You can visit James Reilly’s Facebook page to learn more about him. His page highlights everyday people getting involved in the decision making process. You can also find his email and phone number listed publicly on his page.
Why are you running for school board and what do you plan to accomplish?
I actually considered running the last cycle but felt with a new promotion I would not have been able to give it the time needed. Even then I was watching the local government and particularly the school board and a good number of things that didn’t make sense. Raises being given to executive level positions , including the Superintendent, in chunks; not the 1-2% everyone else fights to get. The more I asked questions and looked into things the deeper the rabbit hole went.
When elected, I will be looking into possible consolidation of buildings, not just schools, as well as not just the amount of executive positions but the pay they receive and how can we make this process make sense. Executives getting up to a 38% increase in the same time frame that teachers and support staff are fighting for 4-5% is not right, fair, nor does it make sense.
Many neighbors in our community are feeling distrustful of the school district. How do you plan to rebuild public trust?
I plan to bring REAL transparency to the school board. Asking questions publicly and for solutions publicly. I have ZERO conflict of interest when it comes to being able to serve. It is an honor to represent your community and should not be a way to make more money. In fact, half of my school board salary will go back to LCS in some capacity, possibly through the Foundation.
What specific academic outcomes should the superintendent be accountable for improving over the next 4 years?
While graduation rates are up 2.8% from the previous high. Leon County is still under the state average of 92%. The amount of scholarships awarded to schools is spectacular but we need to do more. It is good to celebrate improvement but honestly LCS is still bring down the state average and this needs to be better.
What role should the school board play in reducing absenteeism?
The board can look at root causes for absenteeism. There are way too many complaints of bullying at schools being ignored or not taken seriously by staff at schools and district office. This is where we need to start, with possible changes to the policies on bullying.
Many neighbors in our community express an interest in reviewing the budget and expenditures to help reduce spending, do you support allowing them to do this? Why or why not?
I am absolutely in favor of having a committee set up to look over expenditures primarily. There seems to be a budget sheet, yet does not show any expenditures of who or how the money is spent, at least available to the public without a PRR. This is the taxpayers money, PERIOD. They deserve to know how it is being used.
What information do you believe the district should make easier for our neighbors to find out without having to dig through board packets?
Once again, I think that expenditures should be more accessible to the public, the fact that taxpayers have to jump through hoops to find out where the money goes is disheartening. I also feel that the pay of executive level positions should be easily accessible, possibly posted on the LCS website. The disparity in pay and the amount of executive level positions needs to be addressed
How will you ensure that you are hearing from all stakeholders outside of district staff and what method will you use to collect this information?
I am currently listening to a number of stakeholders, some are teachers and principals, some are support staff, and more are from our community, particularly parents. I will have an open door policy via accessibility, as well as announced school site visits so that staff, parents, and the community can ask questions and express concerns. Also, I am looking to bring school board meetings back to community by having school board meetings at the schools in a rotation, so that all feel valued and have the opportunity to be heard.
Safe schools are more than protecting our students from weapons and across the county parents report bullying as a major problem. How do you plan to address this in Leon County?
Bullying is a problem that is not taken seriously enough. This causes other safety concerns as well, there are a number of school shootings that happen because bullying was a root cause and the young person could not cope any longer. We should have escalating consequences for bullying in schools and that includes through online communication, if possible.
How do you plan to prioritize capital outlay dollars if you are elected and if the ½ penny is renewed? For clarity, many neighbors feel as though lower safety priority projects have been prioritized over higher safety concerns. Which projects do you feel should be prioritized first and why?
Student and staff health should always be first, followed by safety. The fact that we issues that could cause health issues at Raa, yet decide that spending millions for Pre-K in a remodeled building is concerning. Not only is the right thing to do but anything else can open up the district to liability.
How do you plan to help support and train new teachers whose background is not the college of education?
This is probably the most difficult question to me. There should be some type of training already, yet teaching is not for the faint at heart. I think one thing in the beginning would be having potential candidates work in the school with a teacher in a classroom for a few days to get real life situations and interview with teachers as well. This is definitely something I look into more as well.
How will you plan to ensure the hiring practices of administrators are fair and consistent? How do you plan to support those placed in those roles?
Hiring of administrators is definitely something that needs to be revamped. There should be a formal TRANSPARENT process that allows for people to apply, not just find out from the Superintendent and pushed through by the Board. Administrators and executives should be given additional duties, and subsequently more money, without having a true anonymous survey from those that report to the person being considered. We currently have a principal being moved to the district office, yet the Superintendent has no idea what he will do. This is during a time when we have more executives than needed and the board has signed off on this.
Many neighbors and leaders express there is not a vetted process for developing leaders, how will you ensure a concrete and clear process?
I think the most cost effective way is to have Continuing Educational Programs (CEPs) for those wanting to do more or just to develop themselves. These should be available online for anyone in the district and should be completed, reviewed, and signed off on before moving forward with any promotions.
Many in the community have voiced concerns that most decisions are led by the Superintendent and rubber stamped by the Board. Do you agree with this sentiment? Why or why not? Can you recall a recent decision you disagree with, and what would you have done differently?
I fully believe the board, as a whole, rubber stamps the Superintendent’s decisions. Sometimes there are good questions then board members roll over like my pit bull waiting to get his belly rubbed. The perfect example is, as I have previously mentioned the principal at Godby moving to the district office for a unknown job during budget cuts and the school system under scrutiny of the number of executive level positions they have. The board voted 5-0 to approve this.
There is a ballot proposal for a one mil increase to compensate educators, staff, school safety, and essential school programs including arts and athletics, how do you envision that money being distributed? How will you support transparency around these tax dollars as well as other local tax dollars?
This will become a bigger issue as the election comes closer. I don’t think it is any secret to anyone that I DO NOT support this increase and I haven’t since the moment it was first introduced. Let me be clear, I FULLY SUPPORT teachers and support staff getting an increase in pay, as this was originally mentioned. However, as I anticipated this has become another fund for LCS to get monies and allocate as needed and I have 0 trust that the administration will not dip into this and use the money for “essential services”. The language is intentionally vague, and intentionally leaves options to where to spend the money. You are looking at approximately $300 a month increase to each homeowner a year, rent will increase in living communities as well as businesses, because the owner will pass the cost on to the person leasing. I think my previous answers have stated ways that I will be transparent and responsible with the taxpayers money. LCS has no money, they are using OUR money whether it us through grants or taxes collected and the board and this administration should be more frugal with this money than they are with their own.
Do you have a fiscal plan? If so, what is it and how do you plan to accomplish this plan while working with other board members?
I don’t think it is possible to have a true fiscal plan with the lack of budget from the State of Florida. What I can say is, I will be fiscally responsible with the taxpayers money, I will ask questions, and I if it doesn’t make sense I will say so. I would hope that my peers on the board want the same thing, so it should be easy to work with them on this. I, however, am not a politician and do not believe in making deals in voting for things. Each item should stand on its own merit.
Please tell us one thing about yourself that we would not be able to find through a simple Google search.
Something about me not found a Google search should be a lot. I have had a pretty uneventful life and am a normal person trying to fix the school board. All I can say is that I am a husband, father, and grandfather that is firm in my faith and beliefs.
