The Gadfly is a series of letters offering commentary on local issues and published in the Warrensburg Gazette.

Dear Editor

Six candidates have filed for two spots on the Warrensburg School Board. There must be a good reason why so many people want such a thankless job. Here are some questions I'd like them to answer before I decide how to vote.

• 1. According to the state's Education Report Card for 1999 (found on the official Missouri Department of Education website), less than half of R-VI students tested performed at the Proficient or Advanced level in the new Missouri Assessment Program (MAP). Do you see this as a true measure of performance? If not, how would you measure school performance? Are the MAP scores a problem? If so, how do you propose to address it?

• 2. The same Report Card shows that the district has a higher than average administrator-to- student ratio and pays the administrators more than the average; teachers are paid less than average. The R-VI audit report last November indicated that the school board spends about $1 on administrators for every $6 spent on instruction. Do you see any problems here? Why or why not? If a problem, how would you fix it?

• 3. Should teachers and/or administrators be held accountable for classroom progress? In what areas? How would you propose to initiate or enforce accountability?

• 4. I have always wondered about the efficacy of 'in-school suspension' as an educational tool, since it removes students from a teaching environment. What do you think should be the criteria for this method? How do you believe that 'zero tolerance' rules should be enforced and what should be subject to them. How would you address the overall subject of discipline?

• 5. Those School Board members not up for election are serving their second or subsequent term. What balance of new blood & experience do you believe is appropriate? How many terms will you serve, if elected?

• 6. How would you balance the School Board's responsibilities to the taxpayers and to the students?

• 7. What are the biggest problems facing the school system? How would you address these problems?

• 8. How do you view the relationship between government schools on the one hand and alternatives such as home schooling, private schools and charter schools?

Bill Wayne, 431 SE Y Hwy, Warrensburg, 747-5728