The Journal-World sent a seven-question survey to each school board candidate running for the lone two-year term. Four people filed for that seat. The March 3 primary election will whittle the field of candidates down to two for the April 7 general election.

Candidate profile: Marcel Harmon

• 46-year-old board member who joined as an appointee in September 2014. He is an applied anthropologist for an engineering firm, M.E. Group. He served on the Kansas Next Generation Science Standard Review Committee. He has been a resident of Lawrence for nine years.

What makes you the right candidate for the school board?

Since my appointment last fall, I have worked to meet the high standards established through the board’s goal-setting process. I seek input from community members, teachers and staff and my fellow board members, review relevant research as needed, consistently evaluate evidence with a critical eye and work to meet the needs of our students and teachers in an equitable and efficient manner. Some of my skills and experience are particularly suited for overseeing the implementation of the bond, addressing additional facility issues in the future, implementation of our sustainability goal as well as the common core and science standards.

What issues should the school board focus on in the coming years?

I will refer you to the board’s 2014-2015 goals (http://usd497.schoolwires.net/Page/6356). While I was not on the board when they were formulated, I agree with them and also had advocated for the sustainability goal as a community member. In addition to the goals and issues I previously mentioned, some specific things I will personally be involved with or advocating for over the next few years include addressing the achievement gap, addressing facility needs still unmet, such as Lawrence High School, expansion of blended learning, collaboration with other government bodies, safe routes to school and advocacy with our state leaders.

How should the board address the budget issues it faces because of state cuts?

The board and administration are currently working on a process to a) formulate where the potential cuts could occur, b) how to weigh the options relative to their potential impact on the board’s goals and the district’s mission, vision and overall focus on excellence, equity and engagement and c) the board’s process for making the final decision. We want community and teacher/staff input on this, but have not determined how this will occur. The Facility Advisory Committee will also be involved in the process, likely to help formulate or review the potential options as well as help assess their potential impacts.

Are Lawrence students shortchanged in any aspect of their education?

Yes, the governor and Kansas legislature are shortchanging our students by not fully funding the formula that funds public schools. The effectiveness of all of the policies, programs and initiatives we are implementing to improve equity and the success of all of our students will be negatively impacted by these budget cuts and other anti-public school legislation coming out of Topeka. We will do our best as a board and district to minimize the negative impacts, as well as advocate directly with legislators, but their actions will continue to hamper our efforts to prevent our students from being shortchanged.

Do you support Common Core standards? Why or why not?

Yes, I support the Kansas College and Career Ready Standards (KCCRS), including the science standards. They represent a positive step forward as we move away from No Child Left Behind, providing a more consistent, clearer understanding of what students are expected to learn. They are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills needed for success in college and careers. And as they are already being implemented, Kansas districts (including Lawrence) have already invested significant resources and time in preparing our teachers and staff to implement the new standards.

Should teachers have tenure rights? Is it “too hard” to fire teachers with tenure?

Yes, teachers should have due process rights, which is what “tenure” refers to. They provide teachers and relevant staff some protection against capricious dismissal. Eliminating due process increases job insecurity, decreasing overall teacher efficiency and effectiveness, and negatively impacting students’ education experience and eventual success. A lack of due process can also make it harder to attract high quality teachers. And due process also protects school districts by limiting subsequent litigation and associated costs that ultimately are born by the taxpayers. Nor does the process make it “too hard” to dismiss teachers when actually warranted; it isn’t a job guarantee.

Do you support moving school board elections to November in even numbered years and/or making the elections partisan?

No. Moving the elections to November will simply make it harder to engage community members as the local elections are lost in a “sea of partisan races.” In addition, school board members assuming office in the middle of the school year a) does not coincide with the district’s fiscal year, b) limits their effectiveness for that school year as they try to get up to speed and c) negates their opportunity to help set the board goals for the year that they take office. Partisanship is also divisive and distracts from the important school issues at hand.

More 2015 Lawrence school board election coverage

• Candidate profiles and questionnaires