2 people running for school board seat in upcoming election: Q&A with Dotson and Patterson – The Vicksburg Post

When voters go to the polls on November 5, Vicksburg Warren School District Board of Trustees, District 4, will be the only contested local race on the ballot.

Incumbent Tawina Dotson and Linda Muirhead Patterson are running for the position. Both candidates sat down with The Vicksburg Post ahead of the election and answered questions about their platforms and why each thinks they are the right choice for the seat.

Q: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the school district right now?

: Our biggest challenge is recruiting and retaining certified teachers. We need our state legislature to continue working diligently to raise teacher salaries to a satisfactory level; However, as a school district, we can provide incentives to our employees if the budget allows, and I fully support that. Another challenge is recruiting and retaining our bus drivers, and this problem mostly stems from student discipline. Disciplinary problems are “our” problem. Bus drivers, teachers and principals cannot solve this problem alone. We need parental involvement to improve this problem. To combat our discipline and other issues and improve our school district, VWSD launched a Strategic Planning Coalition. This is a collaborative effort that brings together community members, parents, educators, and local leaders to help shape the future of education in our region, and I am proud to be a part of this committee.

Patterson: Many schools are struggling, especially since the pandemic. VWSD faces many of the same challenges. For example, although the district’s overall grade is “B”, most of the schools in the region receive grades of “C” and below. Two middle schools and two elementary schools were rated “D.” This is one of the biggest challenges facing the district.

Q: What other changes would you advocate for as a VWSD trustee?

: I will always advocate for quality education for all students and ensure that every student has equal opportunities to learn and develop to their full potential. I will continue to work hard to always foster an environment for our exceptional students that will promote their academic progress, social development, acceptance of diversity, and provide our students with the same learning opportunities as their peers. I will continue to advocate for better pay for our teachers. Our teachers are the backbone of our education system and they deserve to be paid adequately and more frequently. My goal is to ensure that all VWSD employees have bi-weekly pay scales. In my opinion, once a month is not enough. I will always be an advocate and voice for all students.

Patterson: I advocate for the publication of annual VWSD goals and objectives that clearly identify areas where the district focuses its leadership and resources to achieve excellence in the education of all children in the school system. These annual goals and objectives should go hand in hand with the published five-year strategic plan. I recommend that we review the strategic plan, taking into account the goals and objectives and actual school achievement data on an annual basis, and make adjustments as necessary. In this way, our strategic plan will serve as a living, guiding document.

Question: What do you think of the situation with the VWSD Board of Trustees?

: I have been a school board member since January 2024 and have seen significant improvement. Vicksburg Warren School District is proudly a “B” rated school district, our student retention rate is up to 92%, and our graduation rate is 91%, so we’re not in bad shape. We have some work to do, but we’ve made a lot of progress. We don’t always agree, but I believe all board trustees have the best interests of all students at heart. We will continue to work together to improve our school district for the benefit of all VWSD students.

Patterson: The current Board of Trustees is comprised of committed individuals who work closely with the Superintendent and strive to move the district forward. VWSD has made improvements over the past few years, but big challenges lie ahead. I believe the skill set and experience I bring to the table can help the board and the district continue to thrive. I am committed to ensuring that VWSD becomes a great school system and that every student can benefit from their time in school.

Q: What was your and your family’s overall experience with the Vicksburg Warren School District?

: My family and I had a wonderful experience with VWSD. Our three oldest children graduated from VWSD. Janaiya and Darionce graduated from Warren Central High School and Shaniyya graduated from RCEC. They received a quality education here in Vicksburg. They are now off to college and on a great path to success. Our two youngest children, Deddrit and Madisyn, currently attend Warrenton Elementary School, where they are academically successful and successful. Janaiya is currently working as a teacher assistant at VWSD and plans to become a certified teacher within VWSD upon completion of graduation.