Candidates for 3-year term on Plains School Board

NAME: Rose Wagoner

OCCUPATION: Owner-operator of Rose’s Nail Salon

1. What are your qualifications to be a school trustee?

I have a very successful small business in Sanders County. I have sat and am currently sitting on several different boards/committees. I have coached within our school as well as out of school sports. I interact with the public on a daily basis and feel confident that I could be an asset to our school board.

2. Why did you decide to run for election?

I was raised in this little community and am a Plains High School graduate. I now have two children of my own that both attend Plains School. I feel as a parent and a community member it is my responsibility to be as involved and supportive with the education of youth as I can be.

3. What do you like about the school district?

I like the fact that our school district makes it a priority to put our children’s needs first whether it be academics, education or environmental.

4. What are your views on the use of technology?

Whether or not we understand technology there is a place for it and our future is headed that way. I feel our youth need to be exposed to controlled technology but to not forget the importance of good old fashion hands on reading and writing.

5. What, if any, improvements do you feel are necessary?

Every board has hard decisions to make and without being personally involved with making those decisions I can not say what improvements are needed or not at this time. I think having a diverse group of people making up this board is of huge importance not only for our school but our community.

NAME: Erika Swanson Lawyer (No photo provided)

OCCUPATION: Business Owner

1. What are your qualifications to be a school trustee?

I have served on several local and state boards over the past 25 years: Clark Fork Valley Hospital; Health Care Trustee Assoc. of Montana (both included stints as Chairs); Plains-Paradise Chamber of Commerce also served as Chair several years: Plains Business Association; Wildhorse Sports Association since its inception (founding member and current Chair); Plains Booster Club; all of these have taught me how boards work well - and how they fail. I understand the rules board have to follow, and the best-practices of high functioning boards. I understand boards need to be visionary and strategic, putting personal agendas aside and working to accomplish the greater good, while evaluating all sides and arguments. I understand what fiduciary responsibility means and have attended multiple educational conferences on how to be a good board member in multiple settings.

2. Why did you decide to run for election?

I have always wanted to give back to my community in this capacity but the timing wasn’t right for my family. Now it is. I’ve been regularly attending school board meetings over the past year so I feel like I am up to date on what the school board is tackling. I have always had a passion for providing quality opportunities for kids in our community (thus Wildhorse Sports Association, Booster Club, employment opportunities in both of my businesses). I can offer up insight as to what is important to empowering our youth right now, educationally, socially, personally, athletically. I have a sophomore in college who graduated from PHS the same month of my 30-year class reunion year from this same high school. I have a son who is supposed to be graduating this year (and who knows what that will look like - but I can tell you what at least 5 of this year’s graduates are thinking - as I am working side-by-side with them right now). I have a daughter currently in the 5th grade who gives me insight to the pre-teen set.

3. What do you like about the school district?

It puts our kids first. I have always found if I go to the school with a problem and a willingness to find a reasonable solution that everyone there is on board to problem solve too. I like that they identify the areas of weakness and attack them head-on. I heard two math teachers earlier this fall give a presentation to the current school board about addressing our school’s math scores and how they can improve them across the board-and the results are showing it’s working. Our teachers are pro-active. I know several of them on a personal level and they CARE DEEPLY about their students academically and as human beings. School has become so much more than the educational hub… it provides breakfast, lunch, take-home snacks for weekends, counseling services, social engagement and interaction, tutoring services, showers, laundry facilities, athletics, and literally - a life line to some of our kids. Does the school do everything perfectly for everyone’s definition? Probably not. Do they do an outstanding job with the resources they have? I would say yes-and that is after having kids in this system for the past 15 years. I want to be part of the solution to the problems encountered, and visionary in identifying what roadblocks exist for our educators and students, to help clear them for the future.

4. What are your views on the use of technology?

Technology… of course it is important. My oldest graduated with 20 college credits under his belt from Plains High School because of the use of technology and dual-credit classes offered by FVCC. That was actively pushed by our school teachers, counselors and administrators.

Do I think we can use technology to improve communications with parents and students? Yeah. But I think after this spring semester there are going to be a whole lot of us a whole lot more comfortable with using technology to deliver a whole lot of things-education being just one of them.

5. What, if any, improvements do you feel are necessary?

Communication in any endeavor is always a challenge, and while I think the school does a pretty good job I think there is always room for improvement in that department in any organization. My other thought would be increasing sensitivity in areas that are emerging not just here-but everywhere.

This would directly deal with emerging and increasing diversity in our student population and the changing legal landscape in terms of policy regarding student’s rights as defined by case law.

NAME: Ellen Childress

OCCUPATION: Self-employed

1. What are your qualifications to be a school trustee?

I have a wide range of experience as a Title I teacher in the Plains school system, a parent of home school students and mother of Plains School students, as well as in substitute teaching at levels K-12. My experience has given me the ability to see many sides of issues that come before the board. I am open minded and thoughtful and consider what would be best for individual students and the school as a whole, before making decisions. My first three-year term as a trustee for the Plains Schools has added to my understanding of school and personal issues and how they fit into the picture of public education on a local and state level.

2. Why did you decide to run for election?

As a teacher in the Plains schools I realized that there are many layers of management that make a school system work. As a retired teacher I wanted to stay involved with the school and understand the work of administration. I felt that my experience would allow me to be sympathetic, yet fair when addressing student, administrative and community concerns. I have learned much and if given the privilege of another term as trustee, I feel I can build on that experience to continue to serve the school and community.

3. What do you like about the school district?

All the policies of Plains Schools are based on the idea of “Student’s First”. Administrators and staff make every effort to relate to individual students and each other with compassion and understanding. Professionalism, with a human touch, supports high behavioral and academic expectations and allows for creativity. I have seen teachers provide innovative methods of transport for students to medical visits and make home visits with homework and lunches. Special activities such as school wide decoration of halls for holidays and the Brain Bash contest stimulate learning and team work. These activities take extra time and energy from teachers, administration and staff. In these aspects the school integrates well with the values of our small rural community and works to expand opportunities for student experience and achievement as well as community involvement.

4. What are your views on the use of technology?

Today our lives are intertwined with, and dependent on, the wise use of technology. It is imperative that students today are given the opportunity to engage with all the aspects of technology and have ability to adapt to innovations. The current virus pandemic is an example of how technology, can contribute as students use skills and equipment to produce Personal Protective Equipment. However, technology can be turned to less than desirable uses so students must be aware of the dangers and know how to avoid the pitfalls of misuse.

5. What, if any, improvements do you feel are necessary?

The increasing range of diversity in student perspectives and domestic arrangements needs constant attention. Schools need flexibility to promote opportunities for individual growth and expression while fostering an atmosphere of respect for each other and the educational structure. It is the responsibility of both the community and schools and boards to keep information lines flowing responsibly. Boards and administration must ensure the safety of staff and students in the use of technology and that requires constant vigilance. The challenges to schools and those in positions of responsibility are ever changing and the Plains Schools do an admirable job of meeting those challenges.

NAME: David S. Costner

OCCUPATION: Primary Care Provider-Nurse Practitioner

NAME: Julie T. Costner

OCCUPATION: Active Registered Nurse and Homemaker

1. What are your qualifications to be a school trustee?

We are our kids’ parents & the administrators of our homeschool. Our passion for education & character led us to form an individualized curriculum for each child. They have flourished in this system with our oldest completing his third year of college as he turns 18 and younger three children pursuing interests in National Bible Bee, music, sports, etc. As to experience, expertise navigating higher education, our degrees and healthcare experiences speak for themselves.

2. Why did you decide to run for election?

The COVID-19/Coronavirus crisis has reinforced the maxim “Education starts at home.” We want to honor parents as having the primary authority and responsibility in making decisions regarding their child’s needs and education. We want to see children challenged and encouraged to reach beyond their expected potential. We want to see God back in schools via tough final exams; and we want schools where students, teachers, and parents are inspired and free to discuss and pray together as we face the challenges of our times.

3. What do you like about the school district?

We appreciate the district’s sense of family & loyalty to one another, of common purpose to raise healthy, productive future leaders in society.

4. What are your views on the use of technology?

Technology is a tool, not a teacher or solution on it’s own. A motivated pupil will excel far beyond a student surrounded by technology but lacking the drive to harness this technology to invent solutions such as 3D printing medical equipment or working to build local supply lines and help neighbors.

5. What, if any, improvements do you feel are necessary?

- Financial improvements: As homeschoolers, we work to achieve excellence in education at a fraction of the cost and without adding to local property tax burden. We will bring this penny sense approach to the school board.

- Academic improvements: According to Plains High School website: 67% of students are below proficient in math, 63% below proficient in reading, 56% below proficient in science. We care deeply about the future of these students and our community. It’s time for innovation and change.

*Link to “Every Student Success Act” report: https://www.plainsschools.net/Page/1042