RRGSD Candidates: Nov. 2 elections

Now schools are open for all grades, and an election is around the corner.

The Herald compiled questions equally for each candidate to answer.

Party Affiliation

Dean: Unaffiliated

Briggs: Unaffiliated

Williams: The RRGSD Trustees are elected on a non-partisan basis, and this is as it should be. Our Congress, as well as the NC General Assembly, are mired in gridlock as a result of petty, party-line bickering. We should not allow this ridiculous state of affairs to become a part of school system governance.

Liverman: I am a registered Democrat and will likely switch to “Unaffiliated” by the election. I believe it is very important to vote in our local primaries the way that will best benefit our local area.

What do you do for a living, and what experience do you have that you believe is beneficial to the position you are seeking?

Dean: I retired June 5, 2021, from teaching. I taught at Chaloner Middle School for 33 years. I also have experience as a parent. My two adult children attended grades K-12 at RRGSD. Both my experience as a long-time educator and as a parent makes me very qualified for a position on the board of education.

Briggs: I work at WestRock in Forest Resources. Prior to joining WestRock, I taught at Chaloner Middle School for 10 years and served as the Assistant Principal at Roanoke Rapids High School for a year. I have served on the RRGSD Board of Trustees the past six years.

Williams: I am a semi-retired public school educator, having served in various public education positions for 51 years. Currently, I am serving in a post-retirement part-time position as the Town Administrator in the adjoining Town of Weldon. The knowledge and skills I have acquired as a high school math teacher, high school and elementary school principal, superintendent of schools, and higher education consultant/administrator have served me well during my 12 years of service on the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Board of Trustees.

Liverman: I am an independent insurance agent and specialize in commercial property and casualty insurance. I also help to manage family farms, run several hunting operations and help consult clients in timber and wildlife improvements to their properties. From an experience stand point, I have served on several boards including the Roanoke Rapids City Council, chairing Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Roanoke Rapids High School Sports Club, and of course the last six years on the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Board of Trustees, amongst others.

Why are you running?

Dean: I decided to run several years ago to help preserve and improve our school system. I am one of four generations in my family to graduate from RRHS, and I worked for this system as did my mother.

Briggs: As a father of two RRGSD students, former teacher, graduate of RRGSD, and lifelong advocate for children, education is the greatest tool we can give our children. I believe that all students, regardless of their background, deserve to have access to a high-quality education. The challenges of this pandemic have caused our students to fall behind, and learning gaps are widening. I am running for school board because I believe in the potential of all students, and I believe we can do better at helping them realize it.

Williams: We live in a great country. America’s greatness is due in large measure to its increasing commitment to provide a free, public school education to every child, regardless of their background or limitations. I have devoted my adult, public and professional life to the fulfillment of this commitment. The Roanoke Rapids Graded School District has a rich, century-old history of excellence related to this pursuit, and I want to continue to be a part of keeping that tradition alive and well. I am deeply appreciative to the citizens of our school district for allowing me to serve the RRGSD as a teacher, superintendent, and school board member and would love to continue my service for another six-year term on the school board.

Liverman: I am running for reelection to the school board for the very same reasons I ran for election six years ago. I plan to protect our school district and be a voice for our students, parents, staff and all stakeholders.

The school systems across the nation took a hit with the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures. What was your initial position on the matter, and how has it evolved now?

Dean: I hope RRGSD does not have to close; however, the people making the decisions need to look at all the information provided and available to them as they make the best decision possible.

Briggs: Since the beginning of this pandemic, I have voted to keep our students in the classroom. Virtual learning is not the answer! Virtual learning works for some students, but not the majority. The data shows that there are significant learning gaps in students across the state due to the pandemic and virtual learning. My position has not changed. We must maintain in-person learning the safest way possible for students and staff.

Williams: In my various roles as a public school educator, I have consistently operated with two very basic principles as my guide: Put Kids First and Use Common Sense. As our school district dealt with the Coronavirus pandemic, I followed these principles. Early in the crisis, I supported virtual learning for all students until we could figure out how to deal with this virus. As we learned more about the virus and ways to protect ourselves, I supported allowing families the choice of returning to fact-to-face instruction provided safeguards were in place along with continuing to allow families to choose virtual learning if they were not comfortable returning to in-person learning. I now encourage every citizen to be vaccinated so we can more quickly return to unrestrained face-to-face teaching and learning — the best way for teachers to teach and for students to learn.

Liverman: This is a tremendously broad question. My initial and evolved position was and remains to be to make the best decisions I can with the information supplied. As we continue to move into the future, information on Covid-19 has evolved, and thus will our decisions. I will add and I’ve been adamant about the tough position that our State has put local school boards in making these decisions. In short, people are wanting their freedoms, and if the State so wishes us to enforce mandates, then why are they “forcing” local school boards to do their dirty work. It just doesn’t seem very fair to me.

What actions do you regret or are proud of that the Board of Trustees took in the past two years?

Dean: N/A

Briggs: As a board member, I am proud of the Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Board of Trustees and Halifax Community College working together to create the Roanoke Rapids Early College High School. It is an efficient and cost-effective way for students to earn a high school diploma and an associate’s degree or career certificate through Halifax Community College.

Williams: I am proud of the citizens, students, and our school district staff for the patient, professional manner in which we have all dealt with the Coronavirus pandemic during the past almost two years. As the Board of Trustees, assisted by our very capable central office staff, struggled to deal with the Coronavirus threat, emerging scientific knowledge, and the constantly changing governmental mandates, we made good choices that were best for students and staff. Along the way, our parents and students exhibited tremendous patience and perseverance dealing with so many unknowns. We didn’t always agree, but together we made the best of a bad situation, and I was, and continue to be, proud of all of us. One more time the RRGSD family rose to the challenge.

Liverman: I neither boast nor regret any of our board’s decisions. I have complete faith in our board, and all of its members for that matter, in making the very best decisions it can at the time we have to make them. We obviously do not always agree, but quite frankly, I think God for that.

What is something that you feel the public needs to understand with how the Board of Trustees operated in the past two years?

Dean: The meetings were available for the public to watch. This transparent process allows the public to understand how the Board of Trustees operates.

Briggs: The past two years have been challenging for every school district across the State. Schools, teachers, parents, and students alike had to scramble to figure out how to “do” school in quarantine. My heart goes out to our students. Many of our students have suffered academically, mentally, and physically due to this pandemic and virtual learning. As a district, the past two years have been extremely difficult. Unfortunately, many of the decisions made in Raleigh are pushed down to the district level to implement with little to no support. The Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit was updated August 2021 and changed the way schools could operate for the 2021-22 school year. The new guidelines of the updated toolkit have tied the hands of the school districts, especially around masks and quarantines. I would encourage the public to read the updated toolkit to better understand the challenges the Board of Trustees must navigate. Linked below: covid19.ncdhhs.gov/media/164/open

Williams: During the past two years, the Board of Trustees was faced with guiding the school district through uncharted waters. None of us on the Board, nor those in the public, had ever experienced anything like this pandemic. There was no past experience to draw upon. In addition, the guidance, mandates, and restrictions issued by state governmental agencies were, understandably, constantly changing as the virus progressed, and we learned more about effective safety measures. I believe the majority of the public understood and continues to understand, this and I am deeply appreciative of their understanding.

Liverman: I think our public is well aware of this board and how it operates. I have complete faith in the people that put me on this board, and I pray they have complete faith in me.

In what ways have you contributed to the school district?

Dean: I was a teacher for 33 years, and I am the parent of two adult children who attended RRGSD. Both of my children participated in a school sport. My husband and I went before the Board of Trustees when our oldest child was in the 6th grade requesting permission to start the Sports Club at Chaloner Middle School.

Briggs: As an experienced school board member and leader, I have gained a deep knowledge of education issues and operations of the district. I understand the responsibilities of serving as an elected official who represents the varied interests of students, families, staff and the community. I seek input from stakeholders and consider differing viewpoints before making decisions.

Williams: I taught math at Roanoke Rapids High School for five years, served as Superintendent of Schools for six years, and have served on the Board of Trustees for 12 years, serving as chairman of the finance committee for most of those years. During my 12 years on the Board I have provided leadership and support to turning aside repeated threats of merger, maintaining a stable supplementary tax rate and operating fund balance, providing a percentage-based supplement for teachers, attracting high-quality staff to the district, replacing Manning School and maintaining other school facilities at a high standard, putting kids first, and utilizing common sense in dealing with significant problems.

Liverman: I have always done whatever I can for the youth in our school district. Whether that is coaching our youth, packing coolers for the football team, feeding the soccer team, cooking a pig for the Sports Club, or serving as a school board member, I simply just do what I can to make our kids feel as important as they are. Bottom line, I am a Yellow Jacket. Always have been, always

will be.

If elected, what is your game plan for the school district?

Dean: I do not have a specific game plan. This is a school district, and I hope to help make the best decisions for all students, teachers, and staff involved.

Briggs: If elected, I will continue to advocate for our students and staff. There is work to be done to fill the gaps that our students endured the past two years. I plan to support our staff to ensure those gaps are closed.

Williams: During the next six years, the school district needs to address several challenges, of which I desire to target the following. First, our district is slowly losing students. We need to play a role in making the school district a wonderful place in which to live and the number one choice of a place to get a good education. Second, with increasing demands on their time and attention, it is increasingly difficult for parents to engage with school staff in working together to educate our children. We can do better by working together. Third, we have lost sight of some curriculum basics. We need to renew a focus on teaching students life skills that have direct application to daily living (managing finances, handwriting, grammar, respect for others, and informed decision-making), and return to teaching more occupational skills that provide a pathway to the world of work.

Liverman: I plan to protect our school district and be a voice for our students, parents, staff and all stakeholders.

Is there anything else that was not covered that you feel is important to say?

Dean: I think it is important for school board members to take all information available to them into consideration, and when necessary, do extra research and ask questions. The members need to make the best decisions they can for everyone involved. The people that know me know that is how I feel about everything. Not only did I grow up in Roanoke Rapids, I have taught many students in my 33 years of teaching.

Briggs: I want to thank our students, staff, parents and fellow board members for their dedication and hard work during these difficult times in public education. Our teachers and staff have gone to extraordinary lengths to support our students and their families during this pandemic. Although it has not been perfect, job well done considering the circumstances. THANK YOU!!! I would also like to thank the voters for their support over the past six years during my term on the Board of Trustees. I look forward to serving another term if that is the will of the voters on November 2nd. Thank you for the opportunity!

Williams: ‘Nuff said. Thanks for listening/reading. I would be honored to serve another term on the Board of Trustees of a great school district.

Liverman: Bottom line, if people are led to put their trust in me for this position, they are getting a guy that is not afraid to address tough situations, a guy that will ask important and tough questions, a guy that will be informed about our district, and a guy that will always vote his convictions!