Mike Bishop

MIKE BISHOP'S RESPONSE

1. why/what made you decide to run?

I originally ran for my first term for two reasons. First, I saw it as another opportunity to serve my community. The second reason is that I wanted to help make sure all kids have the same opportunity to get a quality education. The reason I am running again this term is to continue with community service and making sure everyone has equal access to a great education but also because I am excited about where the district is heading and I would like to be a part of that as we shape the future.

With so many new administrators in such a short time, there has possibly never been as good of an opportunity to impact the future of the district in a positive way as there is right now. We've already been seeing some of those changes. Now that (I think) we are finally moving past having to spend so much time dealing with the pandemic, I think we will start being able to really make progress with making positive changes.

2. Is there anything you would like the KHS student body to know?

There are two things I would like the student body to know. First, I know the past year has been really tough on all of you. You've had to make drastic changes to your schedules, you've missed out on things you enjoy-such as games, dances and other competitions. I appreciate your sacrifices, your efforts and your attitudes as we've all dealt with this. I hope you take several life lessons away from this year: You're stronger than you think and can handle what life throws at you. You are resilient. Communities are at their best when they work together and look out for each other. Also, science is awesome and scientists are very important.

Secondly, throughout my last 3 years on the board, several students or student groups reached out to us to tell us how they felt about different issues and to try to sway the way we would vote on things. While our votes often did not go the way students wanted, I think it's great that you all took the initiative to get involved and try to shape the district the way you see best. Please keep paying attention to what is going on in the district and with the school board. Keep letting your voices be heard (following the proper channels, of course). Don't be discouraged if things don't go your way. Continue staying involved at all levels of government throughout your lives.

3. How do you think the school district can best address the ever-increasing expectations surrounding at-risk learners and students with chronic mental health issues?

There is no simple answer to this question. We have to take a multi-faceted approach with a number of different strategies to meet the needs of as many students as possible. Some of the ways to do this are implementing the Capturing Kids' Hearts program and the Multi-TIered Systems of Supports program. Making sure Counselors aren't overwhelmed with peripheral duties so they can spend more time meeting with students. Continuing to offer after-school help and summer school. Making sure students, and their parents, know about the help that is available-such as tutoring from Truman students. Making sure we keep students in school every day. These are just some of the things we can do, and are doing.

4. What is your understanding of our district's ESL population, educational issues, and plan to improve those?

I know we have a large ESL population that consists of students with a variety of first languages. I was honestly surprised when I found out how many different languages the students speak. Obviously, there are many educational issues to overcome when there is a language barrier hindering communication between students and teachers. I spent my whole life until my sophomore year in the Southwest where we also had a very high ESL population.

As our ESL population grows, the resources we spend to give them a quality education must also grow. I recently saw an article about the district's growing ESL population and need to hire more translators that sounded like it could have been written this year.....it was actually written over 20 years ago. We desperately need more translators.

Thank you for reaching out to me and allowing me to answer your questions. It means a lot to me that you are taking an interest in the school board and the oversight of the district. Thank you to all of the students reading this. Stay involved and do your homework :)

Mikey Bishop