Where they stand Q&A: Eastern Hancock School Board candidates

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    CHARLOTTESVILLE — Two newcomers are challenging the school board president for his seat on the Eastern Hancock School Board.

    Mike Lewis has occupied the at-large seat since 2014. His challengers are Alan Craney of Shirley and Tammy Stunda of Wilkinson.

    Lewis is proud of the progress he and his colleagues have made in making Eastern Hancock’s buildings and grounds more attractive and efficient. The district has installed new boilers, new parking lot lighting and updated restroom facilities. These are improvements the community might not notice right away, but they go a long way in building pride and attracting students from outside the district, he said.

    Craney and Stunda believe the school board has made good progress, but they’d like to add a new voice in the discussion going forward. Both are parents of current or former Eastern Hancock students, and they see serving on the board as an opportunity to give back.

    Craney is a businessman and auctioneer. He said he’ll approach decision-making on the school board with the same well-rounded common sense he uses in his business.

    Stunda said she’ll call on her own career experience if elected. Stunda works in information technology for a financial company and is regularly having to navigate changes to educational standards, she said.

    Here is more information of each candidate’s views, in their own words:

    Why are you running for office?

    Craney: The school board is where I can meaningfully contribute to our community in an area that both interests and excites me. I am a person that cares about the well-being and education of our children. Our children are the future of our community. With great leadership from our school system, our community will continue to strive and prevail for years to come.

    Lewis: Our school is very important to me and our family. Our family has been in the school district for over six generations. Property taxes have always been a concern. I feel it important for our school board to have a representative of the majority of the tax base in our school district, which is agriculture. Eastern Hancock is the center of activity for our half of the county. We have that great small-school family feel that I enjoy.

    Stunda: Eastern Hancock is part of the fabric of my family. We collectively are graduates of Wilkinson, Charlottesville, Westland and Eastern Hancock. I am a 1985 graduate, and our three children are graduates. This is a school that is part of our family’s legacy and an integral part of our community. Beginning in 2019, there are significant changes being introduced with the school funding model and Graduation Pathway requirements. This will require substantial change management, and every school system will need to navigate these requirements in a manner that best serves their students and staff. I believe I can bring a fresh perspective to these new opportunities and challenges.

    What makes you a qualified candidate for the position?

    Craney: I am qualified for this position because of my personal and professional experiences. I listen to and work well with others as an adept and active problem solver with common sense. I seek to make decisions that are dimensional. I consider more than one perspective angle.

    Lewis: I have been on the board for almost five years. I finished a board member term, then was elected for a full term. It takes some experience on the board to get acquainted with how schools are run. I feel qualified to continue with the success the board has accomplished with upgrading the facilities, but we still have some work to do. We have a great group currently who focuses on long-term needs and goals for the corporation. Experience is key to keeping the school board looking forward.

    Stunda: My experience as a professional working with multi-million dollar budgets, changing work environments and a diverse workforce allows me insight into how critical communication with all stakeholders must be. I bring a strong work ethic and will work tirelessly toward supporting our teachers and administrators in the incredibly hard work they do on a daily basis to provide the best school experience for every student.

    What are your top three goals, if elected?

    Craney: 1. Teacher retention 2. Cyber bullying/bullying 3. Mental health/ SEL (social emotional learning) ACE (adverse childhood experiences)

    Lewis: When I interviewed to replace the resigning board member, I told the committee I didn’t have an agenda. I was not someone who would micromanage the administration. I do believe in sound financial decisions. And wise use of taxpayer funds. I do not want to see our school run deficits or face run-down facilities. Spending monies that save in utilities and provide a clean and safe environment for our students is priority. Keeping tax rates stable in an unstable agriculture period is key to our farmers and land owners.

    Stunda: 1. Create a strong teaching and learning environment. Any decision must take into consideration the impact to both. Eastern Hancock must do everything it can to attract and retain good, quality teachers. 2. Make fiscally responsible decisions as the new funding model is implemented. Understanding the monies available and how they are to be utilized is critical and should include open dialog with all stakeholders before decisions are made while always looking at the long-term impacts of each decision. 3. Continue evaluating school safety by continuing to reach out to the experts in this field to learn best practices and then weighing them against our community to find the most effective and efficient fit.

    What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing schools today?

    Craney: School safety.

    Lewis: Eastern Hancock Schools is a rural school district. We have an outstanding group of teachers, administrators and support staff that welcome everyone to our community. Our schools have about 25 percent of the population as transfer students into our community. We as a school must continue to attract not only our district students but continue to be attractive to students who want to come to our school. I am not wanting to add any burden to taxpayers for transfers, but keeping the classrooms full will maximize the state dollars that pay teachers and staff.

    Stunda: Supporting teachers and administrators in the ever-changing landscape of educational requirements is critical. This support includes open communication with all stakeholders, relying on the teachers and administrators, as the experts, to provide the best solution to meet these requirements, and continually looking at the long-term impact of the decisions being made.