Jim Dillenbeck

Nonpartisan

Give teachers 4-6 weeks of paid maternity/paternity leave. Currently, they get none!

Recruiting volunteers (UVA Madison House, high school seniors, retirees) to tutor and mentor at risk students in grades 1-8.

Holding quarterly “town hall” meetings with parents to hear their concerns and relay those to the Board.

Improving discipline by establishing and enforcing clear expectations for student behavior. Teach appropriate behavior and conflict resolution skills beginning in the elementary grades.

Holding monthly meetings with teachers and administrators to hear from them about the challenges and areas of improvement.

Implementing a bonus system for effective teachers using a systematic evaluation process that incorporates improved test scores and feedback from parents, administrators, and other teachers.

Supporting and expanding CATEC. Most students who graduate from high school will not go on to a four year university. It is critical that the county provide a variety of high quality technical education courses to prepare the next generation of auto mechanics, cosmetologists, fire fighters, carpenters, and other vital service professionals.

Shifting funding from central office personnel to teachers and aides and bus drivers.

Recruiting more teachers of color. Currently, students of color represent almost 40% of the school population but only 11% of teachers. I would encourage an aggressive recruiting program partnering with Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Revamping the current grading policies to encourage students to complete assignments on time and prepare for graded work (rather than rely on retakes). Provide remediation as needed.

Hiring and training more school resource support staff.

Establishing a parent advisory committee to discuss relevant topics and be involved in policy decisions.

Hiring more teachers to reduce class size and reconfiguring school buildings to allow for greater security and reduced threat exposure.

Inviting business owners to come and speak with high school students about their experiences and inspire students to set career goals.

Working with the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce (and related groups) to encourage internships with local businesses and organizations.