Bristol, Tenn. School Board Candidate: Tony Turner

Tony Turner

Age: 38
 
  Address: 128   Amhurst Lane    
 
Daytime telephone number:  none given

Evening phone number:   423-573-1201

Cell phone number: none given

E-mail address:          

Campaign Web site:   http://www.tonyturner.net

Party affiliation:   Non-Partisan

Office you are seeking:   Bristol Tennessee Board of Education

Please answer the following questions about your background:

What is your educational background, including the highest degree you attained (high school, college, advanced degree) and the year it was attained?

Currently working on M.S. Information Technology Management
  B.S. Computer Information Management (Summa Cum Laude)
  A.S. Computer Science – Network Administration
 
  What is your professional background, including your present employer and job description? What other positions have you held in the past?  If you are retired, please describe your most recent employment.

  I manage the Information Technology Department at Virginia Intermont College.  I am responsible for aligning our business and educational goals with technology.
 
  Are you married? If so, please list your spouse’s name. occupation and any elected offices they hold or have held in the past.

  I am married to Krista Turner who is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Early Childhood Education.   She works for ETSU as a Director and an Early Childhood education educator. 
 

Do you have children? If so, how many and what are their ages?

  I am the proud parent of a 6 year old daughter who is being educated in our school system.
 
  Do you presently hold an elected or appointed office or have you held one in the past? Please list all elected or appointed posts and the years you were in office.
 

I am currently on the Bristol Tennessee Board of Education.
 
  Have you ever been an officer in a political party, worked in a campaign or been a delegate to a political convention? If yes, please provide details and names of the candidates for whom you worked.
 

No
 
  How long have you lived in the area? If you have lived elsewhere, where have you lived and for how long?
 

I have lived in Bristol practically my entire life.
 
  Who are your three biggest campaign contributors? How much money have you raised in your campaign? Have you taken any special interest or PAC money? How much money do you expect to spend in your campaign?
 

I have only accepted money from my friends and family.  Top three includes Chris Turner (my brother),  and Patricia Shaffer (my mother-in-law), and Tina Marshall (my sister).  I will not seek to raise more than $1000
 
  Do you volunteer your time or give money to local causes? If so, please list them.
 

I donate to Virginia   Intermont College.  I have Coached for the YMCA.  I volunteer my time to the Bristol Tennessee School System.  I have donated my technological services to various churches and businesses.
 
  Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime as an adult? If yes, please give jurisdiction and details.
 

No
 
  Have you ever filed bankruptcy? If yes, please explain.
 

Yes due to loss of income and debt such as medical bills.
 
  Have you ever served in the military? If yes, please provide details, including branch of service, highest rank, years of service and date and terms of discharge.
 

No
 
  Have you or your business ever been the subject of a lawsuit, lien or foreclosure? If yes, please explain.
 

No
 
  What ties do you have to any business or organization that could profit from action as a city council member? Please explain your plan to avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest.
 

I have no ties that will profit from me serving on the Board of Education.
 
  Please answer the following questions about issues facing the school system.
  What makes you the best candidate for the school board?
 

I am the only opposed candidate with experience of serving on the Board of Education.  I have volunteered many days undergoing professional development in order to become the Board Member our system’s children deserve. I have been part of some of the most important decisions any Board Member can make including the planning and construction of a new school as well as the search and hiring of our new Director of Schools.  I am analytical and I do not make decisions based on emotion. Dr. Gary Lily and I have a great working relationship which will be invaluable during our systems transition.
  In a world where our graduates must compete in a global market driven by technology, I will bring my skills and talents in technology to our school system.  Since my current position at Virginia   Intermont College allows me to align education with technology, this experience is invaluable to our system especially if we are going to compete in the global market.  Also, I have been able to establish collaborative relationships with our City Council which I feel is vital for our community.  Most importantly, I will always be your voice in our school system and with every decision I make, our children’s best interest will be my guidance.
 

What are the three best things about Bristol, Tennessee’s public schools? What are the three worst things?
 

Without a doubt, the best thing about BTCS is our dedicated teachers and staff.  Since my time on the Board I have witnessed their tireless service to our children and it has inspired me. Even with budgetary constraints our system has done a great job in per student funding which is reflected in their achievements.  Also, our system has been the pioneer in alternate school curriculums in Tennessee which gives our youth one more chance before they leave the system.
  Probably the worst thing about our system is our facilities.  We have old buildings that are in desperate need of renovations.   That is why having board members with good working relationships with our City Council and the community is paramount.  We also need to work on adding to infrastructure like adding classrooms, a parking lot to Anderson, awnings to buildings where students are dropped off and picked up, etc…  We need to invest more in technology that will assist in traditional instruction as well as expand our vocational instruction so that we can produce students ready for the work force as well as college.
 
  Do you believe the school system needs a dress code? If so,  what are some criteria the policy should include. If not, explain why you believe it is unnecessary. Should the school system consider a uniform policy for students? Explain why or why not.
 

I believe that our school system needs a dress code, in fact, we already have a dress code policy 8.120 which was enacted in 1996.  As board members, we revisit each policy yearly to make sure they are still relevant and practical.  Obviously our culture changes often and certainly has since 1996.  But the truth is that we are facing decency and behavioral issues in regards to our student’s dress conduct.  So we (the Board) decided to ask the system and the community on what they feel our problems are with dress code.  This is where we are currently on this issue.  For me to offer solutions before I understand the problem is just bad policy.  However, I feel that we will probably have to enforce more stringent dress requirements on our students to match public decency standards.  I feel that forcing a school uniform is too extreme, especially when we need to make on honest effort to enforce or enhance our current policy.
 
  How will you encourage more students to enroll in vocational training or higher education beyond high school?
 

We need to start, as early as possible in a child’s life, teaching our children with the skills that are relevant to life.  We must teach the child so that they are ready to go to college or enter into the work force.  If we do this successfully our children will stay or return back to our community as a contributor.  This starts with fostering family, community,  and school system involvement into their lives.   It is my goal to implement the measures it takes for us to become involved and build that crucial web of support.   I feel we can enhance this with technology.  I will also strive for better tracking of our students once they enter into middle school so that we can make intelligent predictions of where they will end up.   This way we can make the adjustments needed to keep their education relevant.  And lastly, I will work on implementing a better system in tracking students as they leave and enter into the rest of their lives.  This data will be the vital feedback we need to measure our effectiveness as a school system.
 

How much emphasis do you place on art and music instruction?  Please explain.

I feel that music and art education is vital to the academic process.   Research has shown that art and music stimulates and develops parts of the brain that enhances memory, abstract thought, and creativity.  Language and Mathematics skills are enhanced as well.  For the students whom do not seek a higher education, art and music instruction may be their only exposure to the humanities.  As a Board Member, I strongly support art and music education and feel that we should have a teacher in each school.
Describe your most recent visit to a school in Bristol, Tenn.  When, which school, purpose of visit.
I have visited or toured each of our schools in our system.  My most recent tour was at Vance Middle   School.  I wanted to have an in depth understanding of the issues we are facing at Vance as well as see all of the great things going on at that school.  Principal Kind and his dedicated faculty and staff were gracious enough to answer my many questions.  The lessons I learn each time I tour or visit a school are always brought back and discussed at our Board Meetings.  I feel this is essential as I grow as your representative on the Board of Education.