Candidate Survey: Tom Carr for Garrett County Board of Education

Name
Thomas (Tom) CARR

Age
77

County
GARRETT

Education
U Mich BA, pre-doctorate; U Paris (propédeutique); Middleberry; Bryn Mawr; JHU

Trending: Maryland’s $20 Billion Pension Shortfall & Peter Franchot

Career/Occupation
Teacher (Part-time chef)

Education Experience
K-16 France, USA, Hungary; Gilman School, FSU, Garrett College, etc. 55 years

Political Experience
10 years on county school board

Website
none

Social Media Accounts
FaceBook

Why are you running for office?
Support funding; curricular oversight; liaison with MABE, SBOE and MD Legislature,

Who do you consider your political role model, and why?
. Truman. He faced the toughest decisions.

What is your favorite book about politics and policy, and why?
The Prince; all the things I dislike about politics

What is your favorite book about education, and why?
Good-bye, Mr. Chips. Another role model

What will be your top priority on the Board of Education?
Funding

What is the biggest issue facing your county schools?
Funding. Loss of enrollment.

What are the three biggest issues facing Maryland schools?
Funding. Keeping up with technology. Divisive programs and politics

Have you read your county schools curriculum? If so, which parts do you like and which parts do you dislike?
Yes. Most is dictated by US and MD. I like CTE. Regret loss of foreign languages

What is your position on school spending?
Cautious. As generous as possible, but there is a bottom line.

Please identify the three areas which you believe should be prioritized when it comes to school funding
Security, Teacher Benefits, Teacher Training

What is your position on teacher tenure?
Pro, provided there are legal ways of eliminating the teacher who just is not doing her/his job.

What is your position on standardized testing?
Against, except for the pre-college exams: SAT, CAT, etc.

What is your position on classroom size?
20 max

Do you believe the Board of Education should have taxation authority?
No. The BoE’s job is education not concentrating on tax increases.