Latest / Palafox Media Network / Meet the Candidate: Trevor Tucker Talks about School Board Race
Transcript
- Greg Fink: Hello folks and welcome to the new episode here of Polico Matrix News. ⁓ we are in another Meet the Candid issue here. We have already talked to Trevor before. We're now we're gonna dig a little deeper into Trevor Tucker's campaign for school board in Flagler County. Trevor, how you doing today? Trevor Tucker: I'm doing great. Thanks for having me on. Greg Fink: ⁓ no, thanks for being on here. it looks like ⁓ the last time we talked, I guess about a couple of months ago here about the campaign and we're at the very genesis ⁓ of the cycle and everything more or less. But now that we're a lot deeper in and we've had a few forums and a lot more absentees are going out now and so people are now starting to activate their power of voting. you know, what say you on the campaign? I mean, what w you know w where are we at right now? Trevor Tucker: I think we're in a good place right now. I've been to quite a few forums and at the forums, you know, we're discussing real topics. I really wish we had a larger turnout or a larger audience for the forums. ⁓ I appreciate the radio having it on their show. but those forums are really great for the voters. They can see the insights and ⁓ depth of knowledge of each candidate. Greg Fink: Okay. And so and so right now with ⁓ the campaign cycle being in full gear, I mean what do you you know, do your issues, your top issues change any or or what still seems to be the number one issue while you're running? Trevor Tucker: number one issue is always going to be are we empowering the Superintendent and teachers and staff in order to be able to do the best for the students. are always going to be the number one issue, always in my campaign. Outside that, there's some other issues that I think are very important. If we keep a superintendent for a period of time over more than three or four years, we'll have that because whenever you lose a superintendent, the principals, everyone has start over on what the new plan is, and it's hard to keep momentum going. But if we can keep a new superintendent superintendent for more than three or four years I think that'd be dynamic for a district. Greg Fink: So how long we had the superintendent right now? Trevor Tucker: ⁓ I believe she is going into her fourth year. before that I think it we've had a turnover in superintendents for three years in a row or four years in a row for almost sixteen years. ⁓ I I just hope the trend doesn't continue. Greg Fink: Okay. Right. And so and so with the I mean with the agenda that she's already set in place, it looks like I guess they have a A rating with the leadership that she has you know, basically taken at the helm here for ⁓ with the ⁓ schools. And so I mean how's the rating system working and what is the A rating now rating now compared to the A rating whenever you were a school board member? Trevor Tucker: so now they are in a different testing system. whenever I was on the school board you had one test at the end of the year to test what the students gained from their previous one year test. now you have tests there multiple times during the year and so you can find out if a student's behind or ahead earlier in the year so you can start that remediation. ⁓ before you don't know how well they're performing until one test at the end of the year. ⁓ it's a d it's a different system, but ⁓ it d definitely I think gives the school district and the teachers and the students a lot more feedback as to where they are and where they need to be for that school year. Greg Fink: Right. And so and so whenever they're doing that, so I mean more or less you're like giving a lot a lot more you're you're getting a lot more data rather on how to ⁓ you know, how to gauge the curriculum and how to gauge your behavior to the students. And so is that something that is I guess is ⁓ brought on by the state to do that? Trevor Tucker: yes. ⁓ that changed I'd to look it up, but it changed either two or three years ago. with that change, that it it's it's a new system. ⁓ anytime we Greg Fink: So it wasn't it wasn't anything a school board member implemented themselves though. Trevor Tucker: No, it definitely was not. The testing is definitely new, is implemented by the state. all the state standards are always by the state and they change usually depending on whose administration and what they feel is important in the state level, not the local school board, unfortunately. ⁓ Greg Fink: Right. And so I mean right now I think we talked before about, you know, vocational programs and and that type of ⁓ educational being more available and more funded here on the local flagular level. Is that still ⁓ ⁓ potential here for your campaign once you get elected to go to Tallahassee and lobby for? Trevor Tucker: ⁓ for sure. definitely vocational programs are very important to education. if a student's not going for higher education, they should definitely be able to come out of high school with some type of trade or fundamental that they can go and get a job. ⁓ here in Flagler we do have quite a few programs that I think are quite good, I believe the Fire Academy, which is I'm just gonna use that one, I like to keep using that one. I believe they don't have enough space for of students that want to be in that program. We should be trying to expand that program ⁓ and if programs or electives that students do not want or not wanting to attend, ⁓ we should be trimming back and boosting the programs that are ⁓ more impactful for students and the ones they wish to try. Greg Fink: Right. Okay. And so yeah, I mean with a fire program it seems like ⁓ I'm assuming that once they graduate from high school they'll be going into the local fire department or a local fire department. But with funding cuts being potential with the property tax cut, how would that affect, you know, people students' appetites for going to that program not knowing if they're actually gonna have a position whenever they get out of high school or not? Trevor Tucker: That's a very good question. also part of that funding is from the county for that position because they provide the instructor because it benefits them to be able to have a pool of candidates. So that a program that I wouldn't want to preserve even if funding Greg Fink: ⁓ okay. Trevor Tucker: the county disappeared. part of my reason is we are always going to need those safety services, whether it's firefighter, police, paramedics, we need those services in order to continue having a a great community. Greg Fink: Right. Okay. And now as far as the transportation for the schools go, I mean, is the busing up to par right now or is there are is there possible ways of enhancing it or hiring more bus drivers? Or I know bus drivers are always a need right now in most school districts around the state. And so but ⁓ and also I've actually heard a few districts and I guess the state is authorizing people to put three students to a seat on on school bus, which back when you and I were in school, you know, back in the ⁓ you know, dark ages, You know, it it was like one or two kids per seat, period. There's no way to fit three kids on a seat. Did this buses get bigger or the kids get smaller? Trevor Tucker: no, the funding for busing is three students per seat. That's what the state giv they say you should be able to fit in three students in a seat. So that's what you're funded for for routes and for students. So you have it is, but most districts, you know, some of that money has to come out of the general fund out of the stuff that you're mark marked from the state for transportation. Greg Fink: Wow. Small children. Okay. And so ⁓ whenever ⁓ you're a school board member, how is that gonna how would you be able to address that issue, to to change it or to make it different? Is there any thing to do to do that? Trevor Tucker: So in Flagler, ⁓ at least whenever I was on the board, I'd have to see what the current situation is. we bust all the way up to a mile for elementary school. So if you're within the state is two miles. So but if you're within w outside of one mile of elementary school, then we don't feel a student, you know, kindergarten we're walking two miles to school seems crazy. but so bust those students. But one mile ⁓ Greg Fink: Okay. Uphill both ways in snow. Trevor Tucker: Yeah, exactly. instead we ⁓ bus students one mile away. ⁓ funding really got tight, you could move that out. But that'd probably be you know, that's a real safety concern for l younger age students. I think that'd be a mistake. Greg Fink: Right. ⁓ yeah, definitely. it would be. And so ⁓ w wh whenever you go into these forums, I mean, what seems to be the question that keeps coming up from the ⁓ voters who are at the forums? I know there's not a lot of them there, but the ones who are there, what seems to be the one that you see the most? Trevor Tucker: Th they've they've been different issues at every forum. ⁓ safety usually comes up a at every forum. ⁓ you know. Are you what what can you do to make the school safer? What do you plan on doing to make the school safer? Greg Fink: ⁓ really? Trevor Tucker: You know, to me, as long as we have sheriff's deputies in the school, that's one avenue. But besides that, the hardening of the school, making sure you have the correct fencing, the correct ID process for people to come in, those are all ⁓ situations for a school district to provide s safety for their students. but with that I would say, you know, long term I think we need more sidewalks in the cities around the schools. But that's unfortunately not up to the school district. That's up to the local municipalities. And if they get the cut, we probably won't see it. Greg Fink: Right. Now, is there any potential talk about metal detectors in schools? Or is the safety issue in schools at that level to where we need that, or is that just more people from out of town coming in just talking about that? Trevor Tucker: I believe that's more people from out of town coming in talking about that. we have had very few incidences of guns or knives in schools. so don't think that that is a concern at this moment in time. Greg Fink: That's great. Now with the school resource officers, I mean most people don't know who the who who funds them. Are they funded by the Sheriff's Department? Are they funded by the county? Or are they funded by the school district? Trevor Tucker: So currently the county picks up half of the sheriff's department fee and school district picks up the other half and then the city of Palm Coast picks up one deputy for the school district as well. So I don't I think there's thirteen deputies unless they've upped it or lowered it since I was there. so one is paid for by Palm Coast, and then the whatever the bill is we split between ⁓ Flagger County and the school district. Greg Fink: So whenever if there are any kind of statewide or county wide cuts in budgeting, you know, is there a potential that if the budget cut happens to affect the SRO's availability to be on campus that the school system can get a grant or pick up the funding and pay for it, or how does that work? Trevor Tucker: we aren't sure yet, but we would probably first have to just take it out of the general fund in order to pay for that bill. we do want that to happen. we'd probably might have to cut other programs, but I think safety is very paramount for our students to be in school. Greg Fink: Okay. That's good. And so they're talking about school choice and vouchers, ⁓ is that a big issue here in Flagler County? Are y'all losing students to that drain, I guess, of people wanting to homeschool their children or put them in private schools or or just ⁓ in a charter school or is that a is that something that's not really a big issue here in Flagler? Trevor Tucker: So it's an issue everywhere currently. so I think Flag County lost about three hundred students. and I think that's roughly well, I think the program is about two million dollars out of the school district's funding is what has lost. that seems like a lot, but at the same time, you know, I'm okay if a child wants to go to a different place. My only take on this is they should have a Greg Fink: ⁓ wow. Trevor Tucker: the same accountability as the public schools. Y they should have to take the same tests as the public schools because they're being funded by the the state of Florida for these students to go to a school and the state of Florida requires the public schools to take a standardized test. Why are not these students required to take the standardized test is my question. Greg Fink: Right. That's actually my question. So ⁓ to follow up on that, so they're not required at this time to take the standardized test or to any kind of compliance with that? Trevor Tucker: there is no standardized test for those ⁓ students to take. which makes it really hard to compare a public school to any other school. ⁓ if they're not taking the same test, there's no way to say if they're getting a quality education or if they're not getting a quality education compared to the public schools. Greg Fink: Right. That's interesting. And so and so whenever you become a school board member, are you gonna try to I mean, what what's the school board's role in with that? Is there any way they can strengthen the tighten and tighten the boat rather with that issue, or is it more or less something that you have to lobby people in Tallahassee or your state reps and your state senators to do? Trevor Tucker: Yes, we're gonna have to lobby our state reps and state senators for that. I'm for school choice. Parents should have the right to send their children where they would like, but if my tax dollars go into it and we as a state are saying these are the standards that should be taught, then everyone should have to take those state standards tests if they're taking tax dollars. Greg Fink: Okay. And ⁓ as far as the ⁓ sports program here in the ⁓ school system here for Flagler County, you know, basically I'm kinda new here, so I don't know about all the different stadiums and all the different, you know, amenities that, you know, football and soccer and f ⁓ and every ha thing have and all the female sports as well. But is there ⁓ know, possibility for them to increase funding to enhance the standards of those facilities or or is it just more or less if we can sta you know, set a status quo? Trevor Tucker: so most of the facilities are really in pretty good shape. the flag of Palm Coast Stadium is getting up there in age and I think eventually that will have to be fixed or repaired. ⁓ but outside of that, everything else is pretty new and in pretty good shape. I believe as time goes it depend ⁓ everything on funding, how much capital dollars the school district has in order to maintain or enhance those pr sports facilities. Greg Fink: It is. Right. And so ⁓ w wh whenever they ⁓ whenever they're talking about, you know, rebuilding the different facilities and or or or keeping them, you know, you know, safe and everything the way they are. Is there any ⁓ possibility with all the growth coming to Flagler County? I know a lot of people are saying the growth is mainly just fifty five and up, but there are probably gonna be some jobs coming here that could be bringing fifty five and under individuals with more ⁓ and everything else. What how's it how does the process work for the funding for the school system to to build new schools and along with that the new amenities and the sports facilities that go along with the new schools? Is that even on the drawing board at all? Trevor Tucker: I do not know. ⁓ as there's a ⁓ now probably not as there's a reduction in students last year. as you but as you the county continues to grow, you will have to end up begin that planning. school district has a it's required by everything, the Florida Inventory of School Housing, the FISH report. So it tells you how student stations you have. And so those student stations, that's you based on it whether you need more student stations depending on an enrollment. But with that, ⁓ you have to be at capacity in schools you can go to build a school. Whenever I say that, you have to rezone, which no one likes to go through rezoning. So you have to rezone, you have to maximize all the space you have before you have the opportunity to to even think about ⁓ building a new school. Usually you'll see portables out in schools long before you'll see anything built, unfortunately. Greg Fink: Right. And so the I from ⁓ like a scanby county and Lachua County and the other neck of the woods here of Florida and we have a lot of portables in those counties. And one thing I've noticed here in Flagler is that our portable you know, inventory not that high. And so is that like a is that I guess the opportun the direction they'll be going i if they have an influx of new students or whether it be going the portable route, whether we'll whether it be going the brick and mortar route or how will they Let's likely be going with you on the on the school board. Trevor Tucker: with myself on the school board, you know, you we're gonna try to, you know, always fill the student stations that you have currently before you have to bring in portables. I mean, ⁓ to save the capital dollars for the taxpayer. And that, ⁓ you know, even though it's painful, you go through rezoning before you do anything else, before you want to bring in portable stations. you should be able to plan to rezone in order to get the optimal use of your facilities. But once you at capacity, then you begin the process getting finding a site And it takes a while. It's probably five years from the time you're at capacity before you even break ground, unfortunately. Greg Fink: So so what's the process of rezoning? Is it rezoning by the school district or is it done by the the county or or how who handles that? Is it the state that handles that? Trevor Tucker: No, it's the school district. ⁓ the school district can rezone for any reason that they wish. but the main reason you rezone is to maximize your student stations. ⁓ if you have a school ⁓ if there's shift of population, if the new developments come online and you go, ⁓ goodness, well ⁓ we have extra student we have extra space in a school that's further away. Instead of busing them across another school to get to that, you just move the boundaries. way everyone's closer to the school, but you can open up space for that school that's closest to the new development that has a lot more students. ⁓ Greg Fink: Okay, so it's kinda like moving the goalposts without moving the goalposts. It is sports analogy. But yeah, so okay. So so basically ⁓ you know, right now think there there's a lot of talk out there that people don't think that the county and the city in this I mean basically all the different parts of the area here are prepared for all the maximum growth that's gonna be coming here. I mean, what say you on that? Do you think that we are prepared at this exact moment for all the people that are gonna be coming here in the next, you know, two or three years? Trevor Tucker: Yes. Yes. the growth continues, probably not. I mean we're definitely a little behind on in infrastructure, ⁓ especially when you talk roads and such. you know, ha we have the infrastructure. We have two ways to look at it. We either have to be patient because it takes time to build roads, more connections. ⁓ but right now we also funnel everything to two areas commercially. Palm Coast Parkway and State Road 100 in the county are the two east-west corridors that have commercial on it. then North South Corridors, there's really not much commercial on North South Corridors except maybe US 1. But US 1, most of the stuff isn't retail, so you're not driving that many people to those places. So it'll probably if we end up having another commercial center somewhere else in the county besides those two main arteries. Greg Fink: Right. Okay. Now with the curriculum in the in the school, I mean with us ⁓ being a A grade already, it looks like the curriculum's in in a good spot. But is there any controversial books in the library or I mean th this was a big thing a couple of years ago in the school board. They were talking about, you know, burning books and getting rid of books and so on and so forth. I mean, right now it's a library system and the book system, I mean everything is it pretty safe for the children right now, or is there's other changes you want to make to where It's a little bit more, you know, has a lot more oversight or how do you want to a address that issue? Trevor Tucker: Sure. So most of that happened while I was on the board and at that time our current superintendent now is an assistant superintendent and and some others from the community developed a great system for parents and everyone involved. If you see a book And you're a parent that you do not wish for your child to read or check out, you can earmark you can go through the whole entire Flyer County School District libraries and earmark books they can read, or can say, Hey, I don't want them to read any books without my permission, or you say, Hey, I don't care if they read anything. myself personally, I hope every child starts reading books because they have access almost anything in the world with a phone, unfortunately. Greg Fink: Right. Yeah, they do. I mean but I mean I think I guess it goes to the point here of ⁓ parents being partners with the ⁓ the teachers and with the school board and everything. So I mean, how do you want to enhance that further from what it is now? Trevor Tucker: I think it's a great system because now the parents have the control. they actually get to say, Hey, my child needs to read this book or no they don't. ⁓ this is not a book. but the you know the has to be partnered with us and actually go through the time and take the effort to go to the library sources and see what's in those libraries. And if they don't want their child to read something, ⁓ it's simple. They online, they log in, they earmark it, and that child cannot check out that book. Greg Fink: that seems to be a pretty simple way of doing it, but I mean how how do you get the parents motivated to do that? I mean, do you see them being pr pretty motivated already or is there like a any type of program to reach out and get them more active or is it just the way it is? Trevor Tucker: It's kind of just the way it is. if a if a parent most parents are unfortunately not gonna go through the time or effort to go through the library books and say, mm you know, but there's not that many controversial books I would say in the libraries. Most of the book almost I'd say they've vetted almost all the books and all the books should age appropriate depending on which library they're in. There's always exceptions for every role. Greg Fink: Right. Okay. And so but exactly and and so there's exceptions for every rules, but I think the biggest thing is to where they can actually reach out reach out to their school board member and make sure that they communicate back with them. Trevor Tucker: Yes, ⁓ you know, every parent has the right to reach out to a school board member, reach out to your principal, your teacher, everyone. you're the parent. we want to partner with you. We want to enhance your child's education. That's the most important thing. What are we gonna do to make sure your child is successful? What are we going to do to help you help your child make a difference in their lives? Greg Fink: Okay, well that sounds great. Now ⁓ with the campaign I guess we got what, six and a half weeks here until the primary election? And so exact eighteenth. And so absentees are going out now Trevor Tucker: Yes, sir. August. Greg Fink: Do you have a phone number you wanna put out there for the campaign? Trevor Tucker: Sure, anyone can call me on my cell phone three eight six nine three one five one six five. if ⁓ it's during work hours I may not call you, leave a message and I'll probably call you back. Greg Fink: Yeah, how can they donate to the campaign? th then go to the website and just hit the donate button and just say that. Trevor Tucker: Yes. anybody who is just to donate, they can go to the website and donate it there. Greg Fink: Great. And so right now I mean ⁓ what's ⁓ what's ⁓ your plans here for the campaign, ⁓ going out the next couple of weeks? Are you gonna be going out and talking to more forums or talking to more people? Trevor Tucker: yes, ⁓ there's I think two or three more forums ⁓ up. The next if anyone could come and see me there, that would be great. but if please reach out to me. I'd love to taunt contact anyone who would like to discuss my views or points on any matters involving this campaign or myself. Greg Fink: think you have a pretty active Facebook page there right now, so I think if people can check you out on Facebook as well. Trevor Tucker: yes, everyone can please check me out on Facebook. I Trevor Tucker for board. I think if you can do that you can find it there. so July ninth we have Greg Fink: Yes. Trevor Tucker: The NAACP forum. and then we also that same evening the Flag of the Beach Women's Club at five o'clock is the Flag of the Beach Women's Club and then at seven o'clock is the NAA NAACP forum. So we have two forums this week at the same night. Greg Fink: Right. And just so that and just to let everybody know this is a nonpartisan race. Trevor Tucker: Yes, one hundred percent. This is a nonpartisan race. ⁓ anybody can vote, everyone can vote, for whoever they choose for school board. It's and you get to choose all school board members and you don't have to live in the district either. Greg Fink: So any bacon boat? Well, that's great. Well, thanks a lot for joining me here tonight, ⁓ Trevor, and I think we're gonna be talking again sometime here next week and do another recap on where we're at with the campaign. Trevor Tucker: Sounds good. Thanks for again. Have a good night. Greg Fink: You too.