Corrine Johnson and Candace Raskin interviewed for the interim superintendent position yesterday.

Friday, June 29, 2001

Corrine Johnson and Candace Raskin interviewed for the interim superintendent position yesterday.

Johnson, currently superintendent in Onamia, spoke with the Austin School Board for 45 minutes. Afterwards, Raskin, currently principal at Banfield Elementary School, spoke for 30 minutes.

When board member Bev Nordby asked them about their strengths and weaknesses, Johnson stressed her ability to work with limited budgets, while Raskin emphasized her knowledge of the school district, as well as her ability to make unpopular decisions here.

"You can’t be an administrator for a district for 13 years and have made decisions that make everyone happy," Raskin said.

Johnson, on the other hand, emphasized the fact that educators face many challenges, but that successful ones do not get discouraged.

"You have to be able to swim up a stream and you have to be able to do it for long periods of time. You have to really believe that you are effecting people’s lives," she said.

Board member Dick Lees quizzed candidates on their ability to work within a district of limited funds.

Raskin said she would work with business manager Lori Volz, particularly in finding new ways for the district to avoid paying excessive insurance premiums, which have risen 32 percent in the past year.

Johnson, on the other hand, offered suggestions which were not specific to the district.

"You go out for an excess levy, you close down a building, you decrease staff, because there are not a lot of other things you can do," she said.

Additionally, the candidates had different ideas on how to solve below-grade reading levels in elementary schools.

Johnson suggested limiting the curriculum in first and second grades. "We do two things, math and reading, and we don’t screw around with any of the other things," she said.

Raskin, on the other hand, proposed more individualized attention and smaller reading groups.

Both candidates affirmed their beliefs in site based management, their desire to engage in more political lobbying, the importance of a strong relationship with the school board and the problems that face the nearly100 children who drop out of high school each year.

"We have to find out what’s going on, and have to come up with some pattern as to how they started," said Johnson.

They also agreed on the importance of working with the public and current staff, as well as all day kindergarten, which they said would help students in every possible way. Unlike Raskin, however, Johnson had a specific method of paying for it, a program much like school lunch subsidies.

In closing, Raskin affirmed her capabilities. "I will work hard, and you will get a good deal. I have done the work necessary to provide good leadership," she said.

Johnson, on the other hand, asked the board about their priorities, and displayed her willingness to work with the board in new ways.

"Are you practical, are you adventuresome? Maybe a working retreat would be a good thing and we can find out something about each other," she said.

An interim superintendent will be chosen at a public board meeting on Tuesday, July 3.

Human resources director Julie Jensen was present, and recorded the interview on tape. Board member Amy Baskin was absent.

Call Sam Garchik at 434-2233 or e-mail him at newsroom@austindailyherald.com.