Sonoma County Office of Education, with Marv Adams and Dr. Walter Eagan

Sonoma County chosen spot of all the earth as far as nature is concerned, according to the famed plant wizard Luther Burbank Diverse County, with 1,010,000 acres of land on 1574 miles of scenic roadways, Sanoma County is rightfully famed for its agriculture did a culture, industry and

recreation as well as for the amazingly successful ethnic and economic mixture of its more than 340,000 residents on for the forward looking philosophy of its local governing bodies. Now we invite you to take a closer look at Sonoma County in the eighties with your host, Rich

McGlinchy. Hello, everyone. Welcome to the normal count in the eighties on this edition of our program going to be talking about the Office of Education, and we're gonna talk to two gentlemen who are very familiar with that office. One served as the director of it for

many years, and the other gentleman has recently assumed that position. My guest on the program or the right of your screen as more of an Adams and Marv or more you called by almost everybody else and Mark is the present, said Owen County super tender schools,

head of the Office of Education and on the other side of me, which actually is the right of your screen, is Walter Egan and Walder was the super tender schools for over 16 years. Let me tell you a little bit about the gentleman is jotting down

here. And while they're on camera, I think way ought to know more about them. Before your time in 1986 won't Egan was name was synonymous with the titles and kind of separate dental schools. He served in the position for 18 years and was winner and four

consecutive elections following the untimely death of his successor. Dick Bacon won't came out of retirement again and serve six more months in the interim director between December 87 in May 1988 and he led the search, which resulted in more Adams being appointed as the Sonoma County

pretended schools by the Board of Education last year in March. I think there's a from equally interesting information about you get bear with us mom Adams, who was officially appointed no Chinese superintendent of schools on June 1 1988 followed this followed it, incidentally, a nationwide professional

search initiated by Dr Egon on behalf of the Board of Education. March was born in Idaho, only attended elementary and high schools in Spokane, Washington. His college background includes a bachelor's degree from Whitworth College Masters degree from Oregon State University and considerable graduate work at Washington

State University. University of Washington, S u N Y at Buffalo Ball State University, Columbia, You and Cal State Fullerton. And if that's not impressive, nothing else. Nice to have you here. Thank you. Nice to be well, always nice to see you. Good to see you again.

How's retirement going? Wonderful. I do you say that you love? Uh I think perhaps the audience might be looking at future gentlemen thing. Exactly what is the role of the superintendent of schools tomorrow? Why don't you? The county superintendent is here to serve the students and

provide the best education for the students in Sonoma County. And make sure that the resource is go to the betterment of all the students in the county. That's his overall overall role. What would you add to that after a while those years? Well, I I certainly

concur in that. And just add that it's a supportive role to the various school districts in the county to help them accomplished their mission. I'm what is the county superintendent of schools legally required to superintendent, if you will? Well, one of our basic roles is provide

directs or instructional services to students. These are the special students. We have special education students, and these special education students are in classes that are supervised by the county. We provides classes for the vocational students in the high schools of the county. We provide the education

at the court schools in the community schools. We have a role for direct education. Then we also provide services to the school district's consultant services, technical assistance and auditing of their books and approving their budgets. Like the superintendent schools, the office you had pretty much intermingled.

I guess you'd say, with with all of schools in the county doesn't Yes, we do. We work with all 41 School district's as well as the junior college. Okay, water. Let's get back to you for a minute. In your opinion, what qualifications? Uh, skills attitudes are

vital if one is going to be a successful county super title of schools. Well, that's kind of self serving. But we're here. We'll try to give the response to that. I think first the person has Teoh be an educator and be interested in Children. Uh, the

decisions that come along that have to be made have to be made in that light. And then beyond that, you have to be able to manage employees. You have to be able to understand and manage the public finance arrangements that are involved and be able. Teoh

exercise a degree of leadership that we'll have not only your own staff follow, but also the administrators, staffs of the various districts in the county. Uh, love, what services do local County District expect from the county superintendent? They expect us to give them advice on any

topic, anything that that they need help with. They turned us for that assistance. We have legal services that are one of our most important and well respected services in the county. We provide data processing services, curriculum assistance. Many of the district's in this county are small,

so they don't have curriculum directors. They don't have business managers, they don't have maintenance and operations supervisors. So we provide those kinds of services. Many of our elementary schools don't have librarians, so we provide a librarian that assists the elementary district's of the county. We have

film services that provide instructional materials to assist the teacher in the classroom. We have a production center where teachers can come in and make materials to develop better instructional aids for their students. So anything the district's request, we will try to a system in that area.

One of our newest services is to a system in environmental US and safety issues such as asbestos. We have gone together in a consortium, the district's pay a fee into the county, and we hire a person to provide that service is for all the school district

of the county. So we try to be responsive to the district's and what their needs are. In fact, that's that's been a major problem in the past. This bestest was used. It seems like in every building that was put up, certainly a republic building, and I

presume most of the schools that have been in existence for quite a while having this problem again. Most of them do most any building built to night prior to 1978 would have asbestos. So And you have a group now that that worked with him and help

in that respect? Yes. That service just started up on April 1st 0 that's great. Uh, over, uh, you served with four stable victory people. Yeah. Silence! Success. How long were you with before you remember? 12 years, 12 years. And then then you served as superintendent for

a lot of years. Um what? And I know you were very, very happy when more of selected this roller here. What have you seen in the way of chains from then to now, you're starting killer major. Well, I think probably one of the the most significant

changes over that period of years is the concentration on trying to meet the specific needs of every individual students. The growth of the special ed programs, the growth of the Rop programmes of vocational areas, the growth of the programs in the juvenile court schools make sure

that just because of youngsters incarcerated that their education is not, uh the focus on those things, I think is really the biggest change that's occurred. That's a blessing to the kids. Have gotten a fellow to be able to participate in that deal more. Um, does the

county superintendent of schools position, you know, represent for lack of a better phrase or higher authority than, say that local district superintendent in certain areas, we do have responsibility to monitor the district and make sure that they are operating within the laws, make sure their budgets

are being properly adopted and properly accounted for and controlled. But most of our role is a supportive role and provide services to the school district's. California has a local control in the local boards of education are really responsible for most of the activities within their individual

district's. So we support those their role and monitor in certain areas that would prevent districts to get into financial difficulty. That is our largest responsible. If either of you couldn't do that figure how Maney local district superintendent, did you mention the number 41? We're Millwall districts

that they would have a local local board and superintendent or principal open in some of them. They're a little small enough, they calm. Just the principal. How did you find working with you to your difficult for you to work with over. Well, that's one of the

most exciting parts of the county Superintendency. The challenge of working with the various districts because they represent a great diversity, and so that that that's challenged. What When you say what you just said there were, they represent a great diversity that's just in any way indicate

that some kids get a better education, some places that may well be true. That isn't what I was indicating. Notice the difference in the background of the people that are on on the various boards, um, measuring the level of effectiveness of instructional programmes. A tough, tough

It is quantify when you would not like to be. Oh, so I wouldn't mind getting not on your half our program. That is the role of the county offices to try to equalize the opportunities between the students and different size District's. So we we worked very

hard to try to make unequal education throughout the county. Right now, you've kind of, well, you legend your relationship with the district superintendents. Maybe this is a different question. Or maybe it's a repeat, sort of, but what's the relationship of yourself? County super tentative schools to

local school boards into the local amendment that the teacher, maybe with a local squid again it is supported primarily. Or are you? Go ahead primarily. It's supportive. We work with the executive committee of the county board of trustees from the local districts. We helped plan programs

for the local trustees. We put on informational programs we put on training programs. Last fall, we put on a training program for all new board members in the local district's. We put on legal workshops with our legal staff for the board of trustees to assist them

in doing their job better. And when they have a problem, they do call us and we come in in a system with those problems. And if we see that there is a financial problem, we make the board aware of these problems, so they and then we

assist them and dealing with it. All right, One of the thought hair on board You have work of Education Speaker, County Board of Education that you work with that you're correct overseas. You I guess you'd say I'm not quite sure how one should afraid that your

elected officials will be, uh, how many members are above seven county board. What is their function there? Major function is Teoh approve the budget of the county, and they also have some responsibilities for appeals. Like if there's a discipline problem in a local district and parents

would like to appeal Acto a higher authority, they can appeal it to the county Board of Education. OK, now do. How often do you meet with your way made at least once a month? And there is sometimes confusion over the role of the county board and

superintendent because both our elected officials But the county board has control over the budget. They do set the salary of the county superintendent, so that gives them an element of control that were, Where did those board members come from? They are distributed by districts throughout the

county, and there's an equal representation of population in seven districts within the county that represents the various school districts in geographical areas of the county. Okay, all right. I think this might be a good place for us. We have to let our station bring the audience

of public service announcement. Got a lot more question for you. And I'm really glad you're here in this office was your blank you if you're doing so well. Ladies and gentlemen, Dr World Regan, Marvin Adams and I will return in just a moment. We'll talk more

about the Office of Education and superintendent of schools. Position did not. This year, 5000 of our Children will take their own lives. One way to prevent suicide is listening. Are you while climbing secure figure eight knot harness Motivation is the key to fighting illiteracy. Taking pictures

in low light always use high speed in scouting. What you read is what you do. Welcome back to this edition of Sonoma County in the eighties were talking about the Office of Education. And we're talking to two gentlemen who have had a lot of experiences to

pretended of schools. On the right of your screen is Dr Walter Egan. And he was too pretending to schools for 18 years here in Sonoma County on the left of your screen. Marv Adams. And he is the present to pretend it of schools and came with

us about a year ago. Ah, gentlemen, one of the things that is very important. I'm sure that the audience is to see Marv, whose the incumbent to pretending to schools and know that this is an elective office. Uh, you You're well aware of that? Oh, yes.

What is he ever of? You ran where you were appointed, I think first and then ran and were elected four times. Now, are you planning to be a candidate for your office? Very, definitely. Very definitely will be running for that. Okay, um, one of the first

of all, you've heard that, Ladies and gentlemen, that's an advance announcement. That's a scoop bar. Russ Smith, Superintendent schools. Um, what kind of a platform would you say you would run on? There's two or three things I want to put in here. Maybe, but But I'll

ask him one time. What would you say? Basically, Basic Platform is to provide services and assist the school district's of this county to provide the best education that can be provided within the resource is available through state and local funding. And also with that provide the

best direct instruction programs that we can for the students that we serve. So too strong missions we have there. All right, now you've been with us have been charged, but also there for about a year. Ah, little over here. Maybe. What programs are you? Probably stuff,

I'd say, the ones that deal with instruction to make the teachers in the classroom or effective in dealing with their students. We have outstanding core of curriculum and instruction specialists that work with teachers to help them improve instructions in the classroom. That's always a desirable the

thing to accomplish. More of what efforts would you want to continue that are going on right now? We would want to continue to have our drug education program that we're quite proud of that has been identified as a strong issue across the nation and within this

county, we want to continue to enhance our learning resource is effort where we would have better films and tapes and better production facilities for the teachers to make better use of that for improving their instruction, our legal services. It's very important in this day and age

to be well prepared legally and to protect the interests in the financial interests of the district in a legal way. So we're strengthening that, and we have hired recently a new attorney, so we have a staff of four in our legal counsel, and we serve all

the districts of this county as well as some of the district's in some of the surrounding counties. So So we're looking at providing services that are high enough quality that surrounding counties could also participate in the services. Well, now, you kind of identified the ones you

want to continue. What new programs would you specifically electro initiate? Well, the the one that we have started on assisting the districts with new environmental issues, and it started with asbestos. We're now looking at playground safety, which is an issue we're looking at Radan in the

schools. This is becoming an issue. Any environmental issue dealing with the tanks, that air seeping on the playground. So anything that deals with the safety of Children and protecting the environment is a very high issue for us right now. Excellent. Excellent thought in the thing that

I remember. When waters of their on now still is, the learning resource is, uh, varying system, so to speak. I guess your trucks that you folks that go all out the true the county and deliver and take things to the various schools. I mean, when you

say you serve the district, you really and truly do. Yes, Correct. Great. This has been a successful too, very much. So let me get you into the thing here on the political end of this thing, my ever be running for office of the superintendent schools next

year. In your opinion, what should a county voter look for when trying to assess one county for one candidate for county superintendent over another? I think the the breadth of the person's approach to problems faced by the schools by students board members is the key thing

that this person has a broad interest in. Not a very specific kind of restricted agenda that there, they're coming to propose. And, uh, I think through that that kind of an approach the voters can pick probably the best quality in the past water in our own

county, where a candidate would be very strong in one particular given area but really had either had no picture. Interesting. Don't forget your background, the others and I think the public kids do here away from that person. Well, I I think that's probably true, the other

the other thing that is awfully difficult to assess and that is how the person would deal with those kind of emerging things that are are on society's horizon. So does a that ultimately end up in the schools because we have to be the only agency social

agency that has the young people. Let me ask each of you a question that completely aside from anything that shot it down here to ask you. But nationally, if you watch the television of the 21 in the year 2020 in the 60 minutes in the various

news shows like, they could see that 48 hours that youngsters, I don't know what percentages must be At least 25% of dropping out of schools is constantly does. It may be that their ethnic minorities, maybe that there's poverty involved here. Is there anything that a local

superintendent of school can do to help change the direction of that drop out problem? I mean, this kind of asking philosophical, but what do you think? Very much so the appropriateness of the education in the local district is very important in whether students stay in school

or not. One of the things that's a bit distressing right now, is the reduction that's taken place over about the last five years in funding for vocational education. One of the things we're looking at next year is to try to improve the at risk programs for

the students that are having problems. And we're hopeful that we can have programs that will be more appropriate for these students. And that is a problem. That's good. I'm glad to hear you say that because, you know, brilliant remark, something must be done. Yeah, well, I

I think we shouldn't overlook the fact that the district's they're doing a number of things. The the growth of the continuation education programs of research clearly is a direct attack on that. Provide that alternative so that the youngster that's not making it in the regular school

setting can make it. In the the Continuation School, an li has a program out west part of the county where they try to attract people that are out of school back into school. They've been having some very good success with that, so it's it is a

bleak picture, but there are things being done to try Teoh solve that problem way, set this goal of every kid graduating from high school back in the sixties on, uh, there's some question of how realistic that goal is, but it's it's still a goal, and it's

one that people will. It always should be a goal, basically, as you say, How realistic? I don't know today, certainly. But when I was teaching a few moments ago what we hear from all the other media outlets, it doesn't seem to be a goal we're reaching.

But it should always be a gold try. And the idea you say about an leader, uh, more given down here a little over a year. What do you thoughts about Sonoma County? In other words, what aspect of living here like, Well, I like the weather. I

like the diversity of the county. I like the friendliness of the people. It's just a great place to live. Everybody I talked to ask me How do you like it in Sonoma County, which makes me think they like it here. I think they do. You were

in Washington for a long time and very successful. If there What do you miss about having left the Evergreen State Well at the first I missed association with long term association with the school people in the state. But I found the people here are very accepting

of new people, and I've quickly been integrated into the educational community here. All right, we've got about two minutes, so I want to read to give me a quick thought about what do you envision for education in the near future? I think the main thing that's

gonna happen is a technology for teaching is going to increase. There's a tremendous amount of resource is out there that the teacher can use and one of the main things that's happening right now in our county offices. A real focus on making the teachers aware of

technology and how to use technology and making it available for their use. The use of the computer and other technological advances are very adaptable. Classroom. What do you thoughts about education in the future? Well, I think we're going to continue to see heavy emphasis on staff

development, and unfortunately, we've gotten through most of this program and we haven't really gotten into the wonderful staff development things that the county's doing, not only in the area computers, but this county is responsible for regional program in training future administrators. It's an outstanding example of

what's going on in the state. What you're really saying is you want me to invite your backs is no, you invite market. I, uh Marva, if you had any one thing that you could accomplish, let's say in the next year uh, Mrs Carver Hypothetical question. What

would it be more than I would think to have our vocational programs meeting the needs of the actress students in a better, more acceptable way? Okay, keep students in school. Eight. Act more students in school. Caray. I'd love to see that I really, really feel bad,

right? See these revelations on national television about the fact that so many youngsters are seemingly sentencing themselves to unemployment lines or welfare officers by the fact that they do not issue, say, the written will go try to finish high school and get qualified, become qualify a

little better, and that's a sad and what you're doing. I might prove a very highly more of and what you've done right water in helping kids get there were just about out of time, so I want to thank you for taking the time to thank you

for having me. Not good luck in the future. Thank you. And you don't see you get yourself on your mark. Ladies and John, we've had the pleasure of talking to 22 pretended of schools personally county one who waas and one who is, uh, Dr Walter Egan

on the right here screen who was our super tender for many years? More of Adams. Who is our presence? Who attended schools? My name is Richman. 20 programs Sonoma County in the eighties. I'll be back with you next week with Remember Family Way today. Well, we're

a little bit more about the attorney living. Can we? All right. Good night. Good luck. Good health, you know?