Hicks unopposed in Kenady District school board race

This is the last in a series of candidate profiles in the upcoming November election 2019. Candidates for Dickenson County School Board in all five districts were asked the same questions, given the same time to respond and asked to limit their answers to roughly 100 words, more for multi-part questions. Jason Hicks is running unopposed in the Kenady District.

1. As you evaluate the quality of education being delivered to Dickenson County students, describe one area of required educational programming you believe needs more attention, what improvement is needed and how you will work to accomplish it.

JASON HICKS: Dickenson County schools have improved test scores over the last few years. While this shows a great level of achievement for students and teachers, it is important to keep in mind that SOL scores are the minimum standards to meet and not the highest attainable level of achievement we want for our students. Virginia is ready to implement Computer Science standards for Kindergarten - 12th grade. While these standards may not be tested, they are important for a well-rounded education for our students and our ability as a county to develop new industries for employment and to keep graduates here.

2. Along with core curriculum, students need opportunities for electives and extracurricular activities for the most well-rounded education. Clearly state your position on the funding priority of arts and music programming in Dickenson County schools. Identify an elective and an activity that is not available to students that you believe should be and how you will work toward providing each.
HICKS: The arts are an important aspect of education. Rather than expanding course offerings, I feel we should be a better job of incorporating the arts into the current curriculum. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) projects can be used in cross-curricular lessons and easily expand our offerings in all these areas without increased costs. The robotics teams are great examples of STEAM activities going on now. The arts are incorporated into these projects through design, and with the addition of a Technology Coach in Dickenson County, they would be able to assist and guide teachers in these types of projects.

3. Boards typically are policy setters while staff implement and administer those policies in daily operations. But boards also typically have members who tend toward micromanagement of operations at differing levels. If elected/re-elected, how do you see these roles and how will you handle them when you encounter questions about operations?
HICKS: I do see board members’ roles as primarily policy setters. It is difficult to insert yourself into any situation when you do not have boots on the ground presence every day and be effective. That being said, I want to be informed, and if I have any expertise to lend or need to assert myself into a situation, I’d be willing to do that.

4. Spending on the Dickenson County school division’s central office has been the target of much criticism. Twelve of 15 people in that office have 25 years or more experience. Salary and benefits cost roughly $1.5 million, about 5.8 percent of the division’s total budget. Do you believe the central office is bloated in numbers and needs a reduction in staff, or does it have the level of staffing necessary? Would you support retirement incentives in an effort to create space for less experienced and less expensive personnel? Explain where you stand and what you would do about it if elected/re-elected.

HICKS: At this time, I have not verified those numbers of salary and benefits. I feel all aspects of spending should be reviewed often. If those numbers are indeed correct, then that is something I feel a lot of people; including myself, would like to evaluate. From experience, I know often central office staff wears many hats and are often stretched in the many roles they serve in.

In regard to retirement incentives, that is another economic question that could be evaluated to see if it would be feasible. It’s important to remember that when you replace a position through retirement incentives that you are still paying the retired person through the incentive. Instead of paying them a full salary to do the job, you pay them a partial salary to not do the job along with the new person in the position. That may or may not make good economic sense.

5. State clearly the option and approach you will support, and why, for location of a new elementary school to replace Sandlick Elementary School. The board that takes office in the new year will either make that call or have a lead role in making that call, regardless of the pending judicial ruling in the court case that grew from the siting controversy. Please be specific, including whether you support consolidating Dickenson County’s three elementary schools into one or into two schools.

HICKS: The Board of Supervisors is already warning of decreased funding to schools. In order to maintain three quality schools, a financial commitment from the county is paramount. Honestly, I have a lot of questions about this issue and have not come to a clear decision. I’ve heard the perspectives of others, and I ask them the questions I wrestle with. The current funds available won’t build a school large enough to consolidate all three. The Backbone Ridge site and the Clinchco site are both over budget as well. Personally, I feel if we consolidated Sandlick and Ervinton, the Clinchco site would be a good compromise. That would require an extra financial commitment to make that happen. Each and every citizen needs to think about our commitment to education and what we are prepared to do for the betterment of our entire county and the future of our kids and community.

6. Through a state formula, Virginia sets a minimum standard for what a locality must pay toward educating its students. Dickenson County has a history of investing substantially more than is required to support its school system, funding that draws both praise and criticism. County administration has been clear the current level of giving is not likely sustainable.

If you are elected to the school board, your work to frame the next year’s budget and the request to county supervisors gets underway shortly after you take the oath of office. Will you be a champion for level or more funding, or do you believe the school division should deliver a lower budget request? Describe one new idea you have for a cost-cutting measure and how you would execute it. Are there areas of spending you would consider as off-limits for cutting? Explain.
HICKS: With the visit of Amazon to the area, we learned that we need to ready our area’s workforce for those types of industries. It is time to invest more in education and innovation because we can’t afford not to. Dickenson County has a history of level funding schools, and I’m hopeful that will continue. I would be a champion of at least level funding. School systems have been doing more with less and for less for a long time. We need to continue to take care of our staff. I’m not sure of specific cost-cutting measures at this time but will look at every option to get more bang for the buck. Education, cooperation, innovation, and determination is the path for a successful future of our county.

7. Describe what makes you the best candidate to represent citizens in your district and Dickenson County.
HICKS: In the role of a school board member, I can offer 21 years of education experience. I’ve worked as a teacher, coach, athletic director, technology coach and administrator in several different schools. Each of these positions gives a unique view of what works well in education. I don’t have an unspoken agenda, political allegiances or an ax to grind, only a heart to serve. If chosen to serve, I’ll carefully examine each issue with what is best for students and what is best for Dickenson County. That is the only campaign promise I made to anyone as I visited residents and the promise I will echo publicly today.

Please offer any closing thoughts you haven’t addressed.

HICKS: We’re at a crossroads at this time in Dickenson County. What we do in regard to education will definitely affect our future. Moving our economy forward hinges on our ability to innovate and educate our students for future jobs. Our area has declined so much, and if we continue to fight over the little we have left, we may just lose it all. Let’s work together, move forward, and build a prosperous future all. Let’s start with preparing our kids for this future and giving them the best we can offer today.