Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday May 21 !!
By Andrew Harris
SUN: Would you be agreeable to merging with smaller school districts like Scio, Whitesville, and Andover ? Why or why not?
ROBBINS. I see no reason to merge with smaller schools. If we merged it would take away jobs from our teachers as well take away opportunities with kids playing sports. Now if a good solution can be established and followed through with, I would be open to the possibility.
SUN: Wellsville has low test scores compared to the rest of the region according to the latest state reports. There are infrastructure improvements needed in the schools and buildings and grounds (including athletics) and we have a lot of teaching openings. There is also a budget to be done. What are your priorities as a board member?
2. My number one priority as a board member is to assure our kids are getting the best education that they can. I feel our teachers need to be compensated at a level where they want to stay in our community long term not just use the Wellsville school system as a stepping stone. Further more we need to take a look at the leadership we have in our school. Kids as well as teachers need a good leader to be successful. I would like that to be the focus rather than infrastructure for sports. I would also like to see some funding go towards getting FFA (Future Farmers of America) back into our school. I feel that this is something that we have been missing out on for a lot of years.
SUN: How do you explain the historic number of candidates for a volunteer school board spot ? What is the number one reason you gathered signatures and filed a petition?
ROBBINS: People want change and I feel that is why there are so many applicants for the board. Good teachers that we have had in our school system are leaving and there has to be a reason. I applied for the board position to be a voice for the community and advocate for the teachers and students.
