PORT ANGELES — Both candidates for the Port Angeles School Board emphasized the necessity for mentoring students at a candidates forum on Wednesday.
Debby Fuson and Sarah Methner will face off in the Nov. 3 election for the seat now held by Nancy McLaughlin, who is not running again.
The candidates answered questions at the noon meeting of the Port Angeles Rotary Club, attended by about 35 people.
One other seat is open on the board. Incumbent Cindy Kelly is uncontested in the race.
Both Methner and Fuson have experience with children in the district.
Fuson’s three children and one stepson all attended the Port Angeles School District.
Methner has four children currently in school.
Fuson, an associate at the Port Angeles Wal-Mart store, said she has a lot of experience working with people whose work on various shifts do not allow them to be part of the everyday classroom.
“What I would like to propose is in addition to getting parents involved is to have programs developed for grandparents,” Fuson said.
“I have a lot more time as a grandparent to help out than my daughter-in-law does because she is a full-time working parent.
“If we develop senior mentoring programs it could help when students have bad experiences in the classroom.”
Methner said that parents cannot always be involved and so it is up to the board and district to get community members involved.
“Mentoring is about our best shot to get these kids more engaged,” she said.
“We have amazing resources in this town.
“The other thing I would say is that the squeaky wheels who have problems with the district often are what we hear.
“But I would never put my kids in a district that I didn’t think was doing the best for my kids.
“I am here to tell you that even if you don’t hear about those good things, there are wonderful things going on in this district.”
Fuson said as part of the board she would work with other community entities to encourage business in town.
“The average age of a contractor in Port Angeles is 50 years old — we need to be teaching these kids to do this kind of work in this beautiful facility at the [North Olympic Peninsula] Skills Center,” she said.
“We need to encourage more new business so that families have a reason to stay here and to come here so that we can stop the declining enrollment.”
Methner said she would also support vocational education but that she would change every level.
“One thing I’m enamoured with is the concept of looping where we have the teachers move up with their students from kindergarten to first grade and then the second grade teachers to third grade,” Methner said.
“It is so beneficial for students. I’m also interested in exploring some magnet schooling — which isn’t to be confused with charter schools.
“This is if a student is interested in math or engineering they can go to a particular school that specializes in that area.
“It doesn’t mean they aren’t doing language arts or the other basics but they are getting extra attention in music or math or whatever their interests are.”
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige. dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
