By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
District 5 Levy County School board member Larry Jones said he believes in schools being safe and secure, and well maintained.
“That’s what I’m running on,” Jones said.
Jones made the comments in his opening statement during the Levy County Republican Executive Committee candidates’ forum on July 22.
He said he believes students “will be our future.”
Jones said he has a vested interest in the Levy County School System because his wife is a science teacher at Bronson Middle High School.
Questioner Stoney Smith asked Jones what he thought of the Guardian Program in Florida schools that allows teachers, administrators, and staff to volunteer to carry concealed weapons in their school.
“People who are armed have concealed weapons. I’m not 100 percent on who has it,” Jones said. “I think they need to be well trained. I’m a concealed weapons holder myself. I believe in security in the schools making students our number one priority. I believe one way in, one way out in schools.”
“As for the Guardian program, I’ll have to look into it, but I think we should have somebody, a couple of people at the school, armed and ready to go if they need to. But if we have one way in and one way out, I think one person should be enough,” Jones said.
“So, if you are elected, you will push for the Guardian program?” Smith asked.
“Yes sir,” Jones responded.
“What’s your view on critical race theory? Smith asked.
“I’m opposed to it,” Jones responded.
Smith asked Jones to outline the capital outlay he anticipates schools needing.
Jones said he would look at each school in the county and see what is needed.
“We need to stop wasting money and make sure money is allocated for what needs to be done,” Jones added. “But still, the number one priority is security for the kids. We see it all over the United States and around the world. We really need to look at making these kids safe.”
Smith asked Jones what he would do to improve discipline in the schools. Smith said he was a real mean kid. He got into battles every day.
“I remember those days. My name was on the board. I don’t think we need paddles anymore,” Jones said. “But we need to have a policy that no matter if they’re an athlete or on the chess club, or just got picked on at school, or are being taken home on the bus, a policy is a policy. “Whatever they are, whatever they did, we have to make sure everybody falls under the rules.”
Smith asked Jones what makes him the best candidate for the District 5 school board seat. Jones said it was his years in higher education.
“I see what’s going on, I see what the kids are going through, I see what the parents are going through, the teachers are going through,” he said. “I am an advocate of making sure kids get what they deserve. My politics is I have a teacher living in my household. I hear what issues are going on, I go to board meetings, I see what’s going on there, and I listen to the board meetings. I think my experience and what I’ve been hearing and what I’ve been doing the last 20 years has prepared me to be a member of the Levy County School board.
Questioner Parks Wilson asked Jones what should be done about a student who is a discipline problem and is expelled from school. Should they be left in a void and not get an education? Wilson asked how that issue should be addressed.
Jones said if a student is constantly in trouble it’s time to find out what the problem is and look at the root of the problem.
“We don’t want to leave anyone behind. I don’t want to push nobody ahead and they can’t read and write and do math and science. I’d rather fix the problem and not just skip over the kid; just figure out what the problem is and work on it from there,” Jones said.
—————————–
Enterprise Reporting by Terry Witt July 22, 2022; Posted July 26, 2022
