Seymour, Rod vie for Cd'A School Board in Zone 3

COEUR d'ALENE - Terri Seymour and Greg Rod are competing in the May 17 election for a seat on the board of trustees in the Coeur d'Alene School District.

The position, in Zone 3, is now held by Bill Hemenway, who is not seeking re-election.

Seymour works in Coeur d'Alene as payroll administrator and office manager of the corporate office of Great Floors, where she provides administration and oversight of payroll, human resources and personnel management of 350 employees.

She is an Idaho native and has lived in Coeur d'Alene since 1994.

Seymour ran against Hemenway for the Zone 3 board seat in 2009, losing by 42 votes.

Rod has worked for the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department for 12 years. He is the captain in charge of Fire Station No. 1, which has an ambulance and ladder truck.

He was raised in western Washington. His mother was an elementary school teacher.

Both candidates have children attending schools in the Coeur d'Alene School District.

Decision to run

"When I watch and listen, I see the serious problems we have in the school district," Seymour said. "I think it's getting worse, that we require new leadership, and I'm willing to step up to the plate."

School district issues that concern Seymour include "the behavioral and discipline problems that are in the schools that are endangering our students and the teachers." She sees the district administration lacking in several areas: fiscal accountability, transparency, and open communication with parents on various issues.

"Parents have been treated very disrespectfully by the board," Seymour said. "People don't trust the school district and the board."

She thinks the district is relying on levies without giving parents any input regarding how the money is spent.

"I'm not anti-levy, but parents are so afraid that their children are going to lose out. Some parents don't even have money for food, yet they're voting in favor of these levies, because they're fearful," Seymour said.

She said she wonders what happens to the children whose parents don't get involved, and that she knows parents who are afraid to go to the board for help because they fear their children will be ostracized in school.

"I feel I need to be their voice. I can be the voice for the students, the taxpayers, the teachers," Seymour said.

Rod says he's seeking election because he has "the time, the passion and the motivation to give back to our community and our schools."

When Rod's own children started school several years ago, he began volunteering in the classroom. He has served for the past three years as a volunteer on two school board committees - the district's Policy Advisory Committee and the Curriculum Committee.

Through his service on those committees, Rod said he has developed a deeper understanding of the school district and its stakeholders.

"I think they've created a strong district, and have done the best they can under extraordinary budget circumstances," Rod said. "I am seeking election to the board in order to continue the great work the current and previous boards have accomplished."

Books: Who should choose?

Rod said he thinks educators should be responsible for deciding which novels and texts are used in school classrooms.

"I also think that parents know their children best and if parents find some curriculum which is undesirable, they should have the option to opt out," Rod said.

The district has these types of policies and procedures in place, he said.

Seymour said educators and parents should be involved in selecting books for the classroom.

"The educators are likely better informed about which materials are available and how they will work in the classroom setting," Seymour said. "On the other hand, education should reflect local values, and parents who care have a huge stake in community values and their kids' education."

To IB, or not to IB?

International Baccalaureate is "a very expensive program that doesn't seem to produce much of a benefit for many students," said Seymour.

IB courses are offered as an advanced-learning option at Lake City High School, while the IB curriculum is used in classrooms at Hayden Meadows Elementary School.

"Given the financial problems we face, it should be looked at very carefully for possible elimination," Seymour said. "It has cost the school district about $1.5 million, and after about six years, only about 20 IB diplomas have been awarded."

The Advanced Placement courses now offered only at Coeur d'Alene High School are less costly to the district and to students, she said.

Seymour said she has heard from parents who are concerned there is a political agenda attached to the IB program, and that it is less respected academically.

"I'm focused on the academic value rather than the politics," she said.

Rod said that although he is not "fully acquainted with the intricacies" of the IB program, he believes it is "a positive program."

"Promoting global thinking and introducing students to other cultures seems to be desirable as long as the program remains affordable," Rod said.

New education reform legislation

Rod believes Idaho public schools chief Tom Luna's "Students Come First" legislation has already significantly affected the Coeur d'Alene School District.

"There is fear in what reform brings," Rod said.

A lot of time and energy needs to be dedicated to "studying and working through the plan," he said.

"We need to be resolute in finding ways to support our educators during this reform process," Rod said.

Seymour feels positive about much of the new legislation and has questions and concerns about some of it.

"Mr. Luna says it gives back local control to the school boards, which is good. In that sense, I'm for it," Seymour said. "As far as the laptops are concerned, I have my own questions as to how that would work out and what would be best economically."

She said she believes the best way to educate is with a skilled, motivated teacher, and a student who is paying attention.

"I don't think you can truly replace what teachers bring with a computer; however, I think there is some misinformation out there about the technology issue," Seymour said. "As I understand it, local boards will have a lot of discretion."

She supports the newly legislated changes to the way teachers are paid.

"Definitely, I think we should be rewarding our good teachers, and we should not be stuck with ineffective teachers because of tenure," Seymour said.

Elected school district trustees serve four-year terms. The elections are non-partisan, and take place during odd-numbered years. School trustees serve as volunteers, receiving no compensation for their time.

District 271's Zone 3 includes the area west of U.S. 95 to Atlas Road, and north of the Spokane River. The zone moves west and north to the district boundaries at the extension of Holmes Road.

Zone maps are available for viewing on the Coeur d'Alene School District's website, www.cdaschools.org.