001[Applause] [Music] catch. Okay. I'm sorry. Good evening everyone and welcome to our seventh meet the candidates night. My name is Jacqueline Nelson and I'm the president of the Rome NACP and I also serve as the New York State Conference Western Region Education Chair. So tonight we're going to meet the two individuals who are running for the Rome City School District Board of Education. Um before we start, I'd like to introduce Carrie Ketchum, who's down here in front, she is going to be do be our timer for this evening. So when it gets down to 30 seconds, Carrie's going to hold up the yellow sheet of paper to let our candidates know that their time is running low. And then when their time runs out, we are going to hold up the red sheet to let
002them know that they have to stop talking. Our two moderators this mo this afternoon, I will let you two ladies introduce yourselves. Um Maya, do you want to go first? Yep. Um my name is Maya Nelson. I work as a site coordinator RFA for connected community schools. I'm also the social media and communications chair for the Rome branch NACP and I'm glad to be here as your moderator tonight. Hi, I'm Jennifer Schmidt. I'm a um member of the John Joy parent teacher group. Thank you. Thank you ladies for um volunteering to do this for us. We appreciate it so much. So each candidate will be given um two minutes to introduce themselves to tell a little about a little bit about themselves and then the moderators will start with the questions. There are eight questions
003that have come from the Rome Rome City School District and the Rome NAACP. The ninth and tenth questions will come from you in the audience. Um, Mr. Nelson has little cards. You could write down your question and give them to to him and he's going to be the lucky one to choose the two questions that get read. So, you have to be really nice to him if you want your question read. So, I think to get started, we'll um start with Felicia James Williams if you want to introduce yourself and then we'll go to Jonathan Roland. So, thank you both for being here. Thank you so much for stepping up and stepping out to run for the Rome City School District. So, thank you both. Come on, people. So, my name is Felicia James Williams.
004My husband and I proudly called Rome, New York our home since 2004. I earned a bachelor's a bachelor of science degree from the College of New Rochelle and I began pursuing my masters shortly afterward. Although I did not complete the graduate program, my academic journey laid a foundation for a meaningful career in the human service and active community um engagement. and I currently work for Central New York DDS where I oversee a dayhab with 52 developmentally disabled adults and I and committed team of 21 um staff members, awesome staff members. Outside of work, I am deeply involved in the community. I teach Sunday school. I'm a member of of Kingdom Harvest Apostolic Church and I teach Sunday school there and um I proudly serve as the first vice president of the Rome branch of the
005NAACP. I am also active with the African-American Heritage Association, helping to celebrate and preserve the rich cultural contributions to our community. So education is the key to a better future. And to unlock the future, we need dedicated leadership committed to excellence and opportunity for every student in Rome City School District. My two primary goals as a board member are to ensure a quality education for all students. Thank you. [Applause] My name is Jonathan Roland. Do you have microphone? Oh yes, I do actually. My I will use it. My name is Jonathan Roland. I was born here in Rome, raised here for the most part. went away for school, have a bachelor's degree in in in business administration, a minor in accounting and human resources. Uh I do have a son and a daughter who recently
006went through RFA. Now I have a grandson who's just starting his journey. Uh I currently work at Rome Labs on Griffith. Been there for about 15 years. I think about why I started doing this. First, it was just a passing thought, but most of the things I'm involved with, I've have inner school basketball program, which is direct league, which I've been a president of, then a AU basketball group, which I'm a director of. Also a volunteer fireman with New London Fire Department, and I like doing things which are for the community. You know, nothing none of the jobs get paid for. I just like doing them. And then opportunity came open as you see for board education and I decided to take a leap for it. I do love my community. I do love what
007RFA has become, the city has become, and I now is my opportunity to actually take part in it and actually make changes where changes are needed. It's just for me is a a great opportunity. I I'm looking forward to it if elected um just to make that change and be part of more a part of what Rome is. [Music] [Applause] Okay, we will begin the questions. Jonathan, I'll start with you since Felicia introduced herself first. And our first question is, please um share your background and what experiences you bring to this role. My experience is I've worked for many groups. Um when you were on the board, some of you get to work with a lot of people. You have to get along, learn to hear each other's ideals, reflect off, build from there, but
008also be a little independent what you need have done. If you think you need to push more, stand your ground. It's nice to be part of group, but sometimes you need to be independent on your what you do. Uh, everybody wants to be a lot of people want to be a follower but not a leader. I think I've taken that chance many times leading a lot of groups um pushing things in the community trying to get kids involved more what's going on not just education but you know outside of that some people think the kids think the road ends after high school but it doesn't you got to look at your next step you know college if not college what you going to do for yourself how you going to support yourself you last thing
009you want them to do is just be just sitting sitting at home not doing anything at all find a career help them out is not just here about pushing further, but you do have to be helping get through that last couple stages of school. Um, I think I can help the board put things together, programs together to help make sure kids are are getting that. But not just the main group, it's the ones that fall through the crack, the ones who need extra help that want any extra study time. Those have to be picked up, too. We got to find ways to support them within with other programs and make sure they can get through their school years and so they can have a better life hopefully after high school. Thank you. Um Felicia, when
010you're ready, you may go or do you need me to repeat the question? Um yes. Okay. Yep. Um please share your background and what experiences you bring to this role. Well, I'm currently the supervisor where I work. So I am a leader and I and I have I make different I help with policies. I enforce policies. So I figured it being part of the school board I can help to create maybe some kind of a program something that would in would help a student would interest a student. Um um there's there's a a career ready readiness program. Maybe something instead of going to instead of going to college, maybe they don't want to go to college. Maybe they may want to go to um a trade place or learn a trade or go to um
011or just want to start go straight into the workforce. Um, I I would like to be part of that and this is just make a difference. Thank you, Felicia. We're going to start with you for our next question. Sure. What motivates you to serve the community in this capacity? Well, I'm raising a daughter who is in the Rome City School District. She's a sophomore in and when she first went into RFA, she was having a lot of trouble with um different types of different things, not necessarily academic, but um people bullying, racial things, stuff like that. So, um, I would just like to maybe, you know, she's who's who is making me want to do this and and just to just to see if I can make a difference, see if I can help create
012something to maybe help them to fix this. I know they can't stop it, but they can do something about it. So that's Thank you. Jonathan, same question to you. What motivates you to serve the community in this capacity? One is the I like being a part why I choose to live here in Rome. I most people say you could we live Rome. I know. Oh, I can't believe it. But I actually like living here. I love the community and also having kids who have gone through and then now having the grandsons coming through. I'm I've seen what they've dealt with. I see what's coming ahead for the next one. I've dealt with many of the parents already. I'm involved with a lot of schools are different things. I think I have a firsthand knowledge of
013what to expect and how to help them out and look at the community, what we should expect. um and listening to people what their concerns are, which I've always heard, you know, being a coach, being a ref, you know, all those things. I've always talked to parents about what their thoughts are about the schools. And now since I've decided to do this, now I'm here more like, oh, really interesting stuff. And I think I could be that person, that bridge between them and the board to help make some changes where changes can be done. Not everything can be done. uh like Felicia said, like bullying, that's some of the things that you know, you can never stop fully, but you could do what you can to help reduce it as much as possible. Hopefully, there's
014options out there to help out and by working together, we can find we can find something new, a new solution to the problem. [Music] Thank you. And Jonathan, um this will also be your question, your next question. What do you believe are the greatest strengths of our district and what challenges do you think the board should prioritize? Like I said before, I said once in the question was I think our community is the best part. We do work together. We have we're not too large. We're we're scattered out. We're a little smaller so we can the word of things getting things out getting things are done a little quicker, a little better than a large city. Uh some of the things I think we need to tackle are always the concerns of the public first
015where it can mainly be we can't help everyone but we should look at the topics that are most important like I said to me and I think Felicia also is the bullying also trying to make things more multiculture some people feel there's not too much um diversity in the schools like to get firsthand I like to be able to walk in the school see what's what it's like what the teachers are more like I have never been to go to school like during the daytime, see what teachers are there, what events are going on, what after school programs are there, they see what the diversity is. And I think those are the main two things. Uh always people worry about taxes and teachers and worry about their jobs. Those things are also concerns too. We
016got to find a happy balance to make sure everybody's everybody's happy. You're not going to please everyone, but you got to please the majority. Thank you. And Felicia, same question. What's the Sorry. Do you want me to Yeah. Okay. So, Rome City School District, they're forming relationships with um with between educ educators, families, and community organizations. So, that's sort of a strength um which creates a supportive environment where students can thrive in academically um academically and personally. So yes, they there's definitely they we definitely need to hire more teachers um and counselors and administrators from diverse, you know, racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. But if they don't, I think that's what you said, if they do not if they how do you bring them here? They're not here. They're not applying. So the the school
017district has to the the the board has to find some kind of a way to just get people here to entice people to get them here to apply and they it just might help. So thank you Felicia. Our next question is going to start with you. What is your understanding of board service and explain your understanding of the commitment required? My understanding of board service is that as a board member, you work as a team and you just look at policies. You look at what's going on. You you this and this is just my understanding. you look at what's going on and you um you just try to to work with the the the different schools. You work with the community, you work with the the teachers, you work with the students, and you make
018policies. Well, not really policies, but you you just create you create things. If something is wrong, if something is broken, you fix it. You try to fix it. If something is right, you applaud it. You And this is just my understanding. I'm sure there's more to it, but once if if if elected, I'm sure I will be trained. Thank you. Thank you, Jonathan. Same question to you. What is your understanding of board service and explain your understanding of the commitment required? My understanding the board of education is the one like I always pil I'm sorry Felicia said uh you're looking at policies you're looking at budgeting you're looking at looking at your teachers who you're hiring um superintendent what kind of job she doing uh monitoring what you're doing as a group to the community
019is always changing so you got to be you know you better adjust to what's going on you're basically trying to find the best a methods to educate our kids, uh, help our teachers out, make the connection with the with the students, uh, help the community out, the ones who, you know, the community, make sure they're happy with what they see, though they may not have kids in school, they want to see that our district is doing well. So, you're doing what you can to help our kids grow. So, we stand out among other districts that our education is proven. Our kids are more kids are passing their tests. there are they're growing they are passing they're more are graduating from school and going on from there I think that's what my understanding of the board
020education thank you and Jonathan this question our next question is for you what does diversity equity and inclusion mean to you diversity I to me it means it's just it's not just a straight straight road. It's or a single a single line. It's like a like a tree branches out and there's so many ways to go from it. The way that you you you start off, you know, it um it's always changing. You're adapting. You having you have more options for in this case for students. Um, you're not I guess the thing would be what they think is what's comes next. Do they need help with math or what other things other classes they can offer? I remember going to school, which I'm sure is probably still still the same today. You know, you have
021your shop class and you have your mellow shop class, you your gym class. Adding different things for kids to do and to take so they realize it's not just a set road. you have chances you can you can spread out and take more chance something else. So when they get in the real world they realize they don't have to accept what's in front of them. They can take a job that may typically not be something somebody would think they would take. Be diverse, take a chance, learn from that. Only thing holding a person back is themselves, not what's in front of them. Thank you. And Felicia, same question. What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you? Well, to me it means you know you en well to ensure um to ensure the education of
022all students, a quality education for all students to support our education, our educators with the tools and resources that they need um to help students succeed. today. Um, fairness I bring fairness, objective um, understanding of the diverse needs of of students within our district. Um, every student is different and every students needs different things and we just have to look at them, talk to them and understand and then work with it. And so that's my understanding. Thank you, Felicia. Our next question starts with you. How do you plan to engage with the community including parents, students, and staff to ensure their voices are heard in board decisions? Can you repeat that, please? Sure. How do you plan to engage with the community, including parents, students, and staff, to ensure their voices are heard in board
023decisions? Well, ask them questions. I will go out there. I can ask. We can talk to the community. Maybe have forums. Maybe just go out and have a town hall. I think I think the board had a town hall at one time. I'm not sure if if they did, but maybe go out and and just talk to the community. Talk to the students and see what they want. See what the community wants. See what the students want. See what the teachers need. And that's it. Thank you. Jonathan, how do you plan to engage with the community, including parents, students, and staff to ensure their voices are heard in board decisions? Uh, get out, go to the schools, um, make those tours at the schools, reach, see the meet the teachers, stopping classes if possible, after
024meetings or before meetings, make myself available for for conversation. Uh, most people can, a lot of people seem to know me that they can track me now pretty easily. I just make myself available for for anybody who likes to talk and hopefully I can take what they give me and actually share with the board um to find a compromise if possible. It's just being available, being open and making those making those stops along the schools and meetings to meet people. Thank you. And Jonathan, this is um your question the next question as well. Given the current challenges facing education, including budget constraints, staffing shortages and students well-being, how do you plan to advocate for solutions that will positively impact the districts? Well, I think what the we have to do is plan ahead. Look what
025we can do a backup plan for for the shortage. um where can changes be made to save money to put it towards something else more needed. I think that's a key thing is being prepared. Not just saying, "Okay, we lost out on that money, but what can we do as a community to say, okay, what can what changes can we make to to keep what money we have uh to reduce the damaging to reduce the shrinkage of the of what could come. Um, that's a big thing cuz Rome does a lot for like disabilities and and that's something you don't want to see get hit." So, what can we do to help that? I'm hoping we can talk and find a plan, find out what's possible, what solutions can be made. And the only way
026can be done is as a group talking and looking at options. I wish I had a set answer right now what we could do, but only with a group can I actually find a suitable answer for that. Thank you. And Felicia, same question. Given the current challenges facing education, including budget constraints, staffing shortages, and student well-being, how do you plan to advocate for solutions that will positively impact the district? Well, like Jonathan said, you you um just [Music] um you you just hold back a little bit. [Music] Um the the the if the Department of Education, well the Department of Education does pay play a big role in because federal money, but if that if they take that away or if they dissolve it, then the the burden lies on on the county or the
027local government. So they would have to just Okay. So well maybe we can't um do this but we can do that. Maybe we could you know you just work with it. You you you work with it. Um the burden actually yeah the burden actually falls on the state. loss of federal oversight and funding is a of of the is a protection and especially with um developmental people with developmental disabilities they rely on that the schools because you have people with special needs in schools. So they rely on that funding. So if that funding is not there then the the school the state and local government would have to the county would have to back that up. That's it. Thank you, Felicia. This next question is going to start with you. How do you plan to
028stay informed about educational trends, laws, and issues that affect our district? Repeat that, please. Sure. How do you plan to stay informed about educational trends, laws, and issues that affect our district? Well, I will again talk to the students, talk to the teachers, listen to the news, and um just and read and just figure out what to do. I mean, we we don't know. None of us have major we don't have real answers. We just have to um deal with it as they come. That's it. Thank you, Jonathan. Same question to you. How do you plan to stay informed about educational trends, laws, and issues that affect our district? I think most same thing what Felicia was saying, you know, you got to stay open to talk to others and see what's going on. Keep
029your eyes open, listening, you know, attend the meetings, listen to the the parents, listen to the community, and see what is being said. uh that can dictate what's coming next, what's going to be changing, what's new, um and staying ahead of what's going on, but you got to be active active on the board, active in the community. Thank you. Um we have two questions um that come from the audience tonight. I'm going to read the first one that was selected. Um it reads, "What do you think is the most important role of a board of education member?" I will start with Jonathan for that question. I think important role would be for one to be to work with them to be it's a team either way it is a team you got to be able
030to work together. Um but also keep in mind keep your ears open to community what's going on. Uh you want to do what's right for the board but you have to keep the community in mind. Uh sometimes that may mean you have to speak out a little more and but that's the best way of doing things and that's just listening to everybody, listen to your your board members, be there, be present, be active. Thank you. And Felicia, same question. What do you think is the most important role of a board of education member? Well, like Jonathan said, be be act be work as a team. Um, listen. Be active. Um, and just have have a a open open mind. You listen. Don't just just you have an open mind. You you you listen to people.
031You listen to the community. You listen to the students and especially the students. You listen to the teachers. And then you say, "Okay, well, we visited as a team and what do we do? What do you think we can do? How can we work with this? And that's it. It's it's about working with the community and listening to them and trying to make it work. Thank you, Felicia. This is our next question from the audience. As a school board member, you will be asked to dedicate a few nights a month for board meetings. Will you also be available for additional meetings and activities as needed? I will. I would make myself available because if if something comes up and if it's additional, then it must be important. So, I would make myself available. Thank you.
032Jonathan, as a school board member, you will be asked to dedicate a few nights a month for board meetings. Will you also be available for additional meetings and activities as needed? Absolutely. Thank you. That was easy. Thank you. What we'll do now is we'll give you each two minutes to close. Um, did we start with Jonathan before the last question? Okay, Felicia, what did you say? We'll give you two minutes to close. Is there something that you'd like to say in closing? We'll have to Well, I I I think I being I I've watched the school board members and I see what they do and it's very interesting. It's and it's and it's rewarding when you when a when a board member when the board comes to an agreement and it works. So, and then
033you're making a difference. So, not everybody is going to cuz I know there's some people that they have an issue with the board, but at at the you're making a difference and that's really what it's all about. You're making a difference for these students. These students are our future and we're just we have to make it work. We have to work for our students and that's what the board is about. Jonathan, thanks nice you Felicia. It's been nice. It's been really interesting talking to you today. [Music] Um, I was think much of what she was saying about the board and everything else. I remember reading and I was talking to my wife about something she was reading and she read it back to me something and I checked on the other sites and same thing
034and they're saying despite your track record, despite how well you do, many people will not like you because you're on because what because you're on the board, they're so happy with the choices you made. And that's kind of sad cuz no matter what you do, you're going to have a good number of people like ah. So, it's, you know, I had to think about, do I really want to do this? I thought I'm like, yeah, you know, I I don't mind people disliking me for what I may choose or decide to do. Um, happens. It's part of life. You try to do the best you can for anybody who's out there. You try to do best as community. You're going to you're not going to please everybody. I'm not perfect. I make mistakes. But when
035you have a team behind you, less likely to happen, but you're going to do what's best for the community. And I I will do that. I will keep the community in mind. If I ever at one point feel like I'm doing more damage than good, believe me, I will walk away. But that's not my intent. I plan to be there for every day, be all the meetings, attend what I have to do, talk to people, do what's necessary to make this work. This is a great opportunity. I'm excited to have it in front of me. I hope for the best and, you know, hoping to get elected. I'm not going to lie about that. Hoping that's going to happen. But either way, there's Felicia is definitely a great person to also have talked to and
036good to know. So either way, I think you're going to work it's going to work out great. Thank you. Listen, I have to say we've been doing this for seven years and this is like really the first time we had two candidates that actually got along and respected each other. And I just want to tell you how much we appreciate that. Thank you so much. And we wish you both the best. Um, I want to thank Carrie for doing our time, Maya and Jen for asking the questions and especially our two um, candidates for coming tonight. I'd like to thank the superintendent in Rome City School District for partnering with us. Um, I'm going to ask the candidates if they could take a little time to stay and have some refreshments and you could chat
037with them and maybe ask the question that we you didn't get we didn't read tonight. But um thank you all for coming and realizing how important this is and how much your vote matters. So thank you all very much and have a great night. Thank you. Well, that was easy. There was no fighting taste.