Candidate name: Phil Kauffman

Place of residence: Olney

Date of birth: Dec. 12, 1952

Place of birth: Philadelphia

Current occupation: Deputy assistant general counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs

Education: J.D. University of Maryland School of Law, 1977; B.A. in economics, University of Pennsylvania, 1974

Community associations, involvement: Co-area vice president, MCCPTA, Sherwood⁄Northeast Consortium, 2004-2006: MCCPTA Grading and Reporting Committee, 2004-2006: co-coordinator, Blake Cluster, 2002-2004; president, Farquhar Middle School PTA, 2000-2002; Board of Directors, Northeast Montgomery Political Action Committee,1998-2006; MCPS committees, 1994-2006; volunteer, Jackson Road, Brooke Grove and Sherwood elementary schools, 1993-2001

Professional associations: None

Family: Married; two daughters

Campaign office address, telephone: P.O. Box 400, Ashton, MD 20861, 301-570-0166

Web site: www.philk4boe.org

Link to state Board of Elections campaign finance database

First, we need to stop ‘‘teaching to the test” and take corrective actions that ensure mastery of basics, including critical thinking skills. The erosion of basic skills in reading, math, and writing, hinders students' progress in later years.

Second, we need to be certain all children are prepared to pass the High School Assessments required for graduation. The latest test results for the HSAs are a sign of future problems. The HSA results include failure by 30 percent of all students and 70 percent of all special needs students, with 90 percent of African American and Hispanic special needs students failing.

Third, MCPS must deal with health, poverty, family instability, and other societal problems that can hamper students' ability to learn. The growing number of social problems, including gang violence, drugs, low-income, medical concerns, and a range of family problems have all had an influence on MCPS.

How would you rate the performance of the current school board: excellent, good, fair or poor? Why?

I commend the Board for adopting and updating a strategic plan for the system and advocating successfully for significant increases in both the operating and capital budgets. However, they are increasingly contentious. They adopted policies that have greatly reduced the procedural guaranties that stakeholder groups previously possessed. They have not adopted clear and identifiable performance measures and goals for student performance.

How would you rate the job performance of Superintendent Jerry Weast: excellent, good, fair or poor? Why?

I believe Superintendent Weast has successfully implemented his vision for the school system and initiated programs that have had measured success. These include a standards based curriculum, class size reductions, full day kindergarten, and making honors and AP classes available to more students. He is also an excellent spokesman for his budget initiatives. However, Dr. Weast must be accountable for the large number of students that still are not meeting minimum proficiency standards in reading and math, especially those receiving special education services. Middle school reform has not yet occurred. I also feel that Dr. Weast needs to be more accessible to the community.

Is the county funding for schools too much, about right or too little? If too little, where would you find additional money?

I believe the current level of funding in the operating budget is about right. There is always more MCPS can do, and I would favor increases in staffing allocations for counselors, school-based administrators, special education, and targeted class size reductions for courses with High School Assessments. I believe the capital budget should be increased so we can accelerate the modernization schedule.

I think the share of the budget devoted to administrative costs, about 2%, should be reviewed for possible savings. While this percentage has remained relatively flat over the years, the overall budget has greatly increased. In addition, the BOE should periodically review program initiatives against measurable benchmarks to determine whether the marginal expenses of maintaining those programs are achieving measurable gains in student performance. Programs which are not achieving gains should be eliminated.

Do you think the current system for renovating schools is adequate, or does it need changing?

It needs changing. At the current pace, some schools will operate 60 or more years before they are modernized. This is unacceptable. It is simply inequitable for some students to attend beautiful, state of the art buildings, while others must attend dilapidated facilities, with old furniture, old equipment, and increased risk for adverse health issues from asbestos, mold, and lead. For MCPS to establish and maintain a 30-year schedule would require the modernization of 1 middle school and 4 elementary schools each year and 1 high school every 2 years.

How well are the county's high school consortia working to raise student achievement?

I believe that the consortia high schools are all working to support MCPS initiatives to get more kids into honors and AP courses, more SAT preparation and participation, etc. Unfortunately, MCPS does not report data in a fashion that would allow an easy analysis of whether students at the eight high schools in the Northeast and Down County Consortia are achieving measurable gains as a result of being part of this special program of schools. Nevertheless, I believe the choice process has resulted in greater student engagement in a school he or she wants to attend. The nature of the program also compels Principals to work closely together which is beneficial to students. The choice process also stimulates comparisons, so it can't help but raise everyone's awareness of areas MCPS needs to continue to work on.

How well is the middle school consortium working to raise student achievement?

It would appear that the middle school consortium is having a positive impact as it is bringing kids in from outside the immediate area and the programs are appealing. Since it has only been in operation for one year, it is too early to determine if enrollment in the consortium program is raising student achievement. However, Parkland and Argyle's MSA scores do show a significant increase over last year's results.

Are too many students being pushed into advanced placement and honors classes without proper preparation?

We need to challenge students to enroll in honors and Advanced Placement classes. However, these classes should be for students that are truly interested in acceleration and enrichment. I believe that some students are being pressured to take advanced placement classes in order to improve the ranking of schools in the Newsweek⁄Washington Post Challenge Index.

Should the school system's health curriculum include discussions of homosexuality and demonstrations of contraception use?

I support a comprehensive health curriculum. I foresee my role as a BOE member to listen to the recommendations of the community advisory panel that is currently reviewing proposed curriculum changes. It is likely that if the panel recommends a proposal that includes discussions of homosexuality and demonstrations of contraception use, I will be supportive.

What do you think about the board's relationship with the community?

I believe the board, as a body, currently has a strained relationship with the community. I think that as individual board members, good working relationships are maintained with different segments of the community.

Does the County Council have too much, too little or not enough oversight of the school system?

I believe the oversight the County Council has provided is appropriate. The school system should present its proposed budget to the Council and advocate for its programs. The Council should review the spending plan and decide what level of funding is appropriate. The Council must appropriate operating funds into general categories, giving the school system broad powers over how it spends its resources. The Council may have a little more authority to review capital plans for the school system. This year, the Council will hire two staff members who will analyze the school system's budget. This initiative should give the Council better information. However, the Council should not act as a ‘‘super” school board by micromanaging school system operations.

What should the school system do to improve performance by minority students?

We can improve performance by all students, including minority students, by correcting the curriculum. We must ensure that time is devoted to topics that students need to know and eliminate or greatly reduce time spent on concepts that may be desirable, but are not critical. Fundamental skills should be taught in the early grades that will provide the foundation for the reasoning necessary for higher-level courses. The emphasis on calculators must be reduced so they are merely aids and not substitutes for knowing how to solve problems. Teaching of math facts, like multiplication tables, should be the responsibility of schools, not parents. This is especially important for students that do not have the necessary supports at home.

Do you think the school system is doing enough to meet the needs of special education students?

No. Special education students are lagging far behind general education students in almost every measurement of academic proficiency. Despite the money being spent, we are not meeting the program - and other - needs of many of these students. We need to provide a level of choice into our special education system. Parents of students with disabilities should be able to choose the level of inclusiveness and type of programming they believe most appropriate for their child. Making families true equal partners is a practice we should employ to help address the needs of special education students.

Are the schools safe for students and teachers? If not, what should be done?

Schools are generally safe. However, there have been acts of violence on our school campuses. We need a discipline policy that is consistently implemented throughout the system that has a zero tolerance for dangerous acts. There needs to be greater collaboration and coordination between the school system, county agencies, and community organizations to address the causes and prevention of youth violence. In addition, we must promote each student's connections with his or her individual school. Students who feel connected to school are less likely to use alcohol and drugs, less likely to join gangs, and less likely to engage in violent or deviant behavior