Q&A: Quincy School District director candidates

QUINCY — Incumbent Heather Folks-Lambert is facing Shannon Durfee in the race for Position 3 on the Quincy School District Board. The Columbia Basin Herald posed the questions below to both candidates concurrently with matching word count restrictions and a deadline to submit their responses. Both responded within the timeframe specified.

Election Day is Nov. 7, 2023, with ballots expected to be mailed Oct. 18. Voting begins Oct. 20 and continues through Election Day.

What prompted you to run for the school board?

Durfee: There was not one particular thing that motivated me to run for school board rather a few various factors in my life indicated that it would be a good fit for me. All of my children are now part of the Quincy School District, which makes me want to be involved in and understand the system that they are a part of. Another reason is the motivation of a few community members who encouraged me and have faith in my ability to be a positive influence on the board. I'd like to believe I am a level-headed parent who wants a safe space for my children to learn what they NEED to thrive in life, academically. No outside influences or agendas, just academics. I'd like to see the school board make decisions that are academic-based.

Folks-Lambert: I am passionate about education. Educators have made a difference at every step of my life, and I want the same for all our students. Our schools need energetic support from community members who are passionate about giving back. I think Quincy schools will be most successful when board actions are rooted in data and facts, not in rhetoric. I believe every student has a right to receive a robust education that prepares them for a successful future. I have two kids attending schools in the district, and like all parents, I’m invested in ensuring that Quincy’s kids graduate well-prepared to be active contributors and leaders in our community, that they are prepared for their futures, and that they have received an education that enables them to think critically about the world around them. Volunteerism and community participation are important to me. I have the benefit of 20 years of technical skills combined with seven years of board experience. My background in operational improvement, strategic planning, budgeting, data analysis and leadership pairs well with district needs to set students up for continued growth.

What are the three most important issues you see facing the Quincy school district?

Durfee: Lack of focus on actual academics, lack of control in the older ages and maintaining the focus on what parent preferences are.

Folks-Lambert: A strong educational foundation is paramount. From kindergarten to the 3rd grade, kids are learning to read, and then they are reading to learn. It’s the start of their life of learning. Historically, only 10-17% of our kindergartners entered school adequately prepared, largely due to limited access to early education. To address this, we must leverage programs like Transition to Kindergarten, Head Start, and private preschools to prepare as many children as possible for their academic life.

Ensuring high-performing schools is a collective concern. Recent years have raised worries about learning setbacks and the efficacy of schools in preparing children for their futures. One of our strategies is developing robust data analysis tools to comprehensively understand student performance. This allows us to allocate resources effectively, identifying students in need of behavioral and disciplinary support, recognizing highly capable students, and helping parents track progress in their children's grades and homework.

Parent advocacy and partnership are critical to our educational mission. Establishing a collaborative relationship between the district and families is essential for students to realize their full potential. Parents should have easy access to resources for questions, information, assistance, express concerns, and actively help create thriving school and classroom communities.

What are the top three things you want to do, your three most important goals, if elected?

Durfee: My number one goal, first and foremost, is to learn the system and why it runs the way it runs. After I have a good grasp of how things work, that is when I'd like to have an influence on areas like focusing more intently on academics, better supporting our teacher's direct interactions with students, and keeping the culture focused on what our small-town culture thrives on such as family involvement and parent-led decisions.

Folks-Lambert: I will continue my focus on educational outcomes. Our Transition to Kindergarten has been tremendously successful, with 70% of students ready for kindergarten. My first goal is expanding that program and continued collaboration with other preschool programs. Setting a strong foundation and early love of learning in our students will be reflected throughout their academic careers.

My second goal is to see the potential of our students and dedication of our staff reflected in student proficiency results. While we’ve made good progress in the last few years to close gaps, we’ve still got some distance to go.

My third goal is to expand our graduation pathways in our high school. We have Running Start, CiHS, and we’re within just a few credits of students being able to complete an Associate’s Degree at QHS. I’m also advocating for QSD to partner with Big Bend, WVC, local industry groups and others in the area in developing a regional clean energy hub. That means we’ll partner to build pathways to tech-based jobs of the future, so our students are prepared for well-paying jobs in the growing tech and energy industries here in our backyard.