DSEA Candidate Questionnaire Governor…

                DSEA Candidate Questionnaire
               Governor and Lieutenant Governor

NAME: Charlie Copeland PARTY: Republican

OFFICE: Lieutenant Governor

Please use additional space on back of page, if required.

   1. Are Delaware's public schools adequately funded? What changes, if
      any, would you make in our system of public school finance? Will
      you support and advocate for a new system of property
      assessment/valuation?

Our District public schools are probably not adequately funded. However, given
the bureaucracy and lack of financial transparency, it is hard to say what the
adequate level of funding is. I would work to improve the transparency of the
funding flows ­ both sources of funds and expenses.

I have long advocated for a re-assessment of property values.


   2. What are your thoughts about the current charter school law? What's
      working? What's not? What changes, if any, would you propose in
      the law? Do you support construction funding, either `conduit bond-
      type' or direct funding?


I think that the Charter School law, generally, works fine. I have no problem with
conduit bond financing.
   3. What are your thoughts about the DSTP? How, if at all, would you
      change it?


The DSTP should be replaced in favor of a growth model like the NWEA.

   4. What is your view of the 2008 report of the Public Education
      Compensation Committee regarding the pay of Instructional and
      Support Aides? Will you put the next schedule pay increase in your
      first state budget?

I believe that State government operations are in failure mode. The State's
economy contracted last year (2007) and looks set to contract again this year.
With no potential for revenue increases into the State, then operational costs
must be fixed so that core government funding, like that for education, can be
fully achieved.


   5. What is your view regarding the current number of school districts?
      Should the number be reduced or is this issue a proverbial `red
      herring'?

I don't know what problem will be solved by reducing the number of districts.

   6. What is your view of the recommendations of the Task Force
      established to study the current educational offerings for the
      children who live in the City of Wilmington?

I believe that the goal of the educational system should be to maximize the
educational opportunity of all Delaware students.


   7. What is your view of the recent cuts in the state's education budget
      that reduced funding for teacher professional development and
      suspended payment for advanced study (i.e., clusters) and national
      certifications? Will you re-fund these programs in your first state
      budget?

See #4.

   8. Please state your position with respect to collective bargaining for
      public education and state employees. Are you for or against so-
      called "Right to Work" legislation?
I have no problem with the current collective bargaining structure for school
district teachers.


   9. Would you be willing to include in your administration's legislative
      priorities during your first year in office a bill that would provide for
      civil and licensure penalties for executive-level school managers
      who demonstrate gross negligence in office (e.g., Christina and Red
      Clay budget crises)?

That would depend upon the definition of "gross negligence."


   10. What is your view of the recommendations contained in the 2007
       Class Size Task Force Report and how would you act to implement
       them?

I believe that with the correct reduction in the education bureaucracy and in
education mandates along with the proper level of overall funding that we can
achieve the class sizes needed for a great educational environment for all our
children.