Cliff Springs, Lexington Two
Name: Cliff Springs District: Lexington 2
Contact Information:
Email: cliff@gencreative.com
Phone number: (803) 791-8529
Website: springs4lex2.com
Social Media: Flunked Up in Lex 2 (FB) and Springs4Lex2 (FB)
School Board Trustee Duties
1. Why are you running for School Board Trustee?
After 30+ years working on the outer edges of politics through my business, I had no interest in elected office. But watching the school district my wife and kids attended deteriorate before my eyes, I could not sit by any longer and see so many kids’ futures be discarded as if they don’t matter. The true measure of a school district is how well it prepares EVERY student for success in life. Our district is failing, and something has to be done. I can’t expect others to step forward to address the problems if I’m not willing to do so myself.
2. What is the most important issue facing your school district today or a key problem you want to address?
Literacy is an enormous problem in our district. Roughly 2⁄3 of our students are not reading at grade level despite sufficient spending per student and a budget surplus. Other issues are pornographic books in our libraries, lack of transparency, administrators who do not support our teachers, and no clear set of values to drive decision making.
3. If you could make only one change, what would you advocate?
Define a set of values. That may seem like too simple of a fix, but values drive everything from the top down. With clearly defined values, our mission becomes focused and the steps we need to take to accomplish our goals become much clearer. We don’t get sidetracked with political or social agendas, and instead put proper attention to the education and skills that will enable students to succeed in life.
4. What knowledge and skills are currently lacking that you will bring to your School Board of Trustees?
Vision--knowing where we are and where we need to go. I have an analytical mind that sees the big picture of things and how all the many components function together to make a project, endeavor, or mission successful. Additionally, I am a problem solver. My clients, my church, my friends, and my family will attest that watching a problem linger and not doing anything about it is pure torture for me. I won’t put off a problem til tomorrow that can be resolved today.
5. What does the word “stakeholder” mean to you?
A person who by mandate or decision has a vested interest in the success of any organization or project; someone whose obligation or passion compels them to act to ensure that success.
6. How do you plan to communicate with constituents and how accessible will you be?
I communicate for a living with my media production and marketing business. This is what I do. I am sure I will use my tools and resources when necessary to communicate broadly (video/social media), but I will be consistently accessible to constituents on an individual basis. That doesn’t mean every minute of every day, but certainly with regularity and reliability so that concerns are heard and needs addressed.
7. Have you supported millage increases in the past and what are the circumstances where you would support them in the future?
The recent enormous millage increase passed by the current board ensures any future opportunities to increase millage will be a non-starter. There are times when small, well-reviewed increases may be necessary, but only after every opportunity to reduce costs has been exhausted. Raising taxes cannot ever be “standard practice”.
8. What should be the top funding priorities?
Our facilities are excellent due to a 2014 bond referendum that constructed or upgraded schools throughout the district. Teacher pay in our district surpases many of the surrounding communities, but I’m always willing to review teacher compensation to ensure we have the best teachers for our students. With an annual budget surplus, funding is not our problem. Our issues lie elsewhere. Some of those I have mentioned previously, but some other problems will require closer examination to ascertain and correct once I am serving on the Board.
9. It is difficult to get an IEP or 504 for Special Education. How would you address this and how would you support Special Education?
My understanding is that our district has not had great difficulty securing IEPs or 504s. That means our focus needs to be on ensuring that those plans are designed and implemented well. This requires consistent evaluation and strategies that engage students to achieve to the best of their abilities. My campaign is about success for EVERY student--that includes special education.
10. What are your thoughts on the budget proviso requiring use of restrooms and changing facilities based on birth sex?
Scientifically false social issues are being foisted on our children disguised as compassion while putting our children’s safety at risk--particularly girls (and I have two of them). This proviso should have never even been necessary. I wholeheartedly agree that students should use restrooms that align with their birth sex.
11. Would you make any changes to your district's policy on challenging instructional materials, and if so, what would those changes be?
There needs to be a clear process, and that process must be adhered to expeditiously. Our current policy has been “being revised” for nearly a year with no progress made by our do-nothing Board majority. As such, materials challenges have proceeded at a snail’s pace. This must change.
12. Teachers often complain about the lack of discipline in the classroom, stating that many times students are sent to the principal’s office and promptly returned to the classroom, where the student continues to disrupt the class. As a board member, how would you address student discipline through policy?
Newbridge Academy in our district exists to help challenging students learn proper classroom behavior and discipline. However, it has been woefully underutilized. Teachers cannot be expected to do their professional best when they don’t believe that administrators have their backs. Discipline must be clear and consistent to be effective. Both in-school consequences and Newbridge Academy strategies must be put into place and practiced reliably. Eliminating cell phones in classes will improve discipline as well.
Experience
13. What has been your involvement at a school level and at a Board of Trustee or district level?
I was part of the district’s bond referendum advisory committee in 2014 and continue to serve as an advisor to the media department at our Innovation Center. All three of my children are recent graduates of BC where my wife served in the PTA and on the BC Foundation. We have been heavily and consistently involved in our district for the past 16 years. I have spoken to classes about my profession for Career Day and have hosted tours from students at my studio. I am also part of a group that advocates for parental involvement in our schools.
14. How many board meetings have you attended in person and over how long?
I have attended or watched (streaming) board meetings over the past year. My wife has been involved much longer than that.
15. Have you spoken during citizens’ participation? If so, how often and what topics did you Address?
I spoke at a board meeting in the Fall, and I addressed many of the topics I have mentioned on this form. I have spent a great deal of time since then speaking with teachers, principals, city and community leaders, and churches about these issues to determine the nature of our district’s struggles.
16. Have you made SC FOIA records requests for information? If so, what information were you Seeking?
The advocacy group I am a member of has filed FOIA requests relating to questionable books in our libraries.
17. Have you served on any district boards or committees? If so, which ones?
See #13
Get to Know You
18. Do you have kids currently enrolled in public schools? If so, which schools do they attend? If they have graduated, what schools did they attend?
All three of my kids attended Pine View Elementary, Northside Middle, and BC High. My youngest (twins) graduated in May.
19. What is your current occupation and are your hours flexible?
I have owned my own business for 31 years. I work in media production and advertising. My schedule has sufficient flexibility to pursue this office.
20. What other occupations have you held, if any?
I have worked in this industry since graduating from USC in 1992.
21. How much time do you plan to invest each week in board-related activities?
I will invest as much as necessary. I believe this will be a much heavier load on the front end as we dive in and weed out problems that need to be addressed. If we are successful, the time expenditure or the nature of the commitment should lessen over time as we implement the systems needed to be successful. It is similar to my commitment at my church--my job flexibility allows me to ramp up or down as needed. Time management has never been a challenge for me.
22. Please list your community involvement – previous and current.
I am a Sunday School teacher and deacon at my church. I serve on the Board of two non-profits, and as an advisor to two others. I regularly host student tour groups (many of which are out-of-district) at my studio. I participate in mission trips for my church. I give of my time as God leads me to do.
Politics
23. In an age where partisan politics have crept into K-12 classrooms and boards, how would you describe your position on partisan politics?
I believe in truth. I’m not against any person, any people, or any agenda. I am simply FOR truth. If you, your politics, or your agenda is driven by anything other than truth or honesty, then you and I will not be working in cooperation. In fact, if you are promoting lies, falsehoods, or blind ideology, then I will have no choice but to do what I can within the confines of the position of school board to stop you from leading others astray. Although I am staunchly Republican, truth will always transcend party affiliation and partisan politics for me.
As it relates to K-12 classrooms, social and political agendas should never be the focus of our schools. Our children are at school to learn how to think: reading, writing, and arithmetic; to learn the best and worst of history so that we never repeat the mistakes of yesterday while building a better tomorrow; to be the future brilliant scientists, doctors, and engineers that can impact our world in ways we can’t even imagine; or to learn valuable trades at our magnificent Innovation Center that can set them on a course for financial stability to pursue their dreams.
If we focus on the true purposes of education, we will be successful.
Other
24. Please include any other relevant information not mentioned above.
