Editor’s Note: As the Aug. 26 primary election draws closer, the Plant City Times & Observer will be publishing profiles and Q&As from each of the candidates who will represent Plant City and its constituents.
In this final edition before the primary, we introduce the candidates for the hotly contested Hillsborough County School Board District 6: incumbent April Griffin and her challengers, Asher Edelson, Alison McGillivray Fernandez, Dr. Stacy Hahn, Paula Meckley, Dipa Shah, Lee Sierra and Randy Toler. We also present School Board District 2 candidate Michelle Popp Shimberg. That race also includes candidates Sally Harris and Michael Weston, but neither returned repeated inquires by phone and email seeking comment.
PAULA MECKLEY
Age: 53
Family: Married to Scott Meckley for 25 years; children Alex, 22, Abby, 20, and Quay, 17
Hometown: Lake Placid
Education: Bachelor’s degree in retail merchandising, minor in early childhood development, Florida State University
Experience: Seventeen years of volunteerism in public schools; PTSA president and treasurer of multiple schools; Citizens Advisory Council to the School Board
Favorite author and book: “A Land Remembered” by Patrick D. Smith
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Clara Barton
Website: votePaulaMeckley.com
What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions?
One of the biggest challenges the district faces is ensuring every student is prepared for life after high school. The solution to this issue requires a multifaceted, early-in-life approach that should include robust preschool programs with high quality teaching professionals who set high expectations. Utilize data for early identification of students who are at risk and laser focus on each student’s needs when they are not successful.
In middle and high school, expose students to college and careers options and ensure the opportunity for students to pursue relevant high quality technical and vocational careers. The community has a vested interest in the success of these children, so recruiting mentors for students as young as elementary age can help to close the experience gap. Research shows that poverty has psychological effects on children, we must approach our efforts with humanity and understanding. Prevention is more cost-effective than remediation.
Are teachers paid adequately? Why or why not?
We have many outstanding teachers here in Hillsborough County who put many hours into the education of our children. I do not believe the state funds education at the appropriate level to ensure the revenues needed to deliver the constitutionally mandated levels of educational services. Adequate revenues are needed and should be spent in an efficient manner to recruit, pay and staff classrooms with highly qualified teachers. There should be differentiated pay to reflect market conditions for harder to full positions. Thoughtful and researched-based information for a variety of approaches to reward teachers for improved student performance is a must.
What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards curriculum?
I am against government intervention in local education decisions and will fight against those attempts. I believe local control of education is critical and high standards are imperative to student achievement.
I have first-hand knowledge of how this all works, because I was part of a team of moms that was successful in the removal of a math curriculum from Hillsborough elementary schools. Higher standards are imperative for student growth. I believe our students can achieve more and will stretch to higher goals when exposed to an environment of high expectations pared with engaging classrooms and well trained caring teaching professionals. I believe common standards (not curriculum) can be a useful tool for teachers, parents and students. However, we must remember it is just one tool and not a final solution to solve all of our educational problems. As with any mandate, there are local decisions to be made during implementation for example teacher training and curriculum choices. I am a proponent of keeping those decisions as close to our county as possible so stakeholders have an avenue to be involved. That is where I feel the School Board. The local community should be the most vested in the education of our children.
What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board?
I am uniquely qualified and the ideal candidate because of my exposure to how the district works through the many projects I have accomplished in our public schools. Two of my children have graduated from our public schools, and I still have a child in our public schools. Involved parents have first-hand knowledge of what is happening on the front lines of our public schools. I am a proactive thinker, and my experience working as a parent on behalf of our public schools has given me the opportunity to work directly with many different divisions within the district in a collaborative way to directly benefit students. I understand how the system works and can hit the ground running to improve education for all students. My retail experience running a $10 million department of Maas Brothers also contributes to my understanding of budgets, personnel and working with a management team.
What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City, and what are your proposed solutions?
Plant City High School is experiencing for the first time a higher number of students who qualify for free or reduced priced lunch. It is imperative the educational needs for every student is being met. This change in the make-up of the school’s population requires the district to pay special attention and provide the needed resources to meet these new challenges. College counselors and dropout intervention specialist can play a role in directing students toward a successful and productive life after high school. The district must allow the principal flexibility when dealing with the increase in this population. Plant City schools have a long history of good sports programs, great ag programs and community involvement. Encourage the community to stay involved and ask for any additional help to ensure the quality of education that Plant City residents expect from their public schools.
Any other thoughts/comments?
Thank you for the opportunity to be published in the Plant City Times & Observer. I am from an ag family in Central Florida and appreciate the sense of community in Plant City. I have met many wonderful people who are passionate about public education and are willing to get involved and be part of improving student learning for their children. I appreciate your support in my campaign to represent you on the Hillsborough County School Board.