Candidates Q and A: Terrence Williams

Monrovia Patch solicited questions from residents and threw in a few of our own for the school board candidates.

Each candidate is asked to respond to the same questions via email.  The answers will be posted over the next few days as they are submitted. This is the first Q and A from candidate Terrence Williams.

Name: Terrence Williams
Age: 54
Occupation: Paragon Trucking – Managing Partner

1. Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background and why you should be elected or reelected to the Monrovia Unified School District Board of Education.

My name is Terrence Williams. I’ve been a Monrovian for 24 years, and have been married for 22 years. My wife, Bobbie, and I have 4 children. Two of my children, Luke and Jessica, are attending UC Davis and Citrus College. The other two, Audrey and Sam, are attending Monrovia High School as a senior, and an 8th grader with special needs at Clifton Middle School. I am a managing partner for my trucking company, Paragon Trucking, and I have an office here in Old Town Monrovia.

I care deeply about our community and the families who live here. I have dedicated years for improving our children’s lives. I now seek to play a more important role on the school board where I can utilize my passion and qualifications to better prepare our students for future success.

2. What would you say is the distinguishing characteristic that you bring to the table, that qualifies you to be a member of our school board? What is the number one thing you would like to accomplish as a school board member and how will you go about accomplishing it? (Patch reader Gail Arakelian)

I am my own man, who concurrently works with opposing ideologies. I have two children who are past graduates of our district and two others who are currently enrolled. Also, I’ve earned the respect of parents, teachers, and students throughout the years as both a parent and a volunteer in the community.

The number one item I would like to accomplish is to promote trust and transparency in the school board and be accessible to parents, teachers, students, staff, and classified, and pledge to be open-minded and consider various viewpoints so all stakeholders are respected.

I will accomplish this by offering open communications via email and cell, with no retributions.

3. One key thing school board members are tasked with is voting on budgets and making sure the district is spending wisely. What kind of experience do you have working with budgets?

My experience comes from being a member of the MUSD Budget Advisory Committee.

4. Do you think a school board candidate’s personal finance issues, such as previously filing for bankruptcy, should disqualify them for office. If so, why? If not, why not? Would you be willing to take a basic competency test in math and personal finance if it was required? (Patch reader Dan Crandell)

Yes, I believe they should be disqualified because if they cannot manage their finances and fall into bankruptcy, they cannot manage the budget of the school board.

If required, yes, I would take a competency test.

5. What is your position on funding more art/music/drama opportunities MUSD students and on censoring student art/music/drama at the high school level specifically? Would you be willing to cut athletics in order to expand the arts? (Patch reader Stephen McCarthy)

As a board member of the Monrovia School Foundation, we have funded $18,000 for renovation of the downstairs dressing rooms for the Louise K. Taylor Performing Arts Center. I support funding opportunities for the arts.

I support censoring, but on a case-by-case situation regarding the high school level.

I would look for ways to expand the arts while maintaining support for athletic programs as I want to provide various opportunities for the students.

6. Did you send your children to Monrovia schools? If so, what did you think of the education they received. If not, why not?

Yes, all of my children have or are still in the district. I am very pleased with their education.

7. Are you the type of individual who won't buckle under pressure when you can see that your decision is right for students/staff/ the District, while other board members disagree with you? Give an example to support your answer. (Patch reader Gail Arakelian)

Yes, I will not buckle under pressure because I am my own man. Here is my example: I am the play-by-play announcer for freshmen, JV, and Varsity football games. I saw the need for a concession stand for both freshmen and JV games that was not being fulfilled. I learned that there was no budget to allow a concession stand to open. I knew that more people would be more comfortable at the games if they knew there was food and drinks close by.

I worked with the cheer squad leaders and parents to purchase beverages and chips so that they could sell them in the stands at these games. As a result, we have the concession stand open for all three levels of football, which is now sponsored by the cheer squad leaders and the Boosters Club.

8. What are your thoughts on how the district’s test scores are trending year to year? How important of a measure do you feel test scores are in determining student achievement? How important do you think they are in evaluating teacher performance?

I think the district has done a great job with the yearly increasing API scores.
Yes, it is important as a measure as it sets the tone for daily classwork focus and timely homework for the students.

It helps to know how teachers prepare their students. And considering the upward trend of the scores year-by-year, it reflects positively on both the students and the teachers.

9. The MUSD recently hired a new superintendent. What do you think the board’s role is in working with a superintendent?

The board must work with the superintendent as a TEAM, especially with the upcoming new curriculum.

10. What are your thoughts on the importance of parental involvement in helping students achieve? How will you engage the community to improve public schools in the district?

It is a necessity. Parents need to mirror the efforts of the teachers at home, and this is based on my experience.

I will engage the community through my current volunteer efforts, and make a direct appeal to the businesses of Monrovia as a Monrovia Chamber of Commerce member.