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: Norine Spears

• 46-year-old self-employed graphic artist. She is a member of the district’s Equity Council and Lawrence High School’s parent-teacher organization. She has been a resident of Lawrence for 12 years.

• Full profiles and other questionnaires

What makes you the right candidate for the school board?

Lawrence has wonderful schools and I am grateful for the education my children are receiving, but we have some challenges ahead. The state is threatening to make deep cuts to our funding. This will affect programs that we hold dear and require us to make difficult choices. Considering the needs of every child in our district and continuing our commitment to open communication will be crucial during this time. My continued involvement in all levels of K-12 education in Lawrence gives me the experience to ensure that the community is informed, engaged, and equally represented during the School Board’s decision-making process.

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

The budget will dominate much of the board’s time and energy, and continuing to engage the community throughout the process should be a key focus. They should also:

• Evaluate existing programs and make necessary modifications based on feedback from teachers and parents.

• Proactively seek new partnerships with community organizations and government entities.

• Maintain the District’s equity work.

• Continue our shared vision of educational spaces by assessing our Middle and High School buildings.

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

When addressing budget issues, the school board must first consult with the experts. They have the guidance of (Superintendent Rick) Doll, the Financial Advisory Council and the district’s director of finance. Then, they must identify our educational priorities by seeking input from all levels of education, including district administration, school administration, teachers and our community. Next, they must weigh the options based on those priorities. Last, they must seek feedback from within the community. Above all, it will be important to ensure that everyone understands that the district would not be making these cuts if we were fully funded.

Are Lawrence students shortchanged in any aspect of their education?

Past funding cuts by the state have required us to increase class sizes, reduce programs, cut bussing, defer maintenance, etc. Now we are facing even deeper cuts. Past school boards, under the direction of Dr. Doll and our district administration, have provided us with an educational framework we can be proud of, despite being underfunded. The next cuts will threaten programs we hold dear and change our conversation from what we can do — to what we can do without. That is not what our community wants for our children.

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

Yes, I support the Common Core Standards for many reasons:

• They identify and develop 21st Century skills: critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity and innovation.

• Aligning with 46 other states allows our children to be more competitive for jobs and post-secondary education in those states.

• Working in alliance with other states allows us to maximize our resources and saves money.

• Future college entrance exams will reflect Common Core language.

However, as we transition we must ensure that we have the ability to make modifications at the State, District, and classroom levels, and offer our teachers the support they require.

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

We have dedicated, talented teachers who are the foundation of our educational system, and they deserve to be protected against wrongful termination. Last spring our district identified a new system for administrative due process and teacher evaluation, rather than fully restoring tenure. This switch has left some of our teachers feeling vulnerable to wrongful termination and weakens the role of the teachers’ union to protect them. As we implement the district’s new system we must ensure that our teachers continue to be adequately safeguarded with effective due process.

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

No, I do not support moving School Board elections to November because it would make them partisan. I believe our Mayor, Mike Amyx, summed up the issue best in his statement printed in the LJ-World staff editorial on Feb. 12, 2015: “We prefer the voters focus on issues and individuals, not political party labels.”