EC Huey, at-large candidate for Guilford County School Board

EC Huey, an at-large candidate for Guilford County School Board, said he was not able to attend the May 1 candidates forum at which I asked questions because of an emergency. I’m publishing his written responses to the three questions I asked the candidates. Huey’s opponents in tomorrow’s primary are Sandra Alexander, David Crawford, Alan Hawkes and Michael McKinney.

Huey discusses what Guilford County Schools should do if voters reject the proposed $412.3 million school bond.

Huey: “Not only does our school board want to have one of the largest taxpayer-unfriendly bond issues in county history, they're so confident that they failed to conjure up a Plan B should it fail. It is irresponsible. I support responsible school construction in Guilford County by seeking public-private partnerships. I also support our county commissioners getting more involved in school construction matters (such as what is happening in Wake County) where our county board could acquire land, construct schools themselves and lease it back to the school system. I support best practices when it comes to school construction that is taxpayer-friendly, and one way to do that is to have all real estate and construction matters outsourced from GCS to an outside firm or agency that is charged and experienced with real estate and construction.”

Huey discusses his views on the relative merits of drawing school attendance lines to achieve racial and socio-economic balance.

Huey: “I believe all of our schools should be integrated and I believe in strong diversity in our schools. But I also believe in natural integration in neighborhood schools, not forced busing. We have magnet programs that can aid in this effort, but our magnets can be strengthened at all levels; they’re not working to their full potential. I’m in favor of children attending their closest neighborhood school.

“Too many children are being bused all over this county, daily. And with diesel fuel at an all-time high, it is senseless. To that end, I’m also in favor of ensuring all of our schools have access to the necessary supplies, resources and manpower for them to succeed so that our children can succeed. Social experimentation on our children is wrong. It failed in High Point. It continues to fail countywide.

“I feel very strongly that neighborhood schools are the anchor for every neighborhood and community, and must be treated as such. Our neighborhoods and communities must embrace these schools and embrace these children and do all they can to help these children succeed.”

Huey states that he supports many of the recommendations of the School Climate Task Force, but does not respond to the second part of a question about how he would propose to pay for implementing the recommendations.

Huey: “I agree with many of the recommendations from the School Climate Task Force. Safety and school discipline is a top priority in my campaign. As such and in addition, I have a six-point plan on school discipline. It includes:

“1. Audit, examine and strengthen existing school rules. Enforce the rules GCS has on the books and enforce them uniformly across all schools.

“2. Conduct an internal audit all of GCS’ existing alternative environments: In-school suspension, SCALE, etc., to determine their effectiveness (or ineffectiveness). Strengthen these programs where necessary.

“3. Expulsions for serious offenses.

“4. Examination of the “Charlotte model.” Specifically, it is looking at a unique alternative program Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has, which they call 10-day/30-day “suspension centers,” to determine their effectiveness and see what can be duplicated here in Guilford County.

“5. Expand partnerships with area churches and other local faith-based organizations.

“6. Audit and examine miscellaneous programs GCS has to combat school violence: Keep what’s working, toss out what’s not working.

“My plan also includes keeping school resource law enforcement officers, adding and expanding closed-circuit camera surveillance systems in schools, and ensuring parents and teachers are part of any changes, through school PTSAs and school leadership committees.”