Jack Atkins

Jack Atkins

This is another area where long range planning should have already been done. As technology has changed over the past years with appropriate planning with the resources being set aside, the quality of the education could be maintained without single a large tax increase. The county needs other sources of revenue besides the residents. Allowing specific business or industries could assist in this area. Quality education does not have to mean a lot of extra dollars. Qualified teachers and administrators provide quality.

Yogi Bear

The balance between education and taxes is a given. If there is not enough taxes generated to pay for education, then new ways of revenue have to be sought, or there would be cuts not only in the education programs, but other budget items. We have not come to that point yet. But the increase in the school budget has increased twofold in the last four years. Seventy percent of the county budget is used for the operation of only two schools. We can not Continue that course.

Chris Bird

Nobody likes taxes. However, no one other than Rappahannock citizens will fund our schools and county services. Rappahannock County is not destitute or impoverished. We are quite capable of funding our public services. Compared to most localities, our local taxes seem very reasonable and tolerable. My taxes are a significant percentage of our household expenses, however, I would rather spend my money where it benefits my family, friends and neighbors than anywhere else. I would, however, be very interested in exploring whatever means necessary to provide tax relief to those residents who need it.

Ron Frazier

I support quality education an lot top heavy administration. For example, the Director of Administrative Services position that was created' off budget with a job description in the 95-96 budget cycle and installed in the 96-97 cycle still without a job description. This position cost the county $72k and the same year our Science team could not go on to the national competitions for lack of $5k. As it turned out, the team that Rappahannock County students beat at the state level went instead and won first place. This is not only poor planning but shows where the priorities are in this current administration and school board. If reelected, I will continue to work for keeping our tax dollars in the classroom and programs that promote a superior education and not for wasteful, bloated budgets.

Bryant Lee

To keep tax increases to a minimum, the School Board and the Board of Supervisors need to work together as a team to do more future planning. This will also allow the residents of Rappahannock to know where the educational future of Rappahannock is headed.

James Oyster

As seen in my previous answer, I believe that quality education can be achieved if public officials will commit their time to the process and funding for special programs is voluntary. The taxpayer should not be required to foot the bill for everything. Those with special interest in education can make the program work without burdening the taxpayer. Last year I spent a day teaching students in Mr. Weir’s seventh grade class some of the fundamentals of the Bill of Right of our Constitution, including the right against self-incrimination. I think the involvement of leaders in the educational process is critical to improving the quality of education in the county. As a lawyer, I would like to spend some time with the students teaching them basic ethics. For example, in this very process in which we are involved, an ethical question was raised because the wife of one of the candidates is an official of the organization responsible for the event It is important for students to understand the ethical implications of such a conflict of interest and how to properly deal with it so that all candidates for political office are treated fairly. Ethics demands that even the appearance of unfairness be avoided. Knowledge of ethics in the political process is critical to the survival of any governmental system. Several thousand years ago, an ancient sage wrote, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” We run grave risks if we do not see that our children are fully educated. A full education requires the knowledge of Character Virtues and Ethics. These can be instilled by the involvement of community leaders who are concerned with the education of our children.

RCEA Note: No relative of any candidate participated in the collection or publication of candidate responses.

Won 1) VOl Sl'IM'OK I A

YOrrilKK SYSTEM?

Robert Anderson

No. This could be a terribly expensive proposition and would drain funds from the public schools. A better alternative would be to continue to improve public schools to meet the needs of the students.

Jack Atkins

A voucher system would enable parents to send their children to Christian Schools where family values are enforced and encouraged. However, I do not understand how to implement a fair voucher system. A voucher system would have to cover the cost of private education so all could take advantage of other avenues of education, not just