Tom Stuthard of Jacksonville says it is time for a change on the school board of the Pulaski County Special School District, and he wants to be part of that change. The Air Force veteran, spouse of a district teacher and union member, and parent of two children who have graduated from PCSSD schools, is challenging Danny Gililland for the Zone 5 board seat.
A meeting of the school board on Wednesday was the first one ever attended by Stuthard, who says he has been thinking for several months about challenging Gililland, one of four members who want to oust the Pulaski Association ofClassroom Teachers as the collective bargaining agent for teachers.
“People have seen the papers, seen the news and are saying, ‘Hey, we’ve voted for him before, we’re not voting for him again’ – they are ready for a change,” said Stuthard.
“There has been so much negative stuff in the paper and on television, I wanted to run and see if I could make a positive change. The board has lost sight of the most important thing – the children in the district. The board needs to get back to that,” Stuthard said.
Fiscal stewardship and ac-countability “top to bottom” – for teachers, students and administrators – are important to Stuthard, who says he would like to find ways, if elected, to rid the district of poorly performing teachers and principals.
He wants to see teachers who go the extra mile to support students by attending sporting events, plays and the like to be better compensated.
As for teachers who “barely beat kids to the classroom at the start of the day and are first out at the end of the day, what is that?” Stuthard asks. “Teacher evaluations – do they get looked at to see if they are doing their job and are they taking care of responsibilities?
“It is time to throw aside personal agendas; if there are bad teachers, deal with them.
“We’ve got to curb the spending. They’ve spent a lot of money on PACT. Instead of challenging (teacher grievances), they say let’s just pay them and press on.”
Stuthard, 55, currently works full time as a maintenance mechanic for the postal service. He retired from the Air Force in 2004 as the base equipment- control officer, after serving 21 years.
He also worked in other capacities in telecommunications as well as a seven-year stint in human relations, primarily handling discrimination complaints as well as conducting training in that field.
Stuthard, who moved to Arkansas in the mid-1970s, holds a master’s degree in counseling from Henderson State University.
“I listen and get other people’s input,” Stuthard said. “I see that as something that needs to be done here, with teachers, kids, city leaders and the base – with everybody who has a stake in this. I will take it back; I am more than willing to do that.”
Stuthard’s wife, Sharon, is a long-time PCSSD employee who teaches math at Sylvan Hills High School. She has also taught at Jacksonville High School and years ago, Jacksonville Junior High School South.
Stuthard says the fact that his wife is a PACT member does not mean he would always vote in accord with PACT’s position, if elected. He would not say how he’d vote on a motion to withdraw recognition of the union as collective bargaining agent for district teachers.
“She is the one in the union, not me,” Stuthard said. “I need to hear more stuff and know more about the contract before I could make a call. Both sides have concerns and have a say-so in it.”
The spending for the new Maumelle High School troubles Stuthard. He feels that district funds are being spent inequitably.
“What about old North Pulaski and Jacksonville (high schools) too – and the elementary schools? Why is so much money being spent in Maumelle? Because it is a nicer area, but do you leave out the old schools?”
A separate school district for Jacksonville and north Pulaski County would get Stuthard’s support.
“Because they want to,” he explained. “It would need to be up to a vote of the people. But Cabot has some awesome facilities. With the base here, that increases the likelihood of having a nice school district.”
