According to Pam Phelps, she received ‘zillions of phone calls? asking her to run as a school board candidate and that is why her name will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.
‘That’s why I am here,? Phelps said. ‘I don’t want to disappoint those people.?
Phelps is no stranger to Oxford, having grown up in the community and graduated from Oxford High School. She raised her children Paul, Robert, Ryan, Preston, Lisa and Matthew in Oxford Schools. She also in no stranger to the board, having served previously, May 2005 to January 2010.
‘Today’s changing world creates many challenges with an unknown future,? she said. ‘I believe people in leadership should be connected to God enabling them to make good decisions about tomorrow in a world that is totally unpredictable.?
While she understands that every school faces problems, Phelps always thought her school was safe, while growing up.
‘There was no fear of students or staff. We played without worry; all food was healthy, our village to us was the world,? she said. ‘There was no threat from the outside; there were limited choices for career but life was good with a low level of anxiety.?
However, Phelps believes schools are now ‘always under guarded conditions.?
‘We must watch our children all the time, security checks need to be in place. Our children are constantly being bombarded by television, video games, gaming, speed, lack of emotions. We are constantly being threatened by bad food, healthy food being bad,? She added. ‘The world threatens us from everywhere with Mexico coming in from the south with drugs (and) our children owing China more than they can pay.?
What are some highlights?
As far as highlights of the current board, Phelps couldn’t say.
‘I know what happened when I was there, but I’m not one to say what has happened since. They maintain pretty good. I love the football field. I know a lot of people didn’t,? she said. ‘I can’t really answer that question’I don’t know what they’ve been doing. I don’t go to all of their board meetings or anything like that.?
Phelps noted that very few people attend board meetings, but they are televised, which she recently got on her own TV.
‘I didn’t know where it was because they moved my channel,? she said. ‘I used to watch it all the time on TV.?
What are her concerns?
Phelps couldn’t say she had any specific concerns.
‘There are things I don’t understand, but I can’t say there are things I don’t like,? she said. ‘I can’t make judgments on the inside unless I am there. Just like I wouldn’t make a judgment on somebody’s household unless I was in it, involved in it and hearing from everybody in it.?
‘I’m not ruling out people’s concerns,? she added. ‘I think they’re legitimate, but I think because they’re uninformed, they have such extreme concerns.?
Phelps said she would like to know more about the Chinese housing and let the people know more about the visits to China.
‘If they have a lodge for them to stay where they can stay as close to their culture as they need to be for the period of time it could actually save money,? Phelps said. ‘Usually anything (Superintendent) Dr. (William) Skilling does saves money in the long run or it benefits the child.?
However, one goal Phelps would like to see is to have anger-anxiety management lessons in the schools available for every grade level. She believes it would teach students ‘how to deal with issues that interfere with their learning and testing and future,? such as lack of home life, gaming, texting, world threats constantly on television, world disasters, murders, graphic movies and violence.
‘I believe they need to know how to separate themselves to a quiet place and gain control, instead of passing their frustration forward or harboring it in some way making them capable of injuring themselves or others,? she added. ‘Students should be in complete control over themselves therefore avoiding poor test scores and contributing to positive social behavior for today into the future.?
Speaking of low test cores, Phelps knows that is a big topic discussed among the public.
‘Students bring to school what is in their DNA, combined with parent support and stability of home life,? she explained. ‘We teach and test equally, but the product of that testing has many factors that can affect the test results. Early learning opportunities are now available for our students.?
Examples she used was comparing Oxford, which used to be a farming community back in the day to Rochester Hills.
‘You get the people who are brought up with the doctors and lawyers and the technical schools (like in Rochester.) These people live on tests and thrive on tests,? she said. ‘Their kids are brought up testing, so of course they’re going to have a higher test score.?
Phelps said while on the board she will take the concerns of the public seriously.
‘I’ve heard their concerns and if elected would investigate with an open mind and relate back (to the people),? she said.