Arnette McSwain is a candidate for Portsmouth School Board. Her name will appear on the ballot on November 5, 2024.
McSwain is running against six challengers for Portsmouth School Board.
The first day of in-person early voting at your local registrar’s office for this election is Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Click here to see who is on your ballot.
10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race, with a request for a bio and a list of questions to answer. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one.
Biography: Arnette was born and reared in Portsmouth, VA. She started a career in the United States Army in 1990, reaching the rank of E6. In 1999, she became a Deputy Sheriff at the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office in Savannah, GA. Arnette was a POST-Certified Peace Officer in the state of GA. Approximately, six years later she returned to the city she loves, Portsmouth, and began her career at the Chesapeake City Sheriff’s Office in 2006 until her retirement in 2015. Currently, Arnette is a licensed real estate agent, a notary public, and a small business owner in the City of Portsmouth.
Arnette earned a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership, both from Liberty University. Her undergraduate degrees are a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Mountain State University and an Associate of Science in Management from Hawaii Pacific University. She is a 1990 graduate of Manor High School in Portsmouth, VA.
Arnette is a board member for the Portsmouth Ports and Industrial Commission, PPIC. On this Board she works effectively to foster industrial development within the City. She has served as the secretary for several community-based organizations, is the former host of the radio show “The Love Spot” and is the host of a social media show. Arnette served as an Associate Minister at New Mount Olivet Baptist Church from 2010-2020. In 2019, she published her first book. She was the Chaplain of the Sgt. William H. Harrison, American Legion, Post #190 from 2017-2022. In 2022, Arnette became the first female Commander of the same American Legion Post. Currently, she serves as the American Legion of VA 2nd District Chaplain, a member of the Portsmouth Chapter of Delicados, the Order of the Eastern Star, AMVETS, a Lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a Support Member of the American Legion Riders-190.
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for Portsmouth Public School Board because I want to foster a culture of continuous improvement for our students and our team. My goal is to ensure our students leave Portsmouth Public Schools ready to thrive in the 21st Century.
What is the top challenge facing Portsmouth Public Schools, and how would you address it?
The top challenge facing Portsmouth Public Schools is reading proficiency. Per current state test scores, only 61% of our students are proficient in reading. There are approximately 13,371 students in Portsmouth and this percentage shows approximately 8153 are proficient in reading. In the 2022-2023 school year, we were at 60% reading proficiency. In the 2021-2022 school year, Portsmouth was at 61% reading proficiency.
I would address this issue by getting an understanding of the current reading initiatives in the district and analyzing the reading curriculum. I’d review the data that shows our students’ reading performance, per grade. I will consult with my colleagues to identify the areas of strategic approach that have been going well and the challenges. I would suggest a collaborative approach with administration, staff members, students, and parents to strategically navigate our procedures for increasing our students’ reading proficiency. We must unify the approach of staff and parents to address the academic needs of our students.
We don’t have to necessarily re-event the wheel. It may take some inquiring about what our neighboring districts are doing and have done to increase the reading level in their school district. Whatever our administration agrees upon must be consistent, logical, and the primary focus to improve reading.
How do you feel about the politicization of public education?
Politicization of public education has devalued a very valuable period of our youth’s lives. Many politicians use public education as an advantage when vying for a political position. There’s no secret that the topic of education draws attention. When public education is discussed in a positive and empowering manner it brings people together because we all want what’s best for our youth. The dilemma is when the politician/candidate has no true desire to deliver on their promises to support a more productive educational school system. There is a serious matter when we no longer view issues in public education as problems to be solved, but as leverage to be used as power to win elections. We need to genuinely care about the future of our children.
How will you still value constituents with whom you disagree with?
I believe in the old saying, “Choose your battles, wisely”. Confrontations can be avoided when all parties refrain from taking disagreements personally. We must focus on what’s best for the people and we want to remain positive. Every effort to come to a consensus should be made or we agree to disagree and keep moving.
What is your view on the Governor’s Executive Order to ban cell phone use?
I can certainly understand banning cell phone use during instructional periods. There is a need for students to have their cell phones on their person for use when not in class or transferring to class. We don’t know what type of home life our students have. Some don’t see their parents before arriving at school. As a working parent, I would have a difficult time not knowing whether my child arrived at school safely. I prefer not to hear a recording, but my child’s voice or a text. A few years ago, there was a verified true threat in one of Portsmouth Public high schools. The parents never received a call. It was the students with cell phones who alerted the parents. I was one of those parents. Knowing that this type of event has already occurred in our district, I see a necessity for our students to have access to their cell phones for safety reasons.
