\n\n\n\n\n\nTOPIC<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n\nESSAY ANSWER<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMOTIVATION:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nHaving grown up in Nelson County and attended Nelson County schools, I have great affection for this school district. \u00a0The educators that invested in me in those early years made a lasting impression on my life. \u00a0Having children in the Nelson County school district, I remain committed to Nelson County schools.<\/strong>
\nThe Nelson County school board was first on my radar in the spring of 2021 when the Nelson County superintendent announced plans to close community schools and consolidate middle school and high school students into a combined campus model. I expressed concerns throughout the process based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to the economic impact the loss of community schools would have on our small communities, transportation issues associated with this project, the impact the proposal would have on traffic on our already congested roadways and the sheer lack of data to support the benefits of this particular educational model, to name a few. \u00a0These concerns fell on deaf ears. \u00a0It was throughout this process that I realized that parents and community members need an advocate on the board of education.<\/strong>
\nWhile the issue of school consolidation sparked my interest in serving on the board, digging deeper I became aware of even bigger issues. \u00a0Given the opportunity that exists within our county, we should be leading the state in academic achievement. \u00a0We are not. We are underperforming in critical areas such as reading and math. Academic achievement has taken a back seat to lesser goals, and our children are suffering. \u00a0Regardless of a student’s postsecondary or vocational ambitions, this is a foundational area children must master for future academic and career success. \u00a0These are all areas that can be adequately addressed with improved board leadership.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nROLE OF EDUCATION:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nOf all the social institutions that exist in communities, public schools are THE great unifier. \u00a0Affecting every person in the community – first as students, and later as parents, taxpayers, and community members \u2013 community members feel a deep sense of ownership in good schools. \u00a0While serving the academic functions of increasing knowledge and developing career preparation, public schools do more than just distribute educational content. \u00a0If Covid taught us nothing else it is that schools are vital for the social-emotional development of students, and they oftentimes serve as the community focal point for distribution of basic needs such as nutrition and health services.<\/strong>
\n\u200bAvailable to all, public schools blend diverse groups of people, merging all races and socioeconomic groups. \u00a0To assume that this merging affects only the students within the four walls of the school is to miss an even greater truth. \u00a0The influence of strong public schools stretches deep into our community.<\/strong>
\n\u200bStrong public schools tie people to their community. \u00a0Schools are, oftentimes, the one thing we have in common. \u00a0But the inverse is also true. \u00a0When our public schools fail to properly educate, prepare, and assimilate students, our communities suffer. \u00a0Strong schools that challenge and motivate students and foster an environment of learning graduate students that take those same values into our communities.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nCURRENT DISTRICT ASSESSMENT:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nGiven the opportunity that exists within our county, we should be leading the state in academic achievement. \u00a0We are not. \u00a0We are underperforming in critical areas such as reading and math. Academic achievement has taken a back seat to lesser goals, and our children are suffering. \u00a0Regardless of a student’s postsecondary or vocational ambitions, these are foundational areas children must master for future academic and career success.<\/strong>
\nOur district has in recent years focused on the importance of community partnerships and work-based learning opportunities for upperclassmen. \u00a0The district has done an excellent job developing relationships with community businesses and that effort has translated into some unique work-based learning opportunities for students. \u00a0Certainly not all students benefit from pre-college coursework, and recognizing that and investing in trade programs is a positive step toward including a variety of students and community members.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nACADEMIC EXCELLENCE:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nThere should be academic standards for pupils and established expectations for education in the district. \u00a0We know that reading and math are foundational for future success in \u00a0any field, regardless of post-secondary ambitions. \u00a0There should be a concerted goal to have students ON GRADE LEVEL for reading and math. \u00a0While we don’t want to pursue test scores in and of themselves, we should recognize there is some value in that information. \u00a0Things that get “measured” get “managed”. \u00a0We need to be holding our district accountable on academic achievement, and quantifying deficits and progress is critical to that.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nTAXING & SPENDING:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nSchool board members should be fiscally responsible. \u00a0I believe parents, school boards and administrators should take a hard look at the district budget to make sure the maximum amount of public-school funds are spent on classroom instruction instead of non-instructional overhead. \u00a0This is especially important as public schools are now competing for students, not only with private and parochial schools but in the future with charter schools.<\/strong>
\nA big component of fiscal responsibility is minimizing administrative costs. \u00a0 We have a small army of consultants, administrators, assistants, public relations and graphic designers… \u00a0We need to ask the question: Does this help educate children, or could the money be better used in the classroom?<\/strong>
\nI do not believe tax increases should be automatic. \u00a0Quite the opposite, tax increases should be given the utmost scrutiny, especially in our county with persistent growth and development. \u00a0With the increase in property valuations, the Board is consistently receiving more revenue than it did during the prior year even if it leaves the \u201crates\u201d the same. \u00a0It is safe to say our coffers are full. \u00a0We need to focus on using wisely the vast resources we\u2019ve already been allotted.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nCHARTER SCHOOLS:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nWhile I have no doubt the advent of charter schools will bring with it the promise of some unique innovative schools, I have grave concerns on the overall impact charter schools will have on our educational system – and the future of quality public education.<\/strong>
\nIn an era when public education is already under-funded, we are taking away much needed dollars from our public schools. \u00a0Furthermore, it seems to be a step backwards in terms of equal access to education. \u00a0Unlike public schools, charter schools are not known for their ethnic or racial diversity.. \u00a0Research shows that charter schools weed out, suspend and expel troubled students instead of helping them.<\/strong>
\nCharter schools are profit-based, rather than student-focused. \u00a0The prospect of profiteering makes them ripe for corruption. \u00a0I am not in favor of promoting charter schools as a school board entity.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSEL & DEI:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nNo answer provided.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nRESOURCE ALLOCATION:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nNo answer provided.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSTUDENT DISCIPLINE:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nNo answer provided.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nCOVID:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nNo answer provided.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nANY ILLICIT PERSONAL CONDUCT:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nNo.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nOTHER THINGS VOTERS SHOULD KNOW:\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nI grew up on a dairy farm in Cox’s Creek, Kentucky. \u00a0As the child of a farmer and former teacher, the values of hard work and education always carried equal weight in my home. \u00a0The truth that overwhelmed me, even as a child, was that education was the cornerstone of empowerment.<\/strong>
\nI attended Nelson County Schools and graduated in 1998 from Nelson County High School. \u00a0After graduation from Samford University, I attended law school at the University of Kentucky and returned to Bardstown to practice law in 2005.<\/strong>
\nI am married to William\u00a0Deaton<\/span>, and we have three children: \u00a0Oliver (17), Knox (15) and Ellis (8). \u00a0We live on a farm in Cox’s Creek and our family is actively involved in Bloomfield Baptist Church. \u00a0I believe the Bible is God\u2019s holy, inspired word. \u00a0I believe Jesus is the son of God, and that He died on the cross for my sins. \u00a0My faith in God is a vital component in my life and the life of my family, and it underpins everything else with which I believe and aspire to.<\/strong>
\nAs a local attorney, I have worked for over 17 years representing families and children in our community. \u00a0I am attorney for the City of Bloomfield, KY, where I have been involved in local government for nearly 13 years. \u00a0I believe I have the passion, knowledge and experience to serve well on the Nelson County School Board.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Mrs. Amanda Deaton is running for a school board position in District 5 of Nelson Co. Schools, KY. Amanda can be reached through email at: amanda@deatonattorney.com (For more detail on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[66,33],"tags":[36,72,77,69],"class_list":["post-7579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-schools","category-election","tag-candidate","tag-ky","tag-nelson","tag-school-board"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/truth.hereisliberty.com\/gto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/truth.hereisliberty.com\/gto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/truth.hereisliberty.com\/gto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truth.hereisliberty.com\/gto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truth.hereisliberty.com\/gto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7579"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/truth.hereisliberty.com\/gto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7653,"href":"https:\/\/truth.hereisliberty.com\/gto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7579\/revisions\/7653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/truth.hereisliberty.com\/gto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truth.hereisliberty.com\/gto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/truth.hereisliberty.com\/gto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |