Candidate Q&A: Elizabeth Daniels

What makes you the best candidate?

There is no requirement for “a best” school board candidate. “Best candidate” is for politicians who will have cabinets. No one person can served as a school board. My educational and professional experiences and my extensive experience as a school board member make me as capable of service to the schools as anyone anywhere.

What should be the school district's top priority now, and how can it be achieved?

The school district’s top priority should be an adequate budget. We have high quality administrators; however, we do not have enough money to pay competitive salaries for experienced teachers. To maintain full accredation a new group of students enter each grade every year and must learn and achieve AYP. This is not likely if the experienced teachers leave our schools.

What do you think will be the school district's most pressing issue in 10 years, and how can the board prepare for it?

The most pressing issue in 10 years will be all of the problems that can be caused by chronic budget deficiency. The USA is in an economic depression comparable to the 1930’s. The board will have to prepare for this by being politically astute to vote for politicians who will raise taxes and manage the money wisely such that it supplies our needs.

How effective are Virginia's Standards of Learning and the national No Child Left Behind initiatives in raising student achievement?

Student achievement is guided by the goals set. The SOLs and NCLB are excellent goals. They are not perfect. Planet Earth seems to have too many people who act as though they have a right to be wrong. NSBA is trying to improve NCLB. The real achievement results from human effort – from our students, employees and community.

What would you do to ensure that accredited schools in the division remain accredited? What do you think should be done at schools that have not yet achieved accreditation?

Achieving and maintaining accredited schools indicate continuous high quality performance by the students. Students perform well when they have high standards to meet and have the proper academic background and high quality teachers guiding them. Parental and community support are also essential.

What should the division do to ensure school campuses are safe?

Our safety program is considered to be one of the best in the state. The program was a seminar presented at the VSBA meeting. It is not perfect. The main thing needed is gun control. The Supreme Court has declined to help us and, of course, we are unable to do this ourselves. Hopefully, our safety program is being properly used.