The two candidates who remain interested in serving on the Sioux Falls School District’s Board of Education debated issues ranging from budgets and school safety to library materials and South Dakota’s recently passed controversial social studies standards Thursday night.
Their debate was part of a forum hosted by the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls League of Women Voters at the Instructional Planning Center, where one of the two candidates will meet several times each month as part of their service on the board if they win the May 16 election.
Questions posed by moderator Melanie Bliss and answered by Dawn Marie Johnson and Brian Mattson ranged from specific to existential. Here are some of the highlights:
On their backgrounds and experience in education: Johnson talked about being a mother to her 9-year-old child Rain, her work in the Joe Foss program at Axtell Park in the district and as a social worker, running an afterschool program and working with the South Dakota Afterschool Network. Mattson spoke about his service in the U.S. Marine Corps and his heart for the job and making sure children are educated properly, as well as his experience raising two grown children and having a vested interest in his grandson’s education.
More:How much Sioux Falls school board candidates have raised, spent ahead of May election
On what they would do once they’re elected: Mattson said he would have to look into what’s going on so he can make informed decisions on what he’d like to improve. He wants to bring back the gymnastics program that was eliminated under part of a recent preliminary vote on next year’s budget, too, he said. Johnson said she’s excited to see the implementation of the community learning centers, and wants to advance the Leaders of Tomorrow program throughout the district.
On the social studies standards: Johnson said she testified against the standards, and that implementing such a large takeover of studies in a regular day will be daunting and a challenge for teachers. Supporting them and hosting listening sessions with them will be vital, she said. Mattson said he agreed with the standards and said he doesn’t believe there will be a problem with teachers implementing them into their daily classes. Both candidates said they will look at the budget process to cover the cost of purchasing curriculum to teach to the standards. Johnson noted the cost is estimated at $3 million for the district, and the standards don’t align with Spanish immersion curriculum or with the district’s use of Chromebooks. Mattson said he would look at the budget and see what’s essential, and what could be cut back.
More:$600K was spent to create SD’s new social studies standards. Implementing them could cost millions.
On teacher pay: Mattson said there’s a definite pay gap between teachers and administration, that he believes in fiscal responsibility and that he would work toward making that gap smaller. Johnson said teachers are “vastly underpaid” and she would work with the Sioux Falls Education Association and the budget to find a solution.
On children’s access to library books: Johnson said she has a lot of trust and faith in educators and librarians to make the right choices on what children access, and pointed to the district’s policy of allowing parents and guardians to question any materials or limit their own child’s access to certain books if they have concerns. Mattson said parents should be allowed to choose what books their children have available to them.
More:Sioux Falls schools, Legislature haven’t bowed to parents’ requests for book bans so far
On behavior and mental health issues in classrooms: Mattson said implementing more exercise into a children’s day will help them burn off some excess energy and get more oxygen into their brains so they can focus better on academics. Johnson pointed to the district’s four different behavior programs and her firsthand experience working with those programs, and also her experience as a social worker in meeting the needs of students in those programs.
On the city’s growth and diversity: Johnson said there’s a clear need for translation services in the city and district so they can support various languages among the city’s growing population. She also said people needs to take it upon themselves to learn about each other and the communities here, because “we have more in common than we don’t.” Mattson said teachers should be hired based on merit and that it doesn’t matter what “blood” or “nationality” one has.
More:Get to know the 2 remaining Sioux Falls school board candidates after one dropped out
On school safety: Mattson said he would like the district to take part in the sentinel training program and get more volunteers trained in police tactics so they can protect students. Johnson spoke about her experience creating safety policies for afterschool programs, but said she would also tap into the expertise of police officers and teachers for those situations. She spoke about being part of “incredibly traumatizing” safety and active shooter drills, and said she doesn’t feel like “that’s the way.”
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