Mullins, O’Quinn choices in Willis District

This is the last in a series of candidate profiles in the upcoming November election 2019. Candidates for Dickenson County School Board in all five districts were asked the same questions, given the same time to respond and asked to limit their answers to roughly 100 words, more for multi-part questions.

WILLIS DISTRICT

Candidates for DICKENSON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

Rick Mullins, incumbent

Glenda O’Quinn, challenger

1. As you evaluate the quality of education being delivered to Dickenson County students, describe one area of required educational programming you believe needs more attention, what improvement is needed and how you will work to accomplish it.

RICK MULLINS: While I’m certain there are areas where improvement is needed, I believe we are generally in a good position to build on the programming we have in place. If elected, I will depend on our highly qualified, dedicated administrators and teachers who have worked hard to obtain the necessary education, experience and expertise to recommend refinements in our programs. Then, with expert recommendations in hand, I will work with my fellow board members to further evaluate those ideas and find ways to fund them.

GLENDA O’QUINN: I was involved in the program that developed the science kits used nationwide. In addition to developing the kits, I did the training video distributed across the country. Now, we are focusing on STEM. I want to focus on promoting this program. Science is my passion. I believe science, technology, engineering and math education is vital to the future of our students and our community.

2. Along with core curriculum, students need opportunities for electives and extracurricular activities for the most well-rounded education. Clearly state your position on the funding priority of arts and music programming in Dickenson County schools. Identify an elective and an activity that is not available to students that you believe should be and how you will work toward providing each.

RICK MULLINS: I believe art and music programming is very important to expanding our students’ horizons beyond that provided by the standard programming. I strongly believe electives serve to provide our deserving children with a level playing field when they venture out into the wider world. I was very pleased the current school board was able to re-instate art and music. I also welcome suggestions from the community as to additional electives they would like the school board to consider for funding. Remarkably, even without official funding, the Robotics Club has been a tremendous success. I believe we need to explore funding for programs such as that, which are of special interest but are not now eligible for funding from the system. If elected, I will continue exploring funding a broad range of electives and activities in a manner that is fair to all.
GLENDA O’QUINN: I am absolutely in favor of supporting electives and extracurricular activities. I am committed to the music and arts programs. I do not believe in micromanaging, so before committing to an elective not available now, I would need to have a conversation with the teachers and students to determine where the greatest interest is.

3. Boards typically are policy setters while staff implement and administer those policies in daily operations. But boards also typically have members who tend toward micromanagement of operations at differing levels. If elected/re-elected, how do you see these roles and how will you handle them when you encounter questions about operations?

GLENDA O’QUINN: Under “Criticism” in Mrs. Robinson’s contract it states, “the board both individually and collectively, will promptly refer all criticisms and complaints concerning the DCPS or its employees to the superintendent for study, review, and recommendation.” This micromanaging will stop. If an employee, parent or student comes to me with a problem, I owe it to them to be a part of the solution. As an administrator, I had confidence in the people I worked with. If issues cropped up, we handled them. I trusted them, otherwise they wouldn’t have been hired.

RICK MULLINS: I strongly believe the school board’s responsibility is to establish sound policy adhering to state regulations and to provide regular oversight of same to assure implementation. I do not favor micromanagement by the board or by individual board members. I believe a board member attempting to act individually to solve problems, however well intentioned, risks causing confusion and miscommunication that could create dangerous situations for our children. I believe the key to a smoothly running operation that will best serve our children is for the board to establish policy; provide policy oversight; hire highly qualified people; provide them with the tools they need; let them apply the expertise, education and experience they have worked hard to attain; perform regular job performance evaluations and work with staff to establish goals and expectations.

4. Spending on the Dickenson County school division’s central office has been the target of much criticism. Twelve of 15 people in that office have 25 years or more experience. Salary and benefits cost roughly $1.5 million, about 5.8 percent of the division’s total budget. Do you believe the central office is bloated in numbers and needs a reduction in staff, or does it have the level of staffing necessary? Would you support retirement incentives in an effort to create space for less experienced and less expensive personnel? Explain where you stand and what you would do about it if elected/re-elected.

RICK MULLINS: The state sets the standard for the number of employees needed for the Central Office. The state recommends 16.41 employees for Dickenson County. We employ 15. Likewise, our Central Office salaries are over $50,000 less than the salaries recommended by the state for Dickenson County. My greater concern is that these employees, some of whom have specialized skills and licenses, soon will be retiring and the school board needs to give attention to their replacement. I am not philosophically opposed to retirement incentives. If done correctly, it could be a way to avoid all of the specialized employees leaving at the same time as well as a way to train replacements while the retiring employees are still available. However, given that our employees are underpaid, according to state statistics, I am not certain such a plan would yield the suggested results. Instead, we could end up with a less experienced but higher paid staff. In short, the issue needs further study and, if elected, I will bring the matter to the board’s attention.
GLENDA O’QUINN: We must start with our superintendent. I believe she has received raises when other employees have not. Her family insurance premiums are paid now and for seven years after retirement. I am not opposed to retirement incentives, but I can’t speak definitively to them without more information on what they are.

5. State clearly the option and approach you will support, and why, for location of a new elementary school to replace Sandlick Elementary School. The board that takes office in the new year will either make that call or have a lead role in making that call, regardless of the pending judicial ruling in the court case that grew from the siting controversy. Please be specific, including whether you support consolidating Dickenson County’s three elementary schools into one or into two schools.

RICK MULLINS: It is not feasible for any board or individual member of a board to make an informed decision regarding the location of an elementary school until all the pertinent information is obtained and made available. Costs, location, number of students need to be gathered in order for a board or individual member of a board to make a determination concerning a decision as important as the future locations of the county’s elementary schools.

GLENDA O’QUINN: My first question is if the court case outcome is irrelevant, why are we spending in the neighborhood of $100,000 for lawyer fees? I am in favor of the three-school model. The board of supervisors has promised to finance this model. Should any consolidation be necessary, I am opposed to closing Sandlick and Ervinton and busing them to Ridgeview. Should consolidation be the only option available, I would favor closing all three elementary schools and locating them at Clinchco.

6. Through a state formula, Virginia sets a minimum standard for what a locality must pay toward educating its students. Dickenson County has a history of investing substantially more than is required to support its school system, funding that draws both praise and criticism. County administration has been clear the current level of giving is not likely sustainable.

If you are elected to the school board, your work to frame the next year’s budget and the request to county supervisors gets underway shortly after you take the oath of office. Will you be a champion for level or more funding, or do you believe the school division should deliver a lower budget request? Describe one new idea you have for a cost-cutting measure and how you would execute it. Are there areas of spending you would consider as off-limits for cutting? Explain.

RICK MULLINS: I am grateful to citizens who always have participated in giving more than the state requires to educate our children. However, I understand local funding has changed with the coal economy. The school board has no means of raising revenue and the board of board of supervisors has taxing authority and can raise revenue. I believe the board of supervisors should arrive at a funding level it believes the county can afford. Then, obviously, it is up to the school board to work within the framework of the funding the county can afford for education. However, since about 84 percent of the school budget goes to salaries (the rest goes to fixed costs), it stands to reason that jobs will be the target for any significant cuts. The school board will have no choice but to live with the cuts if the money is not forthcoming from the board of supervisors. However, the board of supervisors will have to live with having caused the firing of teachers and other staff, perhaps forcing them to leave the county, thereby further reducing the tax base.

The only areas of spending I would consider off-limits are those for debt-service and any contractual obligations because we have to honor our debt obligations. I believe major cost-cutting can be the result of consolidating the elementary schools, whose whose utility costs will be cut significantly.
GLENDA O’QUINN: Level spending. I wouldn’t say I have one area to look at. We must look at everything in hopes of reducing spending. Another way would be to refrain from frivolous lawsuits.

7. Describe what makes you the best candidate to represent citizens in your district and Dickenson County.

RICK MULLINS: I am a seasoned board member, having served a four-year-term in a tumultuous period in the county’s history. That has given me a deep understanding of the issues the county is facing and I harbor no illusions that the problems can be easily solved or by my action, alone. I have a deep respect for the other school board members and have been able to work well with them. I also appreciate that the school administration has a complicated job and I am prepared to assist them as is appropriate. Perhaps most importantly, I believe the school board should work to build on the many positive things we have achieved instead of trying to tear everything down and attempt to re-invent the wheel. I also am an experienced businessman with a clear understanding of complex financial matters and my business is the type that affords me time to devote to the time-requirements of a school board member. My only interest in seeking your vote is to continue to work to make Dickenson County a better place to live for your family and mine.
GLENDA O’QUINN: I have five children. Two of my own and three stepdaughters. I have 12 grandchildren. I have been in the Dickenson County school system for nearly 30 years. I know children. I want the best for each one. I understand they are all different, their needs are different. I know they deserve a quality education.

Please offer any closing thoughts you haven’t addressed.
RICK MULLINS: Given no limits, I could dream up dozens of ideas I’d love to implement that I believe our children deserve but the school board has to face the realities of funding limits. Thus, I pledge, if elected, I will work hard and creatively to provide our children with the very best opportunities our funding makes possible. I also will work to improve funding, especially the funding we now receive from the state, which currently is based on a formula that is unfair to Dickenson County.