District 1 Candidate Martha Barrett Questionnaire

 
 


 


 
 


 


 


 


  The
 Jacksonville
 Public
 Education
 Fund,
 Save
 Duval
 Schools,
 Duval
 County
  PTA,
 Jacksonville
 Kids
 Coalition
 and
 Jacksonville
 Urban
 League
 are
  nonpartisan
 organizations.
 We
 do
 not
 support
 or
 endorse
 any
 specific
 candidate.
  Our
 goal
 is
 to
 educate
 the
 community
 and
 promote
 increased
 participation
 in
 school
  board
 elections.
 
  Candidate
 responses
 to
 all
 questions
 will
 be
 published
 verbatim
 on
 a
 special
 web
  site
 at
 www.schoolboard2012.org.
 While
 candidates
 are
 strongly
 encouraged
 to
  complete
 the
 questionnaire
 in
 its
 entirety,
 partial
 or
 non-­‐participation
 will
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  prevent
 candidates
 from
 participating
 in
 subsequent
 public
 forums
 or
 other
  election-­‐related
 events
 hosted
 by
 these
 organizations.
 
  The
 deadline
 for
 returning
 this
 survey
 is
 July
 2,
 2012.
 No
 responses
 will
 be
  accepted
 after
 this
 date
 and
 all
 responses
 will
 be
 published
 simultaneously
 to
 the
  web
 site
 subsequent
 to
 this
 date.
 

2012
 SCHOOL
 BOARD
  CANDIDATE
 QUESTIONNAIRE
 


 


 
 
Martha Barret Candidate
 Name:
  ____________________________________________________________
  1 School
 Board
 District:
  __________
  www.votemarthabarrett.com Campaign
 Web
 Site:
  ____________________________________________________________
 


  Primary
 Campaign
 Contact
 
 
  Martha Barrett Name:
  ____________________________________________________________
 

[email protected] E-­‐mail
 Address:
  ____________________________________________________________
  904-343-7846 Phone
 Number:
  ____________________________________________________________
 

 
 
 
JACKSONVILLE PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND 245 RIVERSIDE AVENUE · SUITE 310 · JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32202 904.356.7757 · FAX 904.394.2005 · WWW.JAXPEF.ORG

Candidate
 Biographical
 Information
 
  Please
 provide
 a
 short
 biographical
 summary
 of
 no
 more
 than
 500
 words
 that
 can
  be
 used
 on
 www.schoolboard2012.org
 web
 site
 and
 in
 other
 publications:
 
 
  Martha Barrett is the Senior Vice President for Corporate Social Responsibility for Bank of American. Martha is currently responsible for the strategic planning, coordinating, and leveraging of the bank's local philanthropic contributions, managing events and sponsorships, and facilitating relationships with community and opinion leaders. In this role, she oversees the local foundation and sponsorship budgets as well as managing local market delivery team. Through her role she promotes a healthy, vital community through sustained leadership in philanthropy, volunteerism, community development lending and investing, the environment and arts &culture. Martha has been with Bank of America since 2001.
Martha served as the Business Development Director for Jim King Companies and she was an Assistant Vice President for Independent Life and Accident Insurance Company. Martha served in the Jimmy Carter administration in Washington, D.C. and also was an aide to Florida United States Senator Richard Stone in Washington, D.C. She returned to Jacksonville in late 1978 to work for the new mayor, Jake Godbold. She was the mayor's press aide and served in the Godbold administration for eight and a half years. She served the mayor in many capacities including as liaison to the United States Conference of Mayors. Martha was elected unopposed to the Duval County School Board in 2000 and 2004. She chaired the board in 2004. She was re-elected to the School Board in a special election in September, 2009. Since Martha has been on the board, a Strategic Plan and Data Dashboard have been established, several reading initiatives have been introduced as well as the Read It Forward Jacksonville Initiative, rigorous graduation requirements have taken hold for high school graduates and Acceleration Programs have been introduced in every neighborhood high school and Career Academies have been expanded in neighborhood high schools. She currently serves on the boards of the Cultural Council of Northeast Florida, Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Communities in Schools, Florida State College Foundation and Florida House in Washington, D.C. She also serves as an Advisory Board member of The Bridge of Northeast Florida and Cathedral Arts Project and she is a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville and Leadership Florida. She has received the Tillie Fowler Community Service Award from the Junior League, Tribute in Leadership from Community Connections, EVE award
  finalist in employment and Woman of Distinction award from the Gateway Girl Scouts council.

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Instructions
 
  Please
 answer
 each
 of
 the
 questions
 below.
 If
 you
 need
 additional
 space
 or
 wish
  to
 elaborate
 on
 your
 answers
 to
 one
 or
 more
 questions,
 please
 feel
 free
 to
  attach
 additional
 pages
 to
 this
 questionnaire.
 Please
 make
 sure,
 however,
 to
  identify
 the
 question
 to
 which
 you
 are
 responding
 by
 number
 so
 we
 can
 correctly
  align
 your
 responses
 with
 the
 proper
 question.
 
  You
 may
 respond
 by
 email,
 fax,
 or
 postal
 mail.
 
 Directions
 on
 how
 to
 do
 so
 are
 at
 the
  end
 of
 the
 survey
 document.
 
 
 
  Questions
 
  Overall
 
  1. If
 you
 had
 to
 give
 the
 Duval
 County
 Public
 Schools
 a
 grade,
 how
 would
 you
  rate
 its
 current
 performance
 at
 educating
 
  a. High-­‐performing
 students?
 
 
  _____
  A
  _____
  B
  _____
  C
  _____
  D
  _____
  F
 
  b. Average
 students?
 
 
  _____
  A
  _____
  B
  _____
  C
  _____
  D
  _____
  F
 
  c. At-­‐risk
 students?
 
 
  _____
  A
  _____
  B
  _____
  C
  _____
  D
  _____
  F
 
 
  2. In
 what
 respects
 do
 you
 think
 Duval
 County
 Public
 Schools
 are
 doing
 well
 in
  their
 mission
 to
 educate
 students
 in
 Jacksonville?
 
I believe that through the district's strategic plan we have seen significant progress. The "Six Steps to Stronger Schools" have been a proven road map for schools. The high school Acceleration Programs has been a real success for our students. Our neighborhood high schools have at least one of these programs in each school. These are: AICE...Advanced Certificate of Education Early College IB Program Diploma AP Honors AVID...Advancement via Individual Determination The board has been very pleased with these programs as well as the 23 Career Academies which are in our high schools.

 

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  These programs have been very successful and our neighborhood high schools are seeing significant increase in numbers due to these programs.


 
 

3. In
 what
 respects
 do
 you
 think
 DCPS
 needs
 to
 improve
 significantly?
 What
  specific
 changes
 do
 you
 want
 to
 make
 in
 school
 district
 policies
 or
 programs
  to
 make
 these
 improvements?
 
 
 The reading scores are still poor. We have to get students reading on
 grade level. The school board initiated "Read It Forward Jacksonville" last
 summer. There are extensive pre K programs and also the system is
 looking at broader menu of options in grades 6 through 12. The system is
 adding an additional honor in our lowest performing schools. Discipline is
 a major concern for the school system. The board just passed an updated
 policy on discipline at the June board meeting. Our graduation rate must
 improve although it has gone up the last few years but we have a long
 way to go.
 
 
 
 
 

Strategic
 Plan
 
  Duval
 County
 Public
 Schools
 has
 a
 strategic
 plan
 approved
 by
 the
 school
 board
 in
  2010
 that
 guides
 the
 day-­‐to-­‐day
 management
 and
 activities
 of
 the
 superintendent.
 A
  copy
 of
 the
 strategic
 plan
 can
 be
 accessed
 at
 http://www.duvalschools.org/static/
  aboutdcps/superintendent/strategic_plan.asp.
 
  For
 the
 following
 questions,
 please
 cite
 the
 strategy
 number
 and
 title
 (e.g.
 Strategy
 1.A:
 
  Provide
 additional
 support
 for
 all
 low
 performing
 students
 in
 all
 schools).
 
  4. On
 which
 specific
 strategy
 do
 you
 see
 as
 most
 critical
 for
 the
 district
 staff
 to
  focus
 in
 2013?
 
 
 The significant strategy that I see is 1(c) 1 Students Demonstrating True
 Gains in Reading. This is ensuring that all students will read on grade
 level. This strategy includes goals 1, 2 and 3 in the strategic plan. We
 have put the "Read It Forward Jacksonville" program and there are
 extensive pre K programs and also broader menu of options in grades to
 6 to 12. The school system is also adding an additional hour for reading in
 our lowest performing schools.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

5
 

5. Which
 specific
 strategy
 or
 measurable
 would
 you
 propose
 revising
 or
  eliminating
 and
 what
 would
 you
 change
 about
 it?
 
 
  The specific strategy I would propose revising is 1(B) 2 Students enrolled
  in rigorous courses who are African American. We want to make sure that
  all of our students are not just enrolled in courses but they are successful
  in these courses!! We must not just increase the participation but also
  increase the success rate!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Governance
 
  6. Please
 provide
 a
 description
 of
 how
 you
 would
 differentiate
 between
 the
  governance
 responsibility
 of
 the
 school
 board
 and
 the
 management
 role
 of
  the
 superintendent.
 
 
The school board's role is to govern which the superintendent and administration manage the schools on a daily basis. The school board should exercise governance and policy making actions. The school board should: Adopt policies Adopt budgets Adopt local students learning programs Evaluate programs and policy effectiveness Visits schools in district Active in community Attend worthwhile education conferences Conduct Town Hall meetings The school board also has to evaluate the superintendent's performance on an annual basis. I went through the Broad training program several years ago and I very much aware of the fact that the board is a policy making body and the superintendent runs the district.


 

6
 

7. Describe
 in
 your
 decisions
 how
 you
 would
 balance
 the
 interests
 of
 your
  specific
 neighborhood
 school
 board
 district
 with
 the
 interests
 of
 the
 entire
  school
 system
 if
 they
 come
 into
 conflict.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I have always been supportive of the entire district. While board members are elected from two city council districts, we truly represent the entire school district. I have always voted for new schools and necessary capital improvements and programs for schools in and out of my district. I expect the staff to tell us where these improvements should be made. At this point we do not have anymore funding to build new schools but when we did I always supported them. Since I have been on the board we have built two schools in my district..Arlington Middle..the old one was torn down to make room for the new one and a brand new elementary school...Waterleaf.


  The
 Duval
 County
 School
 Board
 is
 currently
 engaged
 in
 a
 search
 for
 the
 next
  superintendent,
 who
 will
 replace
 retiring
 Superintendent
 Ed
 Pratt-­‐Dannals
 in
  December
 2012.
 
  8. What
 do
 you
 consider
 the
 key
 qualifications
 the
 next
 superintendent
 should
  possess
 in
 order
 to
 be
 most
 effective?
 
 
 A leader who solicits respect and values the input of stakeholders at all
 levels of the organization and who has demonstrated leadership in
 utilizing that input to create and sustain a culture of shared decision
 making. A leader who supports and empowers principals, teachers and
 staff to improve organizational and student performing outcomes. A
 proactive visionary someone with strong organizational skills, able to
 collaboratively align and focus internal and external stakeholders' efforts
 to accelerate progress on achieving the district's goals for students and
 organizational performance.
 
 Possesses ability and understands the importance of developing mutually
 beneficial relationships with the business community.
  Possesses experience with strategic planning and the ability to manage a
 
  large diverse school district.
A very successful communicator.


 

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9. The
 school
 board
 is
 in
 the
 process
 of
 developing
 a
 new
 formal
 evaluation
  instrument
 for
 the
 Superintendent.
 In
 addition
 to
 this
 annual
 evaluation,
  please
 describe
 how
 you
 would
 propose
 providing
 formative
 feedback
 to
 the
  next
 superintendent
 on
 his/her
 performance
 on
 an
 ongoing
 basis.
 
The Duval County School Board passed a new Superintendent Evaluation policy on June 11, 2012. The formal evaluation will consist of both qualitative and quantitative components and will be aligned with the District's Strategic Plan. The board will determine the components and values of the formal evaluation no later than the month of June each year and if no action then the board will use the prior evaluation instrument. This process will provide for constructive feedback on the superintendent's performance, the intent being the continuous improvement of the Duval County School District.

It is important for each board member to meet with the superintendent on a quarterly basis to communicate his or her feelings about the superintendent's performance. If this is done then there should not be any Financial
 Resources
 and
 Budgeting
  surprises on the yearly evaluation!! I have done this since I have been a
  board member. The
 Duval
 County
 School
 Board
 is
 responsible
 for
 adopting
 an
 annual
 budget
 that
  outlines
 expected
 expenses.
 A
 copy
 of
 current
 budget
 documents
 can
 be
 accessed
 at
  http://www.duvalschools.org/static/aboutdcps/departments/
  budget/budget_resources.asp.
 Please
 review
 these
 documents
 so
 that
 you
 can
  answer
 questions
 #10-­‐12
 as
 specifically
 as
 possible.
 
  10. What
 specific
 areas
 of
 the
 district
 budget
 would
 you
 prioritize,
 particularly
 if
  additional
 resources
 became
 available?
 
  Our first priority is to safeguard the classroom and provide adequate
  quality educational opportunities for all children.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 

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11. With
 revenues
 expected
 to
 continue
 to
 decline
 in
 the
 coming
 years,
  additional
 budget
 cuts
 are
 all
 but
 a
 certainty.
 What
 specific
 areas
 of
 the
  budget
 would
 you
 recommend
 reducing
 first?
 
 
 Having been through several years of cuts we are already at a point of
 diminishing returns. There is no easy way forward. Many of our
 operational areas have been reduced by at lease 25% and most
 employees have not had a raise in over four years. We are in survival role
 at this point!! My priorities remain in the classroom. We have to reduce
 capital expenditures before anything else and protect the classrooms at
 all costs!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  12. The
 school
 district
 generally
 maintains
 a
 carry-­‐forward
 balance
 and
 reserve
  fund
 in
 its
 budgeting
 process,
 a
 portion
 of
 which
 is
 required
 by
 state
 law.
  How
 would
 you
 balance
 the
 maintaining
 of
 a
 reserve
 in
 excess
 of
 the
 state
  requirement
 and
 continuing
 to
 fund
 programs
 and
 services
 during
 tight
 fiscal
  times?
 
 
  While the state audits for a minimum of 3% fund balance, most
  professional associations such as the Government Finance Officers
  Affairs Association recommends an industry average of 5% to 10%. There
  is very little relief in sight and with a continued unstable economic climate,
  my priority for any excess would be to first continue the most pressing
  educational priorities which is saving the classroom and academic
  achievement at all costs!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 

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13. To
 ensure
 the
 district
 has
 adequate
 fiscal
 resources
 and
 avoids
 budget
  shortfalls
 in
 the
 future,
 what,
 if
 any,
 revenue
 sources
 should
 the
 school
  district
 pursue
 and
 on
 what
 timetable
 (e.g.
 increased
 local
 property
 or
 sales
  taxes,
 statewide
 tax
 increases,
 etc.)?
 
The Florida Legislature should fund our school districts at the adequate funding rates!! This action has not been done in years!! We need to continue to increase our grants from the state and federal government. I do not think that we can count on any tax increase and so we must be smart and visionary in our approach to our fiscal resources.

Community,
 Parent
 and
 External
 Relationships
  14. How
 would
 you
 propose
 strengthening
 the
 relationships
 between
 parents,
  schools
 and
 community
 members?
 
 
The district has a new Director of the Community and Family Engagement Office. This office is now connecting with the overall community including the faith based community, volunteers, business community and parents and non profits I believe that it is very important for board members to be involved with this office. Board members are out in the community an can assist that office by recruiting volunteers. An example is that about six years ago I was approached by Helen Lane and her sister. They wanted to get involved in a school in our district. The sisters were taken around to look at several schools and they chose Carter G. Woodson. Now Carter Woodson is an elementary medical magnet and I know that they have made a real difference at that school. This should be our goal...to have a major group or individuals adopt all of our schools!!

 

The Principal for a Day is also a great way to engage our community 10
  leaders...they get into those schools and find our the challenges and great opportunities in our schools!!


 

15. How
 would
 you
 ensure
 that
 the
 school
 district
 remains
 transparent
 to
 the
  community
 in
 terms
 of
 student
 academic
 performance,
 financial
  management,
 school
 board
 meetings,
 public
 records
 and
 other
 areas?
 
 
 Our board meetings are live and shown on the DCPS website. Any person
 can attend our meeting...workshops and board meetings.
 
 We have to be transparent and with the sunshine law we must have open
 communication with the media!!
 
 Town Hall meetings help with out board communication and our strategic
 plan and data dashboard is on the DCPS website.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  16. There
 are
 a
 number
 of
 external
 organizations
 that
 interact
 with
 and
 work
 to
  support
 the
 Duval
 County
 Public
 Schools,
 from
 the
 PTA
 to
 the
 Mayor’s
 Office
  to
 local
 nonprofits.
 Please
 describe
 the
 ideal
 relationship
 with
 entities
 like
  these
 and
 how
 you
 may
 leverage
 their
 services
 to
 support
 students.
 
  We are always trying to be more transparent.
The PTA, Mayor's Offic, JPEF and other non profits serve a very important role for the school system. These groups lobby in Tallahassee and are up to date on all of the issues. Many of our non profits are in our schools and they do a great job. United Way, Communities in Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters are just an example of the non profits who are in the schools and we need them!! They make a significant difference in students lives!! It is incumbent for school board members to be involved in these non profits and to understand and appreciate what these agencies do for our students and teachers!!


 

11
 

Legislative
 &
 State
 Issues
 
  The
 actions
 and
 decisions
 of
 the
 Florida
 Legislature
 and
 State
 Board
 of
 Education
  have
 a
 significant
 impact
 on
 the
 education
 of
 Jacksonville
 students.
 
  17. What
 law
 or
 policy
 passed
 in
 the
 past
 few
 years
 by
 the
 Florida
 Legislature
 or
  State
 Board
 of
 Education
 had
 the
 greatest
 positive
 impact
 on
 education
 in
  Jacksonville?
 
  When State Senator Jim King was President of the Florida State Senate
  in 2004 to 2006, he went to bat for our district.
 
  Duval County always had a very low DCD which is the District Cost
  Differential...Senator King made sure that our allocation per student was
  significantly increased!!
 
  Sen. King fought for Duval County wand the south Florida legislators
  were not happy with him but we in Duval County should always thank him
  for his vision and action!!
 
  A net increase for each year was $8 million for three years for the
  allocation of our FEFP which is the Florida Educational Financial
  Program.
 
  18. What
 law
 or
 policy
 passed
 in
 the
 past
 few
 years
 by
 the
 Florida
 Legislature
 or
  State
 Board
 of
 Education
 had
 the
 greatest
 negative
 impact
 on
 education
 in
  Jacksonville?
 
 
  The class size amendment has hurt our schools.
Research shows that the only students who are significantly affected by the class size are those in Grades 1-3. Our district has spent millions on this law while we lose significant teachers and aides due to this amendment. Principals have to lay off key resource teachers and media and guidance counselors in order to meet this mandate. This is a great example of an underfunded mandate from the state legislature.


 

12
 


 
  Major
 Policy
 Issues
  19. What
 do
 you
 see
 as
 the
 advantages
 and/or
 disadvantages
 to
 using
  standardized
 testing
 data
 as
 a
 portion
 of
 a
 teacher’s
 evaluation?
 
 
  Teachers will be graded on FCAT scores on a 50% basis. I think that this
  percentage is too much. We are losing out on enrichment pieces and no
  longer teach the whole child!! We are teaching to the test!! We have to
  realize that we need to be teaching the whole child and not just a test!!
  Arts, music and other areas teach the whole child..there is more to life
  than the FCAT.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  20. Duval
 County
 currently
 operates
 magnet
 programs
 in
 more
 than
 50
 schools,
  including
 13
 dedicated
 magnet
 schools.
 How
 do
 the
 district’s
 magnet
  programs
 positively
 and/or
 negatively
 impact
 overall
 student
 achievement
 in
  Jacksonville?
 
 
 Our magnet programs are very successful!!!
 
 The board realized that we needed to offer accelerated programs in all of
 our neighborhood high schools!! We are seeing a return to neighborhood
 high schools as a result of these programs.
 
 I wrote about these programs in question 2.
 
 I am proud of Terry Parker in my school district..TP will have a IB program
 this coming school year!!
 
 
 
 


 


 

13
 

21. What
 impact
 does
 out-­‐of-­‐district
 school
 choice—charter
 schools,
 tax-­‐credit
  scholarships/vouchers,
 opportunity
 scholarships,
 and
 similar
 programs— have
 on
 the
 success
 of
 students
 in
 Jacksonville?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Many charters are doing will and many are not. Test scores are fairly low in some. I am for choice but we need to monitor the charter schools on a continual basis.


 
 

22. Currently,
 the
 Florida
 Constitution
 limits
 class
 sizes
 to
 no
 more
 than
 18
  students
 in
 Grades
 K-­‐3,
 22
 students
 in
 Grades
 4-­‐8
 and
 25
 students
 in
 Grades
  9-­‐12,
 as
 measured
 at
 the
 actual
 class
 level.
 From
 your
 perspective
 as
 a
  potential
 board
 member,
 is
 the
 impact
 of
 this
 measure
 positive
 or
 negative
 in
  the
 effective
 education
 of
 students
 and
 management
 of
 our
 district?
 Why?
 
  I answered this on question #18.
 


 

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23. Currently,
 nearly
 60
 percent
 of
 high
 school
 graduates
 need
 remedial
  coursework
 before
 being
 eligible
 to
 take
 credit-­‐bearing
 courses
 at
 Florida
  State
 College
 at
 Jacksonville.
 What
 would
 you
 propose
 to
 increase
 the
  number
 of
 students
 graduating
 college
 and
 career
 ready
 and
 reduce
 the
  numbers
 requiring
 remediation?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I would like to point out that not all of the high school graduates are from Duval County schools. Potential students can apply from every county and many are older students who are not necessarily Duval County graduates!! High school students currently take the SAT, ACT and PERT. PERT is the assessment for entrance into community college. The school system is putting in more rigorous course work in elementary and middle school especially in math and reading. These courses will assist students for the rigor of college work. The school board voted several years ago to increase requirements for high school graduation. Our career academies are very successful and students can graduate with a diploma and certification from the particular career academy area. The board also made sure that acceleration programs are in every high school. All of these actions should assist in making sure that our students are college ready.

24. If
 you
 have
 children,
 what
 type
 of
 school
 do/did
 they
 attend?
  (mark
 all
 that
 apply)
  _____
  Public
 (inside
 Duval
 County)
  _____
  Public
 (outside
 Duval
 County)
  _____
  Private
  _____
  Charter
  _____
  Home
 Education
  _____
  Other:
 ______________________________________________________________________
 
 


 


 

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