Questionnaire Responses – Tim Sweet

1 – What are your unique life/occupational experiences you believe will bring a different and important perspective to the Watauga County School Board?

Having been a single parent and now a grandparent with grandchildren in public schools, I have wittinessed (sic) the changes in our public schools from a multi-generational perspective. I have seen our public educational system becoming more politicized on a wide variety of social and political issues that have no place in the basic education of students. Focus has shifted from providing students with fundamental life skills in proficiency of math, reading, sciences and  history along with basic critical thinking skills.

Beyond providing a safe and judgmental free environment for our students, I firmly believe the main focus as local Board of Education members we should ensure we are directing funds in the right areas for our teachers and students.

2 – What do you consider to be the most pressing issue facing Watauga County Schools and how will you address this issue if elected?

As briefly mention in question 1, my main pressing issue is proper pay for our teachers and providing the proper supplies, tools, and equipment. Teachers and parents should not be relied on to provide the essentials for our students education making sure we have that first and foremost in planing and approving a budget. Also, that we are not wasting or have wasted in non-teaching (ie administration) or redundancies in a school budget. After all we are using tax payers monies and we have a duty to all, that we are providing for and giving the best education to our students and the community and not wasted on “feel good” projects or social/political issues that provide no sound justification to spend tax payers monies on.

3 – Do you believe the Watauga County Board of Commissioners provides adequate funding for Watauga County’s public schools? Please explain.

Short answer “NO”. How can anyone say we have adequate funding, when we expect teachers, parents and the community to get and provide the basic supplies, tools and equipment for our students to get a proper education. Along with that we have to ensure The Board of Education is not wasting monies either.

4 – If you could only increase Watauga County’s public school spending in one area, what would it be and why?

While this is a difficult question to focus on one area in spending as there are many. But, I would say that one main focus would be school supplies, tools and equipment for the teachers and students. Reasons having previously been stated.

5 – Do you support or oppose all/none/some of the ‘Parent’s Bill of Rights’ enacted for public schools by the state legislature in August 2023 (SB 49)? Please explain.

While I have read most of SB 49 to get a better understanding of the bill. I would encourage everyone to read the bill and not to take anyone’s opinion or interpretation and come to their own conclusions. As a whole I generally agree with maintaining parental rights, prohibiting  schools from encouraging, actively engaging in or covertly undermining parents/legal guardian  in any type of medical, mental or other invasive procedures (non life threatening)  when it comes to their underage children. It also makes sense that it prohibits the teaching of sexual/gender identity in the K-4 grades and should be elective (by parent or guardian permission) taught at higher grade levels starting with 5-6 grade  as we teach basic sex education. It does not outlaw the teaching of gender identity in public schools but restricts it from k-4 grade curriculum nor does it prevent parents to take it upon themselves to teach their own kids about the subject at any age if they so choose too.

6 – Do you support or oppose the “Moms for Liberty” organization and activities related to public schools? Please explain.

To be honest until your question I never heard of the “Moms for Liberty” So I went to their website and for me is was not to (sic) informative. While I support parental rights (as I feel a majority of us do). But after doing further research and learning more about various chapters and the organization some of their views and activities are to extreme for my liking. While I may lean more conservative on many issues I have issues with extreme views or opinions on both the left and right of the political spectrum. So no I do not support many of the activities of the Moms for Liberty.

7 – What are your ideas/proposals for increasing public participation with Watauga’s schools?

We must be willing to have open debate and discussion with all ideas or opinions allowed to be presented. Allow for better transparency and availability for parents, teachers and the community to interact with the Board of Education.