In their words: Polk County School Board District 1 candidates answer questions
The Ledger sent each candidate a questionnaire with issues related to their office. These are their responses.
Polk County School Board, District 1 (nonpartisan)
William Allen
Q. Why are you the candidate most deserving of being elected?
A. My journey fuels my passion for ensuring student success, expanding access to educational choices, and fostering strong community partnerships. Growing up as an at-risk student in Polk County and eventually earning a PhD in Digital Media, I understand the challenges and opportunities within our educational system. As a proud graduate of Polk County Public Schools, I see education as a pillar of hope and am dedicated to bringing this perspective of optimism to our school board.
With over 17 years of higher ed experience, I recognize the collaborative nature of a school system that provides an intense focus on preparing students. My active voice in shaping our strategic plan gives me an advantage. Now, our work turns to implementing that vision, which is arguably more challenging. Having that context sets me apart from the competition.
Q. What do you consider to be the main issues the School Board must address in the coming years?
A. From my perspective, our top priority is giving parents confidence that the educational pathways and options their students are exposed to through Polk County Public Schools provides the rigor to prepare them for a successful future.
Q. Like other districts around the country, Polk County is coping with high student absenteeism rates following the COVID pandemic. How should the School Board address that issue?
A. Currently, our board has approved an extensive K-12 dropout prevention program designed to identify and support students at risk of falling behind. We have also increased funding to establish an extensive community outreach program, which includes hiring seven Community Outreach Facilitators specifically to address truancy. Moving forward, we need to ensure these programs are effectively implemented and continuously evaluated for impact.
Q. What specific suggestions do you have for the district and for individual schools to address disruptive student behavior in classrooms?
A. Currently, the district has an extensive Positive Behavior Intervention program in place, with plans to expand school participation in the 2024-25 school year. The district has also taken stronger steps to equip administrators with the knowledge to enforce the Student Code of Conduct more consistently and fairly.
Q. The Polk Education Association has been urging the School Board to seek a dedicated property tax that would be used for increasing teacher salaries. Do you favor this idea? Why or why not?
A. I would not support asking to increase tax rates to a level that exceeds those of our neighboring counties. However, I do support the current ? Cent Sales Tax and recognize the significant benefits it brings in modernizing our outdated school facilities. I will continue to advocate for and support this initiative.
Q. The school district has faced a high volume of challenges to books held in school and classroom libraries in recent years. Are you satisfied with the process the district has used to handle book challenges? Would you suggest any changes?
A. While I am mostly satisfied with the district's current process, I remain open to refining it to ensure it is transparent, fair, and consistently applied. It's important that we balance the diverse viewpoints of our community while upholding the educational integrity of our school libraries.
Q. How would you seek to improve teacher retention rates, so that fewer teachers leave Polk County for other districts with better pay?
A. While PCPS’s veteran teacher retention rates exceed the national average, we need to work on improving retention rates for new teachers to compete with the national average. Given that over 30 percent of our teacher workforce has served five years or less, this is a significant undertaking.
Q. The Florida Legislature has increased starting teacher pay in recent years but not the pay for long-term teachers, some of whom do not make much more than starting teachers. How do you think the School Board should address the issue of “salary compression”?
A. Since 2021, this Board has increased contributions for advanced degree pay supplements, moving Polk’s ranking to number three within the Central Florida School Board coalition. Continued efforts are still needed and I’m committed to honoring our veteran staff.
Q. The school district has begun using a public-private partnership approach on the construction of new schools. Do you think the district should follow the interlocal agreement, which requires that a site-selection committee be called before the district can buy land for a new school? Do you think the public-private approach is working, and do you have any ideas for improving it?
A. Polk County's current facilities approach aligns with the interlocal agreement. However, it's my understanding that the last interlocal agreement between all cities was signed and documented in 2013. Obviously, Polk has dramatically changed since that agreement. This process should be continually evaluated to determine effectiveness, particularly as we manage significant growth.Regarding the public-private partnership approach, I believe it has been effective. Polk County was among the first public school districts in Florida to implement this strategy, which has saved taxpayer dollars and included a built-in plan for deferred maintenance. Moving forward, we should explore ways to further optimize this model, potentially through policy development and streamlining administrative bureaucracy. Especially during periods of rapid growth around the district.
Bernnie Brandt
Q. Why are you the candidate most deserving of being elected?
A. I am a unique candidate in this election because I don't have a background in education. I believe that, in order to truly represent its constituents, a governing body must be made up of people from many different backgrounds and walks of life. If elected, I will bring the perspective of the average, shift-working, child-raising, tax-paying citizen to the school board. I believe that having someone who can look at issues through that lens is crucial to having balance in any elected board, commission, council, or committee, and I want to be that person.Q. What do you consider to be the main issues the School Board must address in the coming years?
A. I think that the main issues that will need to be addressed are 1) staff pay and happiness, 2) preparedness for growth and expansion, 3) working on improving grades through addressing attendance, and 4) handling the ever-increasing push to bring politics and religion into public schools. Q. Like other districts around the country, Polk County is coping with high student absenteeism rates following the COVID pandemic. How should the School Board address that issue?
A. The root of the problem must be discovered before a solution can be effective, otherwise you are just throwing things at a wall and hoping one sticks. Many families experienced significant income changes during and after the pandemic, so it is likely that the ability of many students to get to and from school has been affected. Additionally, the pandemic disrupted many work schedules, with people being forced into different roles or jobs. Many older children often act as caretakers for younger siblings in the absence of a parent so, when a parent is working an unpredictable work schedule and a young child falls ill, the older child often misses school to care for the younger. Each situation is different, and what I just mentioned are just two of the possibilities. The district should investigate each case and work with each family to develop a solution that suits their needs. Q. What specific suggestions do you have for the district and for individual schools to address disruptive student behavior in classrooms?
A. Many behavior issues stem from emotional instability. Children are developing and are not as in-tune with their emotions and mental health as many adults. I would like to see behavior issues addressed by a mental health counselor so that the root of the behavior can be handled and resolved, rather than simply punishing the child and returning them to the same environment. Q. The Polk Education Association has been urging the School Board to seek a dedicated property tax that would be used for increasing teacher salaries. Do you favor this idea? Why or why not?
A. Yes. Staff pay must increase if we want to attract quality applicants and reduce turnover. Any referendum would ultimately be voted on by the voters of Polk County, so it would behoove the board to approve it and let the citizens decide. Q. The school district has faced a high volume of challenges to books held in school and classroom libraries in recent years. Are you satisfied with the process the district has used to handle book challenges? Would you suggest any changes?
A. I would like to see there be a more concrete rubric for determining if a book is age-appropriate, rather than the subjective process that currently exists. If a book meets the age-appropriateness standards, parents should have access to a database where they can select books or media that their child is not permitted to have access to. If one parent doesn't think something is appropriate for their child, they have the right to prevent their child from having access to it. That same parent, however, does not have the right to prevent other people's children from having access to that material.Q. How would you seek to improve teacher retention rates, so that fewer teachers leave Polk County for other districts with better pay?
A. Based on conversations I have had with teachers throughout the county, the two biggest issues that are causing turnover are pay and support. Teachers need to feel that they are supported by their administration, and they need to feel trusted to be the decision-makers in the day-to-day functions of their classrooms. Q. The Florida Legislature has increased starting teacher pay in recent years but not the pay for long-term teachers, some of whom do not make much more than starting teachers. How do you think the School Board should address the issue of “salary compression”?
A. As I stated above, I would support an increase to the property tax rate if such increase was dedicated to school staff pay. I would also like to see staff pay be the first thing considered when making a yearly budget. Staff pay should be prioritized above every single other expense. Q. The school district has begun using a public-private partnership approach on the construction of new schools. Do you think the district should follow the interlocal agreement, which requires that a site-selection committee be called before the district can buy land for a new school? Do you think the public-private approach is working, and do you have any ideas for improving it?
A. I think it is always important to get outside input before making a decision, especially one that has significant financial, economical, and environmental impact. I support the way the agreement causes the process to function, because those decisions ultimately affect municipalities, businesses, and communities in the area, which ensures that the area's services and infrastructure is able to support the addition of a school and the needs that surround it.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: In their words: Polk School Board District 1 candidates' answers