Name: James E. Shores
Age: 56
Website: Shores4Suffolkschools.com

Biography: Born in Lafayette, Louisiana; raised in Newark, Delaware. Suffolk resident since 2006. Father and Mother veterans (USMC and USN, respectively). Both were assembly line workers and UAW members at the Newark Chrysler Assembly Plant. Two sons, now 15 and 16, attending Nansemond River HS engineering program, and Kings Fork HS International Baccalaureate (IB) program, respectively. Retired LtCol USMC and Naval Aviator. Employed as a government civilian in support of the Department of Defense.

Why are you running for this office?

My two sons have excelled in the Suffolk School system, it is time to give back. Believe in Parent’s rights; retaining lead on how their children are educated. To bring back confidence in parents for their public schools; stop exodus to home and private schooling. Supporting teachers and staff; increasing morale and retention; attracting the best teachers to our schools.

What is the top challenge facing Suffolk Public Schools, and how would you address it?

Based on “Public School Review” statistics, Suffolk public schools have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the Virginia public school average of 54%), and reading proficiency score of 69% (versus the 70% statewide average). Schools in Suffolk have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Virginia public schools. This is unacceptable, and is why parents are pulling their children out for private and homeschooling. I believe this can be corrected by focusing curriculum on what will make the children most competitive for acceptance into the best colleges and trade schools available. Discipline and behavior issues interrupting classroom instruction is what I have heard the most in my walks and talks with Nansemond Borough residents. I therefore am interested in supporting programs that assist parents in getting more involved in their children’s education. I personally believe when parents are more involved, there is a significant reduction in discipline and behavior issues that distract from classroom focus. Lets not also forget about children on Individual Education Plans, whose child’s federally mandated accommodations are not being met. I’ve heard a number of parents voice their concerns on this.

How will you still value constituents with whom you disagree with?

As an elected official, representative of all constituents’ voices in Nansemond Borough, Suffolk Schools, personal disagreements should not interfere with mutual objective to provide an education to our children that makes them competitive to get into the best colleges and trade schools available. Virginia law removes party affiliation with school board elections. For a reason. It’s about doing best for our kids; ALL of our kids.

What is your view on the Governor’s Executive Order to ban cell phone use?

I’m for it, but think its implementation needs to go through a study phase first. As an analytical thinker, I do it for a living, Im very curious of what the data would look like on academic scoring after a year without phone distractions. Very curious. Intuitively, I believe focus and attention will improve, and would expect subject matter retention to improve as a result; ultimately resulting in higher test scores. But I would really like to see the data first. I believe it’s out there and supports the Governor’s justification for the order.

Recently, Superintendent Dr. John Gordon said in a school board meeting that “I still don’t understand why we are now expected to share what new safety measures have been put in place.” This was in reference to questions from a news outlet, following the intruder inside Kilby Shores Elementary School on the last day of school. What is your reaction to Dr. Gordon’s comments? Should the superintendent share security information with the community?

WIth my military background understanding force protection, I understand Dr. Gordon’s comment may be referring to “giving up the details” on security measures put in place; therefore exposing vulnerabilities to a person that has nefarious intent to harm our children and now would know weak spots in the security measures. If that is what he meant, then I agree with him. However, there is another issue here. After the incident, Dr. Gordon was not forthright with the community or School Board for that matter, on details of the incident and what his administrative staff were doing to correct. My opinion is that where and why the breach occurred should have been released to the community and Board immediately, as soon as a timely investigation was completed. This issue was featured in an interview recently with two standing members of the School Board, Dr. Brittingham and Mr. Riddick, who I believe felt the same way.