITEP exemptions for the school board portion of the tax?
The board set some standards around the ITEP proposals about 3 or 4 years ago. They include a set number of jobs created and maintained and the timing of the application. I have seen more of the smaller businesses meet the goals better than the larger businesses and cost much less in tax exemptions to the system than the larger industry-based entities. The board, metro and sheriff’s office came together to develop common criteria. They should come together again with an alternative to take before the legislature to replace this 80-plus-year-old exemption with something more comparable to what other states are doing.

Would you like to clarify any of your ranked choice responses?
#1. The parent should have the right to make the decision about what’s best for their child’s education. #2. The voting rights of citizens in BR are diluted with the present representation. We are in a court battle on the state and federal levels with an unfair redistricting plan. As the leading voice in fair redistricting on the board, I am a threat to Plan 22. #3. I do not want to see a separate school system happen again. However, if it’s legal I can’t blame them after years of begging for certain attention that the district refused to listen to and at the least, try to compromise on. We could have saved us all from this with a $120,000-a-year position for an associate Supt. under Dr. Taylor. #4. Family poverty is a large indicator of performance but many students in poverty excel regardless. #5. I do not like mandates, however, a science-based mandate is more important than an individual parent’s opinion. We have the option to stay home and learn virtually.