This is the fourth in a series of questions asked of Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board candidates. Voters will decide among these four candidates for the two open four-year seats on the board.
As a school board member, how will you approach your role in student & employee discipline?
Collette Evans, loan originator
It is imperative that our schools be a safe place for all students and staff. As a school board, we set policies and procedures that dictate how teachers and administrators should handle student and employee discipline issues. While we do not implement the policies ourselves, we do hire a superintendent and hold them accountable to make sure all employees follow proper protocol and procedure in accordance with the law.
Jill Humpherys, incumbent, homemaker
Fair and effective processes must be established by policy for student and employee discipline. Each year, students and employees are reminded of the expectations and policies for appropriate behavior at school. School boards are the final adjudicators of student and employee discipline. It is important that they not interfere in the discipline and grievance processes of the district. When I, as a member of the school board, must hear a discipline case or a grievance, I carefully read all materials, review applicable policies, listen in executive session, and consider legal counsel as I make my decision.
Trina Jonas, small business owner
The board’s role is to set the policy for discipline in the district, and the administration’s role is to implement that policy. I think it is important to have a consistent and fair approach regarding discipline across the district and with regards to employees and students. Also, like in other areas, my approach includes being open and available to feedback from stakeholders on emerging or evolving issues/trends in the schools that may require us to look at our policies (or shape new ones for the future). Being deeply involved with the schools/district for so long in so many different capacities has allowed me to develop many quality relationships with stakeholders across the community. I feel stakeholders are comfortable coming to me to share concerns and/or to gain additional perspective and that will help facilitate understanding and buy-in for policies we create.
Chad Thompson, real estate investment franchise owner
In every situation involving the discipline of students or employees, my primary goal is to seek understanding. Understanding each situation entirely and from all perspectives is key to ensuring appropriate action is taken and that all involved are treated fairly and respectfully.
Tom Blodgett Senior News Editor | Gilbert @sp_blodgett
Meet Tom Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.
Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.
Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism.
Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.
Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).
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