If I am elected to serve my district, I promise to be a good listener. I will learn what the parents and all taxpayers want, and do my best to make it happen. Everyone says and knows our children are our future. And our teachers and school system often spend more time each day with our children than we do ourselves. So, to have a great community, we must have a great school system.
None of my family has run for any political office for a long time. Some of my ancestors, though--such as Sarah Jane Huskey Ogle my great-great-great grandmother, and Isaac Thomas my great-great-great grandfather, and others too many to mention, often served Sevier County as leaders, justices, and elected officials. Isaac Thomas, was himself the first settler in Sevier County. And later he became the first and only white man to be Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
So, why am I running to represent the 5th District on the School Board? Because everyday citizens of Sevier County need the School Board to hear their voices, too. Right now, this School Board is out-of-touch with the real community values. They don't pay employees enough. They set rules against students like Three Strikes, You're Out, that make some sense, but threaten to kick innocent kids out of school. And not all families can afford a private school. I'm for real equality, where needy kids get the same benefits as rich kids. Our School Board can do better than it's doing today.
Vote for Dennis Dean Whaley for School Board 5th District.
QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES:
1. In the fifth school district are you willing to take measures to alleviate overcrowding at our schools? Please explain.
Not only am I willing but we must. Our schools are overcrowded now, and overcrowded schools hurt the students education, and make it harder on the teachers and their staff.
2. How will you support our building expansion programs? Will you support a tax increase if it is necessary to fully fund the building program?
I will work with the Board of Education on these programs, and seek support from County, State, and Federal programs. (Mayor Waters just gave Walters State 1.5 million dollars of Sevier County taxpayers money. If he can help Walters State, I'm sure he can help grades 1 thru 12 in Sevier County. It's their tax payers money to begin with.)
3. As an elected official what vision do you have for the future of Sevier County Schools?
I see smaller classrooms, better paid teachers and staff, and more students being sent to college.
4. Do you feel that the Sevier County School System is doing an adequate job of preparing our students for post secondary education and for entering the work force? What are your suggestions for improving education in Sever County?
No, only Gatlinburg Pittman High School is preparing their students adequately for college, and helping their students find adequate financial aid for every graduate to attend college. We could start by seeing what Gatlinburg is doing differently, than other schools in Sevier County, and go from there.
5. School safety is a high priority. Are you willing to appropriate funds to make our schools safer? Please elaborate.
Yes as I said on question two, I'll work with the Board of Education on these problems and seek support from County, State, and Federal programs.
6. Will you consider community involvement in your decision making? How will you go about gathering community input?
Yes, we can do better. When I'm elected to serve the 5th District, I'll listen to what the parents, teachers, and taxpayers want, and do my best to make it happen.
7. Are you willing to fight for funding for education in Sevier County? If so, please explain how you would gain support for the endeavor.
Yes, I think everyone here, and those with children in school who aren't here, would support this endeavor! We can do better!
Building Better Schools
By J.J. KINDRED, Staff Write
Mountain Press
NAME Dennis Dean Whaley AGE 44
OFFICE SOUGHT School Board 5th District
ADDRESS 903 Old Knoxville Highway, Sevierville, TN 37862
E-MAIL ADDRESS old2ndvicechair@yahoo.com
FAMILY:
Father, Bob C. Whaley (retired)
Mother, Charlotte Romines Whaley (retired)
Sister, Karen Whaley
Sister, Sherry Parton-Whaley
Lots of nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. who are students within the Sevier County school system.
OCCUPATION Retired
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Quaker, E.P.F./S.C.O.P.E. (Sevier County Organization for Peace & Equality)
POLITICAL EXPERIENCE:
Voting machine technician for Shoup Voting Machine Company.
Helped hold elections in Tennessee, North Carolina, and New York City. Worked part-time for the Sevier County Election Commission for over 20 years.
WHAT IS THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUE FACING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM?
The Sevier County Schools are well below average of their counterpart schools throughout the rest of Tennessee. Further, the central school offices are overstaffed by perhaps as much as 50%, and those bureaucrats are very well paid, several of them over $100,000 per year. By reducing the staff at the Central Offices, we can save a great deal of money which can be used for smaller classes overall, and merit raises for teachers.
DO YOU THINK WE ARE MEETING EXPECTATIONS IN EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS?
Among the four high schools in Sevier County, only Gatlinburg-Pittman High School is preparing their students adequately for college, and helping their seniors find adequate financial aid for every graduate to attend college. None of the other high schools send even half of their students on to college. That means that their graduates (if they do graduate) will lack the kind of education that will lead to the higher paying jobs that college degrees produce. When they are 21 or 22 years old, they will be relegated to the tourist jobs which are poorly paying forever.
SHOULD THE SUPERINTENDENT BE ELECTED OR APPOINTED AND WHY?
Jack Parton has been superintendent since Pless Newman put him in that job well over 18 years ago. Now that the Mayor of Sevier County has gained the power to appoint the school superintendent, our school system has no real checks and balances. Serious decisions are made in secret.
An election for the School Superintendent every four year, with the fresh air of freedom and popular participation, would lead to a much higher standard of accountability, which we lack at present!!!