Education - Questions for Council Candidates

Editor's Note - Welcome to the last installment of Questions for Council Candidates. Recently, Hyattsville Patch sent a 15 part questionnaire to candidates running in this year's Hyattsville City Council election. The questions, developed with the help of Hyattsville Patch readers, probe the candidates thoughts on city policy, development, and also asked the candidates to do a little self reflection. 

Between now and May 7, Hyattsville Patch will be publishing their responses to each question to help you, the reader, make a more informed decision at the polls on May 7. Here now are the responses to the last question. Responses are organized alphabetically by ward.

Question - A number of city council candidates in this election have said they want to explore how the city could support the local public schools. Is this a realistic goal, considering municipal budget pressures and that the public schools are outside the city's jurisdiction?

Ward 1 Candidates:

Bill Jenne - It’s true that the city can’t support the local public schools directly or even really influence school policy indirectly, but there are things that the city can do to enhance the environment around the school, like, for example making sure that sidewalks are in good condition so that children can walk to and from school safely, and having the city police keep an eye on traffic near the school to minimize speeding in the vicinity of the school. There are perhaps some areas where the school PTA can work with the city to coordinate fundraising activities within or adjacent to city functions like Summer Jam or the carnival which could help the PTA and then indirectly help the school. 

Bart Lawrence - Support doesn’t necessarily equal funding. There are many facets of support. The City should begin by creating an Education Advisory Committee. Such a committee should act as a liaison between the Council and our City’s public schools, providing the Council with information on issues related to the Prince George’s Public School System and each individual school. 

For example, if an EAC were in place now, it could take the lead on engaging the public and the county with regards to the new Hyattsville-area Elementary School, due to open in 2014. Such an engagement would go a long way to ensure that the new school addresses the needs and concerns of the community. 

The City should be an active advocate for our public schools, but doing so need not affect the municipal budget. The City seeks and facilitates private development; it should nurture and support public education, too. 

Ward 2 Candidates:

Robert Croslin - The city should be receptive to exploring suggestions for supporting our public schools and their PTAs. All cooperative activities do not require major financial support.

As a community, we are not doing enough to celebrate the successes of our children. Aside from vigorously lobbying the County for resources, I would like to see the local news media regularly recognize students who have made achievements academically, artistically, or athletically with a small write up in their publication. The city could include their names in the Hyattsville Reporter. 

I would like to see the establishment of a Young People’s Council where students from the local schools can have their own representative and can debate some of the same issues as the city council, as well as issues that concern them more directly. They can give their opinion to the city council or be allowed to publish their opinions in the local newspaper.

We should bring back the writing contest for African American History Month rewarding the winner with a $75 savings bond and a chance to read the essay at the council meeting on television. The same could be done for Women’s History Month or any other cultural event.

David Hiles (Incumbent) - Yes, we can do lots without affecting the City budget. Yes, we should be engaged because it meets our commitment to building an attractive, healthy community. 

Here are some ideas.

a) We have a cable channel, a web site, a newsletter, (and maybe two of those electronic signs). We can use those channels to promote good news about our schools. 

b) We can help the community come together in support of our schools by sponsoring and organizing community meetings.

c) Councilmembers can show our support by participating, as I have, in honor assemblies, science fairs, and reading events.

d) Councilmembers can donate a portion of their Council pay, as I have, to enrichment activities such as the Robotics Program at Hyattsville Elementary School.

All this can happen at no cost to the City.

If we want to go farther, we can establish a "Hyattsville Prize” that goes each year to the best student and to the most-improved student at each public school in Hyattsville.  

It can be a savings bond. It wouldn’t cost much for the City, but it would be a meaningful amount when mature. We can engage with local businesses and civic-minded individuals to expand the scope of such a program. Why not? We don’t always need studies and consultants to do the right thing.

Ward 3 Candidate:

Patrick Paschall - Elected officials in Hyattsville are charged with representing our residents in a variety of bodies, including the Prince George’s County Board of Education. With the recent changes to the Board of Education and the addition of four new members, this is an opportunity to build relationships with new and existing members of the school board and advocate for programs that benefit Hyattsville schools. One of my first priorities will be to build relationships with these new members.

I will be a voice for Hyattsville schools, students, parents, and residents with officials at the county and state level to ensure that the needs of our students are met. Hyattsville should also work closely with the Parent-Teacher Associations and Principals at the schools our children attend to incentivize parents to be engaged in the lives of their children.

Ward 4 Candidates:

Ross Gateretse - Hyattsville needs to take the lead in improving and supporting our public schools. Our neighborhood schools fall under the jurisdiction of Prince George’s County, but I believe the city of Hyattsville has an impact on the public schools. 

Edouard Haba - The appropriate location of bars and/or night clubs is defined by zoning regulations and other city, county and State's codes and ordinances. In addition to the legal requirements, as an entrepreneur you also want to make sure that the services you provide are in line with the residents' needs and that you are maintaining a good relationship with them. We just need to be objective and creative through consultations with residents and business owners.

Ward 5 Candidates: 

Pastor Herrera - Editor's Note - Herrera did not submit responses to this questionnaire before the publication deadline.

Joseph Solomon - I think there are a number of ways the city can support schools outside of funding but by collaboration with the county and principals.  While this in not a part of my campaign platform, and I am not sure of the intensions of these council members and candidates, I welcome the idea developing ways to assist children in education development;  even if it’s just a matter of responding to their school’s requests for adequate parking.

Clayton Williams - Not every problem can be solved by the city with the city’s money. That being said, the city cannot abdicate responsibility just because the schools are run by the county. We are lucky to have council members with PTA experience. They can help the city dovetail its activities and resources with school activities and resources.