Q&A: Mead School board candidate John P. Hatcher
Mead School District 3:
John P. Hatcher
Age: 64 years old
Notable experience: Hatcher is the founder of Spokane Occupational and Hand Therapy. His company won the Arthur P. Sloan Foundation award in 2009. He said he’s comfortable working with legislators because of his work to get occupational therapists licensed in 1985.
Education: Graduated from Gresham High School in 1969. Earned a degree from the University of Puget Sound and a master’s degree in health services administration from Whitworth University.
What needs to be done to address the overcrowding issues in the District? Specifically, how can Mead redraw school boundaries with minimal impact on students/parents?
I would expect that the Mead District will continue to use Citizens Advisory Committees to assist in developing proposed attendance boundaries and present these to the public prior to implementation. They need to ensure an open and transparent process that best answers the needs of the students and families and that situations, such as currently experienced, that have families with siblings in different locations be avoided. The Mead District has been successful in passing levy's and bonds; they are now embarking on planning to build new facilities and update others.
What is the most pressing issue facing the District ?
As with all districts across the state, the full funding of basic education by the legislature and the stewardship of those monies to best meet the local educational need within the Mead District
Do you think think the Mead school district should continue to offer high school football, given both the cost and the danger of concussions ?
The cost and danger of injury in all sports must be constantly reviewed and addressed with the latest information available. Sports are an integral part of the school experience and development. Football receives the most attention, but all sports come with risk. It would be refreshing to see schools also offer "Life Sports" to students.
Do you support the sex education curriculum currently taught in the district? Why or why not?
Sex education, health, and human biology are integral to a full, well rounded education
Are there any books currently in libraries within the district or on class reading lists that you feel are not appropriate to be used in schools?
The act of censorship needs to be limited to only a last resort, if it is ever implemented. Teachers should feel free to chose those texts and other resources that they best feel meets the educational goals of their curriculum. If we embark on this very dangerous endeavor we weaken the individual ability to fully reasoned thought and discourse
Should evolution be taught in public schools ?
Scientific theory, including evolution, is based upon observation and data collection. It is science. Evolution has always been a theory, and as such belongs in any science curriculum
If you could change one thing about the district what would it be and why?
The Mead District, and all districts, are justifiably proud of the graduation rates and those students who achieve high accolades and go on to college. But, statistically, about 42% of all students do no go on to college. They enter the work force or the military. Over the years schools have cut drastically courses such as mechanics, shop classes, life skills, etc. Rather than removing these to a "skill center" we need to reintegrate these processes back into our schools.
