THE INDEPENDENT NEWS
Ed. — The following are responses to questions posed by The Independent News to candidates for the at-large seat on Virginia Beach School Board. Answers to our questions in this series generally are not edited, aside from obvious punctuation issues, spacing and formatting, or for clarity. The Sunday, Sept. 22, voter guide edition is still available on some of our secondary racks until Election Day.
All city voters can vote in this election.
SHARON R. FELTON
Residence: Seatack
Age: 70
Occupation: Retired
Education: B.S. in History from Old Dominion University
Endorsements: Virginia Beach Education Association-PACE and Virginia Beach Democratic Committee
Website: sharonfelton.com
Phone: (757) 509-7313
Email: sharon4vbschools@gmail.com
Social Media: SharonFelton4vbschools on Facebook and sharonrfelton on Instagram
What are your specific qualifications for this office? I bring two consecutive terms of experience as a Virginia Beach School Board member and a personal connection to the system as a product of our public schools. My children attended Virginia Beach schools, and my grandchildren are currently enrolled. I’ve witnessed the school system through its darkest hours and finest moments, giving me a unique insight into its challenges and opportunities. I have successfully worked with local, state, and federal lawmakers to advocate for the division. Most importantly, I am a community connector, committed to staying accessible and responsive to the needs of educators, families, and students.
What is the most important issue facing the city schools, and how will you address it in office? One of the most pressing issues is the aging school buildings, some of which are over 70 years old and no longer conducive to a healthy, innovative learning environment. Despite these challenges, I applaud our dedicated faculty and staff for showing up and providing a world-class learning experience.
I will work with my colleagues to modernize our schools by partnering with local and state elected leaders to identify funding. This includes exploring bonds, grants, and public-private partnerships. By investing in new, state-of-the-art facilities, we create environments that inspire learning and support the academic and personal growth of every student every day.
What are your three main policy priorities for Virginia Beach schools?
- Support Our Educators: I will advocate for competitive salaries, professional development, and the resources they need to provide high-quality education. By empowering our teachers and support staff, we create a strong foundation for student success every day.
- Engage Families and Communities: I believe in the power of collaboration between schools and families. I will promote open communication channels, provide resources for parents to engage in their children’s education, and advocate for policies that support a healthy work-life balance. Together, we can build a supportive community that benefits every student every day.
- Preparing Students for the Future: It is essential to ensure our students are prepared for life after graduation. Whether they choose to go to college, join the military, enter skilled trades, or directly join the workforce, I will advocate for diverse pathways and opportunities that help every student achieve their full potential every day.
How can the city schools address concerns about equality and inclusion? To address concerns about equality and inclusion, we must ensure that our policies reflect the diversity of our student population and promote an inclusive environment where every student feels valued. This includes implementing and refining the Education and Equity Policy, expanding access to programs that support underserved students, and actively engaging with diverse communities to understand their unique needs.
Is the district doing enough to address school security and discipline? While strides have been made in improving school security and updating disciplinary policies, there is always room for improvement. I believe the district needs to continuously assess and enhance its security measures to adapt to new challenges. This includes investing in modern security technology and providing training for staff on best practices for maintaining a safe school environment.
Additionally, disciplinary policies should be regularly reviewed to ensure they are equitable, transparent, and effective in addressing the needs of both students and teachers. My focus will be on creating a balanced approach that prioritizes safety while supporting positive student behavior.
How will you help the School Board prioritize the significant challenge of teacher retention and recruitment? To prioritize teacher retention and recruitment, I will advocate for competitive salaries that reflect teachers’ critical role in our community. Additionally, I will support initiatives that provide professional development opportunities, create a positive working environment, and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens on teachers.
By ensuring that teachers feel valued, supported, and equipped to succeed in their roles, we can address the root causes of turnover and attract new talent to our district. I will also encourage collaboration with local universities and colleges to develop a pipeline of future educators.
Do you support collective bargaining? I support employees’ right to collective bargaining. The principles of collective bargaining align with my philosophy of giving all employees a voice.
Arguably, the School Board has been more effected by district voting than the City Council, which has faced challenges in court this year. Do you support the 10-district voting system? Why? It was negligent that seated school board members were not invited to participate in discussions about redrawing district lines. This led to the 10-district voting system, which has put the School Board in a challenging position.
However, since the School Board is bound by the same charter as the City Council, they follow the same guidelines. The U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, found that Virginia Beach’s at-large system denied minority voters, particularly the Black, Asian, and Hispanic communities, equal access to the electoral and political process, which needed to be corrected, which I support.
MONTY ASHLIMAN
Residence: District 8
Age: 57
Occupation: CAVU International, Leadership and Safety Coach for high risk industry
Military Service/Education: 32+ years of Active Duty service in the US Navy (Naval Aviation, Flew F-14 Tomcats and FA-18 Super Hornets); Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and a Master of Arts from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
Endorsements: American Veterans Vote, Students First VA and five sitting members of the Virginia Beach School Board.
Website: montyashliman.com
Phone: (757) 296-2952
Email: votemontyashliman@gmail.com
Social Media: MontyAshlimanSchoolBoard on Facebook
What are your specific qualifications for this office? I have recently retired as a Navy Captain after over 32 years of Active Duty service and demonstrated, proven executive and combat leadership. My leadership background includes serving as a TOPGUN Instructor, the pinnacle of the Navy’s highest institute of learning; the Commanding Officer of a Strike-Fighter squadron responsible for 13 FA-18 Super Hornet aircraft and nearly 300 personnel; Commanding Officer of a major Navy installation, responsible for the well-being of 30,000 personnel, approximately 300 strike-fighter aircraft, significant budgets, and expansive facilities totaling over 800 million dollars in new construction. My entire career was based upon representing others, upholding the standards of a rigorous academic program, and collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure mission achievement. Here, that mission is Students First.
What is the most important issue facing the city schools, and how will you address it in office? A pressing issue for our Public Schools is the health of the teacher workforce. There are dedicated professionals desiring to teach, and we need to ensure our Public Schools are where they want to be. We must allow the teachers to teach and not need overwhelming personal time and money to make this happen most effectively. We must ensure our Public Schools are strong attributes of this community, a place where families want to be, and they are confident in the Public School system. The beneficiaries of a healthy teacher workforce are the students and parents confident in the schools.
What are your three main policy priorities for Virginia Beach schools?
- Putting Students First: I will promote the academic excellence of students, our future community leaders, so they do not continue to fall behind in important subjects such as reading and math. Students will meet the bar wherever it is set, so we should not lower our standards. Doing so is a disservice to them and our community. The Virginia Beach City Public Schools owe it to our students to best prepare them for the road ahead.
- Parental Rights: Parental involvement is crucial to the continuation of student development, and open communication with parents is imperative. Students spend more time at home with parents than in school, which demands that schools and parents are in sync regarding the educational development of students. Additionally, parents should not be surprised by a decision made by the Virginia Beach City Public Schools on behalf of the student.
- Supporting Teachers: We must attract and retain quality teachers who strongly desire to make a positive impact in the lives of their students. They must be given all the resources needed to effectively teach in their classrooms, and they must have the backing of School Administrations. Behavior problems negatively impact all students, so rules must be enforced.
How can the city schools address concerns about equality and inclusion? The entire team is responsible for a school culture that respects everyone. This means respecting others and treating them how you want to be treated, which is where my background is unmatched. Along with strong, clear policies must be the reporting and enforcement of these policies. Strict consequences for those failing to abide by these policies must be dealt to those not respecting all people and cultures. A culture where each individual respects each other starts with respecting those around you and treating others how you would like to be treated. This ensures equality and inclusion for all.
Is the district doing enough to address school security and discipline? Regarding security, there are scenarios where the heroic work of First Responders can be late to prevent tragedy. The City Public Schools must ensure everyone is aware of proper procedures in the unfortunate occurrence of such an event. Steps taken in the opening moments of a situation can save lives. We must ensure School Resource Officers are in every school, to include elementary schools, so the appropriate professionals are on site if an unfortunate situation were to arise. Regarding discipline, teachers must have the backing of the School Administration to ensure the safety of the classrooms and enforcement of rules.
How will you help the School Board prioritize the significant challenge of teacher retention and recruitment? I have a proven record in my career of building teams for success. There are dedicated professionals desiring to teach, and we need to ensure our schools are where they want to be and where they will stay. We must allow the teachers to teach and not overburden them with collateral duties that are not in support of educating the students. Teachers’ preparation time should not be taken up with commitments that are not directly supporting their lessons to be taught in the classroom. School administrations must support teachers and the enforcement of rules in the classroom.
Do you support collective bargaining? I do not currently support Collective Bargaining. After speaking with numerous teachers of all grade and experience levels, this is not the solution needed for the betterment of our Virginia Beach City Public Schools. I certainly completely support and respect all public servants, and I strongly believe we need to attract and retain quality teachers who strongly desire to teach students, and I believe they need to be paid for their invaluable work. Collective Bargaining is not currently the answer to supporting teachers the way they need to be supported in order to ensure they can effectively educate the students.
Arguably, the School Board has been more effected by district voting than the City Council, which has faced challenges in court this year. Do you support the 10-district voting system? Why? We must have a voting system in place to most effectively represent the populace of the city and ensure the results best support the Virginia Beach Public Schools.
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