Campaign email: koonsie@yahoo.com
Website: www.corykoons.com
Age: 42
Employment: Vice President of an environmental testing laboratory
Education: Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Management, Clarkson University
Why are you running for the school board?
My observations through my two children have shown structural failures in the school system, and I cannot stand by and not try to help
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
My background and experiences as a scientist and evaluator of data would be a powerful asset to the board. No one on the board or running for the board would have a similar body of work or experience. My focus would be on the physical state of the schools. Building Quality and Safety, bussing and transportation, food service, and technology usage.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
I am not sure that I can name a single public leader that I admire. My aim is not to become a politician by running for Board of Education. Board of Education should not be a politically charged position nor should it be a stepping stone for future political aspirations. It should be about improving the opportunities and outcomes for children of Baltimore County.
What is the most important issue facing your school board, and what would you do about it if elected?
The largest single issue facing the school system in Baltimore County is student performance, and educational outcomes are below expectations. The core job of the schools is to educate. Before we can fix the issue we have to identify what components are going into these outcomes. Having 60% of third grade students reading at below grade level is unacceptable. With a per student allocation of over $15,000/student annually we need to do better. Between teachers, bus drivers, support staff and overall facility conditions, much can be done. We have to reverse the attitudes. Getting students to buy into their own education and retaining teachers who are engaged are both critical to outcomes.
How concerned are you about school safety, and what if anything should be done to improve it?
School safety is obviously a major concern. With recent events of weapons in schools and incidents we cannot be blind to issues. One thing that is a major concern is the appropriate use of discipline. Without consistent enforcement of school policies, up to and including removal of problem students, students find no consequence and teachers find no recourse for disruptions of class. Actual consequences for actions must be understood by students and consistently applied by administrators.
Do you have any concerns about the way history is taught in your district’s schools, and if so, what are they?
My focus is on the physical state of the schools. My experiences are not in curriculum development. I would need to evaluate specific instances of “How history is taught.” I believe history should be taught from a factual and neutral perspective.
Do you think there are circumstances when books should be removed from school libraries, and if so, what kind of books should be removed?
Books must be age-appropriate. Sexualized materials do not belong in Elementary School Libraries. Parents should be allowed to have a voice in the materials that are used in the classroom.
