Observer Election 2024: Justin Burdette, School Dist. 3, Area 3
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Timothy Justin Burdette is a candidate for Anderson School Dist. 3, Area 3, and is a BSIT software engineer.
Burdette said his community activities include: serving as a church musician for more than 25 years, board member for the Iva Recreation Association and sports coach there.
He said he has attended board meetings in the district.
Here are his answers to the Anderson Observer’s questions:
1. What is the most important responsibility of public schools?
The most important responsibility of the public school system is to give our youth the best academic and social foundation possible that best equips them for the next stages of life.
2. What are the three most important duties of a public-school board member?
The most important duties of a school board member are simple. Serving the district’s students in a way that ensures the providing of the best and most rigorous education possible. Whether that duty is exercised by acting most responsibly and conservatively with district funds, evaluating our administration, or setting policies. Our purpose will always be to serve the students of the community.
3. How is your combination of education and experience relevant to serving the duties identified in question one?
In my current professional role, part of my job is to help manage a large budget. Additionally, the years of experience managing projects, associates, situations, and other managers has taught me how to be an effective leader. I learned early on that the best leaders are servant leaders. I believe my experiences would bring yet another perspective to an already successful group.
4. Is there a particular issue that motivates you to run for a seat on the board of education?
My motivation is solely rooted in the desire to serve the children of our community.
5. Please explain your understanding of how school board millage works and what you see as the top priorities for using this money.
Millage is a local property tax assessment that’s used to help fund public schools. Key priorities include facility maintenance and/or improvements, operational costs, support services, technology investments, etc…
6. Given all the issues that arise, how can the board stay focused on student achievement?
I think the board and district has done a great job remaining focused on student achievement. Constant updating and follow-up at the board meetings is important and well and publishing those results publicly on the various forms of media available.
7. How does a school board balance the need to provide a quality education with the need to respond to the local taxpayer burden?
Quality education is the top priority. The means of achieving that are largely derived from the support of the local taxpayer. So, continual and open communication about the needs and wants coupled with the constant focus on the fiscal duties will help balance and prioritize our finances.
8. What are your thoughts on the current and the proposed budget for your school district?
I think the current budget was very positive in that it supplied pay increases to teachers that were needed. It’s important to remain competitive and capable of attracting and retaining talented teachers. Creating this years budget with those increases while not being forced to increase millage was great for the community.
9. As a board member, where would you look to make budget cuts?
I don’t believe budget cuts are necessary at the moment.
10. Are there any areas you would not consider cutting?
It’s not an issue of concern at the moment but I believe class sizes are important. I don’t think it’s very smart to consider cutting budgets for teachers and in turn increasing class sizes.
11. How would you determine your budget priorities?
Budget priorities, to me, break down into a few smaller buckets. There’s the standard operating costs, the immediate needs outside of standard operating costs, the 1-2 year needs, and then the long term needs. Those priorities balanced against an analysis of the return on investment will help guide decision making.
12. What changes should be made on the state and local level regarding public education?
District 3 is currently ranked in the top 5 districts in the state. The state, however, ranks 42-43 in the country depending on which metrics you’re looking at. More should be done especially on the state level to improve that ranking.
13. Do you favor renewing the penny sales tax for schools when the current law expires?
The penny sales tax has been responsible for some extremely important and needed improvements throughout the district and the entire county. I would support renewing the tax. Also, with a renewed focus on what the funds are earmarked for.
14. How important are athletics and extracurricular activities and should the school board support such endeavors for students?
Athletic and extracurricular activities are extremely important not only for the student experience but also for the long term development of those young people. There are life lessons learned in those activities that provide foundations to lean on later in life. The school board should absolutely support athletics.
15. What is your understanding of separation of church and state when it comes to public schools in Anderson County?
As simple as the terminology suggests. Be neutral in the support for any religion.
16. Are you familiar with Moms for Liberty and/or Stop Moms for Liberty groups and how do you view their activities (positively/negatively and why)?
Only as familiar as a few things I’ve seen through various forms of media or marketing campaigns.
17. How would you work to find common ground with other school board members and the superintendent on issues of disagreement?
The common ground is already established. As long as the board is singularly focused on improving the education and experience of the youth in the community, then there’s common ground. There will always be disagreements about how we get from A to B.
18. Could you support a board decision you did not vote in favor of? Why or why not?
I will always support our community. There will inevitably be items that I don’t vote for. I’ll support what the collective decides and will either be better at building a case for my perspective or never be too proud to admit when my opinion wasn’t the best path.
19. What is your opinion of current teachers in the district and what would you do as a board member to support them?
I think we have some of the best teachers that I’ve ever been around in our district. I have 2 children currently in the district and believe the vast majority of our teachers are phenomenal.
20. How can a school board know if its goals are being accomplished and its policies are being implemented?
There are several measures. Obviously, there’s the student achievement metrics that come out. There are several other things that one could look to such as the community engagement, policy alignment to district goals, collaboration between board and superintendent/staff, fiscal responsibility, etc….