MCCSC candidate Disney answers to public

Before he stepped out of his silver SUV, Steven Disney checked his hair in his car’s sun visor as his wife fixed his collar and gave him a reassuring look.

Disney was preparing for a final round of interviews for the Monroe County Community School Corporation superintendent position. This time, the interview was with the public.

One of two finalists for the position, Disney answered questions from the public in a session Monday at Bloomington High School North.

Currently, Disney is the superintendent of the Oregon-Davis School Corporation. In his four-year tenure in Hamlet, Ind., Disney claims to have raised the graduation rate from 74 percent to 91.5 percent.

The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is located in northwest Indiana and contains only two schools with a combined enrollment of about 700 students.

Although Oregon-Davis schools were given a “probation” rating under Public Law 221, a law that requires schools to be ranked based on its academic improvement and ISTEP scores, Disney said he has put in place a foundation for improvement within the school district.

Disney said he led his corporation in the planning and creation of a New Tech High School that looks to new technology to help students progress.

Now Disney said his goal is to move to a larger school corporation with a supportive community, and he said MCCSC is the perfect match for that.

Below are some of the questions the community asked Disney to find out if he is a match for MCCSC:

Public: How are you qualified to lead a school of more than 10,000 students when coming from a district of only 700?

Disney: I have a variety of experiences, and my past experience as superintendent is an attribute. As superintendent, I have and can learn every facet of running a school district. I am the business manager, so I know about working on a budget. I can also deal with personnel and curriculum.

Public: If your school repeatedly failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress, how would you address it?

Disney: You need to look at the indicators and see it coming on to address it. You also need to look at best practices to work on improving it.

Public: How do you feel about the importance of world language programs?

Disney: We’re backwards when it comes to world languages. Now, we wait till the secondary level rather than implementing multiple languages at an early age. At Oregon-Davis, we have been looking at using Rosetta Stone at an elementary level to teach Spanish. In a globalized world and a global market, foreign language is more important to make our kids marketable.

Public: How do you feel about teachers evaluating administrators?

Disney: I remember filling out those anonymous surveys about my professors in college. I even asked for feedback at my previous schools. I think it is a great reflection and self-evaluation tool. It is important to take constructive criticism to make us better.

Public: Do you think merit pay improves the quality of public education?

Disney: There’s no real evidence one way or another. But with the state changing the ways of evaluation, there is really no money for professional development and no funding for merit raises.

Public: What is the last book you have read?

Disney: I have a little tendency of ADHD, but I just started reading Diane Ravitch’s book and I’m about halfway through. I recently read Thomas Friedman’s “The World Is Flat” and a book called “Griftopia” by Matt Taibbi.

Public: How would you counteract the government’s attack on education?

Disney: Well, I’m not going to run for governor, but maybe if we’re lucky we’ll have a Gov. (Vi) Simpson soon. All of us educators have to be involved in the process. You could see this all coming. Public education is the foundation of democracy, and we have got to stand up and do it collaboratively. I would prefer to tell legislators to form a committee of the best teachers and the best economists and look at the options to reach a compromise.

Public: Your school system has fallen to “probation” status. Why? What steps have you taken to improve that?

Disney: We’re already starting to see a transition. The high school didn’t meet AYP because of a problem with attendance. The students may not pass as sophomores, but we’re getting them graduated. Our challenges are greater, but we’re getting the staff together and giving them resources to become better teachers.

Public: What do you see as the biggest challenge facing MCCSC?

Disney: I think there’s a need for stability of leadership. A need for a leader to set forth a direction, yet support what is already going on. I would continue to build and take this corporation to the next level. The biggest challenge would be to bring all parties together on the same page and for me, be a catalyst of leadership. This community has come forth and shown tremendous investment. Our challenge will be to work together to make them proud.

Public: Can you get us a discount at Disney World?

Disney: Disney is a fun name, and kids love it. Being a superintendent can be a demoralizing job. Sometimes as therapy, I go to an elementary school and walk through the cafeteria. The kids will all chant “Dr. Disney, Dr. Disney,” and I get to feel like a rock star. I can’t offer any long distance discounts for Disney World though, but we did get a few fast passes to skip the long lines one time.