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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL FORUM From page lA holds a special place in my heart,” Melnick said. “Education has always been a passion, a passion to serve.” Geldreich, an art teacher and advocate for arts educa tion said his “main belief is: Teach the children - not ‘teaching the test.’” He also noted that students par ticipating in arts programs did better on standardized tests. Wilson, who has served on the board for 12 years, said, “the key word is service to the community. I believe in family. Everything we do should be centered towards family.” Clements, who has been on the board for four years, has changed the school sys tem administration, making it, he said, a friendlier place now. He also said the board has changed its bid process and now uses a standardized school construction plan. He said his engineering back ground has been very help ful with the SPLSOT build ing fund. “I really would like to be re-elected to see this through,” he said. Swecker, the father of seven, said safety in the schools is his focus. “My daughter has been assaulted at Miller Elementary due to the faulty administration there.” She has been trans ferred to another school he is much happier with. “As a member of the board of education,” Swecker said to voters, “you have 150 per cent of my attention. I can talk the talk and walk the walk.” Yasmin said he is very happy with the school sys tem and wants to bring his ideas to improve the gap in math and English scores. “I’ve got a passion for educa tion,” he said, “that’s what I do. I want to take system to the next level. I think it’s time for a change.” Walker said he has served the county for 23 years in the state House and as coun ty commissioner. He noted concern about air quality, supports a privately funded hotel/conference center and a homestead exemption for those 65 and up. “I am very conservative with the taxpayer’s money,” Walker said. “I have never voted for a tax increase.” Braswell, a 38-year coun ty resident is retired from the Air Force and Robins Air Fore Base. He said he LOTTERY From page iA them for the lottery. Parents may register their child between March 1 and March 30, 2007, making them eligible for the lottery selection. Once registration closes, a computer program will be used to randomly fill the available slots at each school. Parents will be noti fied by mail whether they were selected or not by the end of April 2007. The board approved the new procedure dur ing Tuesday’s board meet- GRANT From page iA funding option, opportunity zones, which would come in on top of existing enterprise and retail zones, would help businesses maximize job tax credits - $3,500 in this area. She said Ocilla is the only one in the state so far to take NAMES From page iA for seven years, will be prin cipal of the new Lake Joy Elementary. He will transfer from his current role as the principal of Quail Run Elementary. When the new school opens, the current Lake Joy will be renamed Lake Joy Primary School. Melanie Loggins will be the principal at Lake Joy Primary. Loggins currently serves as the principal at Lake Joy Elementary. She has been attending County Commission meetings for the past three years and “arrived at the conclusion the average person has no representation. I decided to get off my butt and do some thing.” Braswell said he supports impact fees as a way to fund infrastructure improve ments needed due to rapid growth. “Want is one thing, need is another,” he said referring to the budget, which he said need to be closely looked at. “If elected I will not accept any appoint ments to the bank board or be a part of any land deals,” he promised. Q&A Not all of the candidates were asked all of the ques tions. Some were candidate or district specific. Q: Do you have plans for tutoring and after school programs and should students attend schools near their homes? “My plans do not include that, but at the state level there are plans for that,” Brown said of after school tutoring and programs. “Yes indeed,” she said to attending schools near their homes. “If a status quo must be maintained, why at the expense of students and families?” Melnick said, “We already provide after school pro grams. If need be, we can look into enhancing the tutoring programs.” Brown noted “the after school programs are not free. It costs money to par ticipate.” Melnick said I believe in students going to the schools near their homes, but atten dance zones have to be restructured every time we open a new school to pre vent overcrowding and meet federal criteria to provide an equitable education for all students. Q: How should the board address school safety? Geldreich said the school board should take a proac tive stand and listen to the community. “I can attest to the measure put in place,” he said. “However there is much room for improvement - the work is not done.” Wilson said, “the board has already taken proactive steps and trained educa tors to be on the lookout. We have teams together to respond and have involved officials from the Perry Police, Centerville Police, Warner Robins Police and Houston County Sheriffs ing after hearing Frankie Ross, coordinator of Pre-K, after school, health and PE, describe the process used previously. “For many years now we have used the first come, first serve enrollment meth od and parents began camp ing out the night before the registration day,” Ross said. “Parents, however, have now started camping out the Friday night before the Monday registration. “This creates a situation that is not equitable to all parents. A lottery is the fair est process we can use.” She added that school sys advantage of it. The opportunity zones, Katsikides said, “help amp up the downtown area.” Megan Smith from the Perry Chamber of Commerce and Perry Mayor Jim Worrall expressed interest in bring ing an opportunity zone to Perry. Another DCA plan in the beginning stages, Katsikides has been with the Houston County schools for 22 years. Hilltop Elementary will also open next fall. Harold Sapp, principal of Perry Primary School, will trans fer to the principal position at Hilltop. He has been with the Houston County School System for 25 years. Paige Reaves was approved for an administrative trans fer to the position of princi pal at Mossy Creek Middle School. Reaves is current ly the principal at Feagin Mill Middle School and has worked for the HCBOE for Office.” Wilson said there are also dress codes in place so those who are not students can be easily identified. Q: What can be done about the low graduation rates for children with disabilities? Clements said “we’re implementing new pro grams everyday. The admin istrative staff addresses this. We’re doing all we can. We can do more.” Swecker said, “it starts at the elementary level. You can’t start in high school. It has to start with moral ity and integrity. When you have administrators without morality and integrity them selves you can’t do it.” “You can’t continue to teach the test,” Swecker said. “You’ve got to put a true effort in to be true to the children.” Yasmin said, “parents should be involved. If not there is a gap in the level of communication. It is very crucial. We need to come up with after school programs for the students in need. With parents and teach ers’ involvement it can be done.” Q: What do you think about no child left behind and failing school status? Melnick said, “the intent of the law is good - making sure all children receive an equitable education is what we’re about.” She said a pending change in the law would alleviate some of the problems the school system is having with the law. Wilson said, “every child should be educated to the level they can. I look for the law to be amended so we can meet the intent of the law. I support it to the fullest extent possible.” Swecker said “no child left behind has at least given an avenue to children failing. There’s a disparity between schools - by no stretch of the imagination is it the same at every school.” “We can make every school equal if we put the people in place to do it.” Swecker said. “We’ve gotta take the politics out. It’s for the chil dren.” Yasmin said, “we should support it. I don’t want chil dren left behind I want them out front as leaders.” Geldreich said he agreed “with the good intentions, but we know where the road paved with good intentions leads. I think the law is seriously flawed. I think it terns the size and makeup of Houston County use the lot tery system. The HCBOE Technology Department will use a ran dom number selection pro gram to fill the Pre-K slots allotted to each school. The following link explains the programming technique that will randomly generate numbers and assign a prior ity sequence for the lottery, based on the database built during registration: http:// www.as4oopro.com/servlet/ sql.tipView?key= 193&categ ory=RPG. To be eligible for Pre-K, a child must be 4 on or before Sept. 1. said, is a benefit for people who work at a military base. She said a grant of up to $7,500 would be available for lower income employees (GS-7 or lower) to buy a home. Katsikides said the details are still being worked out, but said the program “shows really good commitment to the base.” 17 years. Great Deals Free AD for items under SSO Call 987-1823 for details LOCAL should not be revised but completely rewritten.” He said, “may schools focus on that line and that’s all. The ones left behind are the excellent students who have no place to excel.” Brown said, “it’s unfor tunate government had to waste taxpayer dollars to ensure children get an equi table education. Right her in Warner Robins we have left some children behind, those with special needs. Look at Crossroads our alternative education. If they’re not left behind then I don’t know who is.” “Why? It’s about the almighty dollar. That’s why,” Brown said. Wilson said, “the school system has set performance goals and set a time to meet ing those goals for the 2013- 14 school year.” Brown said “the federal government mandated the goals for 2013-14. Q: What assets should the Board of Education give a school that does not meet the Annual Yearly Performance stan dards? “I don’t think it’s neces sarily more money,” Brown said. “Parents have to be held accountable. If we do not take an active role it doesn’t matter what we spend. The people in charge are not going to fail. It’s the parents who have failed.” Melnick said “look at why they are failing, then target that for the next year. A lot of times it’s one problem.” The former school system administrator said “we set up tier funding - resources and funds, for the schools and professional learning for the teachers.” Q: What is the No. 1 problem in schools? Geldreich said safety. Not only sidewalks to the schools, but also what goes on in the schools. We need to address how we address problems with students.” Wilson said safety is a con cern but the No. 1 problem is growth. “Fortunately voters have allowed us to meet this problem with the SPLSOT, unfortunately then comes that lovely word rezon ing, something we have to address with the opening of new schools.” Q: Do all schools receive the same funding and why are some schools identified as schools of excellence while others aren’t? Clements said, “I don’t know why some are schools of excellence. We do funding SUSPECT From page iA with armed robbery, pos session of a firearm by a convicted felon and pos session of a firearm dur ing the commission of the crime. He is currently being held at the Houston County Detention Center without bond. Come to the Free Open House and Learn How t 0... ®Jf sensb(y Thursday, October 19 5 - 6 p.m. Perry Hospital Medical Library TOPS Members will provide __ low-calorie, low-fat refreshments. at different levels because of different needs at each of the 32 schools.” Yasmin said, “all schools should be funded equally. To become excellent is not done overnight It takes time. Failure is the same. We need to study why schools succeed and excel or fail.” Q: Will Houston County ever fund a school of the performing arts? Brown said, “it depends on if the taxpayers want to fund it.” Melnick said, “I’d like to be a part of the team that decides,” but added it is not likely. “Each high school deserves the opportunity for arts education.” Geldreich said, “I hope so, one day. It will take baby steps.” Wilson said “within every school we have a performing arts program now. Northside and Warner Robins are award winning.” Clements said, “I don’t think we’re ready for it. We have excellent programs in our schools.” Swecker said, “there’s a lot of other areas to clean up first. All the high schools have wonderful programs.” Yasmin said “as an econo mist, if there it can be a value to the community let’s do it, but if not then no.” Q&A District 2 County Commission candidates Q: Will you support more funding for health care?” Walker said, “without a doubt. All citizens deserve healthcare. The county sup ports the health department, but we don’t do enough to support all the agencies.” Braswell said “healthcare is very important, especially for senior citizens. Yes, I’m in favor of supporting it if we can.” Q: How will the SPLOST money be spent? Walker said the SPLOST allocation was specified in the referendum voters approved. It mandated how DAVID OVERTON JEWELERS ‘Jewelry Repair & Cleaning / N. ‘Watch Repair -Engraving Hours: / -Appraisals Mon. -Fri. \^S vy ‘Estate Jewelry 9:3oam-s:3opm ‘Class Rings 9:3oam-2pm 905 Downtown Carroll St. • Perry MINI-STORAGE (478) 397-2519 5' X 1 O' $25 10'X 10' S4O 10'X12' SSO 768 SO. FT. WAREHOUSE FOR RENT! LOWEST PRICES AROUND! . (KMMKBO! FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2006 ♦ anti for what the projects the money would be spent. Braswell said we have to look at what’s necessary. What part of the budget should get he biggest and smallest slices of the pie.” Walker said 85 percent of the 2006 SPLOST was gong to transportation projects with 40 percent of that going to build roads and sidewalks to the schools. Braswell said, “we were misled on the SPLOST. We’ve got to get impact fees on these multimillion dol lar developments causing all the growth.” Q: Are there any illegal aliens working for the county? “I hope not,” Walker said. “As far as I know none are working in Houston County government.” Q: Is there a need for a convention and confer ence center? “With out a doubt, Walker said. We need a hotel con ference center. But I’m not talking about using taxpayer dollars to fund it. We need a diversified economy and this would be part of that.” Braswell said, “no, we can’t afford it. We can’t afford it to lose money. If somebody wants to do on private funds then they can pay for it.” Walker said, “I support it being done by private inter ests, with support from the county.” PLACE YOUR AD IN THE MIDDLE GEORGIA LABOR LISTINGS.... and reach over AgL 50,oooJK%Jm. homes % *»« lf Ix 2 every Wed., Fri., & Saturday 1 Month ONLY SIOO Call the classified department at 987-1823 or fax 988-9194 *all ads must be prepaid 10' X 20* SSO 20'X20' $75 (PER MONTH) 5A