School Board Candidates Clash Over Stillwater District's Performance and Future

School board candidates for Stillwater Public Schools present starkly different assessments of the district's performance during a recent Stillwater Frontier Rotary candidate forum, highlighting contrasting visions for the future of education in the community.

Incumbent Dr. Marshall Baker, current board chair and educator with 20 years of experience, faces challenger Greg Adams, who describes himself as having been an educator for 25 years through raising his children.

The candidates' disagreement centers primarily on the district's academic performance, with Baker highlighting post-COVID improvements while Adams calls for a fundamental reassessment of educational priorities.

"Every student group has improved since COVID and has gotten back to or above pre-COVID levels," Baker said. "Our teachers are working their tails off."

Adams counters that the district needs to refocus on fundamentals. "We talk about a world class education. [I'd] love to see us there. Right now we're not there, so we need to make improvements to get there."

On school finances

The candidates also address the district's recent financial challenges. In October, an internal audit uncovered a $5.5 million shortfall in general fund recurring expenses.

Baker explains the situation resulted from decreased ad valorem taxes, lower enrollment, and the expiration of COVID relief funds that had supported additional staffing.

"We are not in a current $5.5 million crisis," Baker said, noting that board policy triggered the audit when the fund balance fell below established thresholds. "We've already achieved $1.5 million ahead of schedule. We've not made cuts this year. We're staying the course because we're not in crisis."

Adams expresses concern about the transparency of the budget process. "We can't see it as the public. We just have to take their word for it. There needs to be more transparency. We need a simpler budget so that we can look at the things and see."

On cellphones in the classroom

Both candidates agree on the need to address cell phone distractions in classrooms, though they differ on implementation approaches.

"We know it improves student performance and we know it reduces bullying and we know it improves the mental health and well-being of kids," Baker says regarding cell phone restrictions.

Adams supports removing cell phones from classrooms but questions why the board hasn't already implemented such policies. "The board has the right to do that already. So if it's a good idea, why haven't we done it?"

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On hiring the next superintendent

The candidates also discuss their priorities for the district's superintendent search, currently underway.

Baker identifies three key qualities: strong financial leadership, commitment to academic achievement for all student groups, and investment in the Stillwater community.

"We need an incredibly strong CFO type leader to continue to work the plan that we've approved and put in place," Baker says. "We want a Stillwater resident that knows us, engages in us, and wants to sit in this Rotary Room and be a part of this town."

Adams suggests looking beyond traditional education circles. "The problem is that we keep pulling from the same pool, and the pool is getting more and more focused on things that aren't what schools were made to do. Reading, writing, arithmetic."

On appropriate classroom materials

The debate grows particularly heated when Adams alleges the presence of inappropriate materials in school libraries.

"There's pornography in the schools and that is a terrible distraction and that's got to stop," Adams claims.

Baker firmly denies this assertion. "Pornography in schools. Not true. All of our books are sent to the state, approved. Any parent can deny any child from reading any book. The parents are in control of who reads what books."

Their vision for Stillwater's public schools

Looking to the future, Baker envisions implementing an early college high school model that would connect students to local higher education institutions.

"I'd love for every graduate in Stillwater to finish with an associate's degree or progress towards the ability to finish college," Baker said. "Credit in high school is a proven research-backed method. If you can be successful in a college course in high school, it ups your earning potential for the rest of your life."

Adams emphasizes the need to focus on foundational skills. "At fourth grade many students cannot read. So it's got to start at the lower levels. You've got to find out, get in with the teachers and find out what's lacking, what are they lacking, what do they need?"

In his closing statement, Baker warns that electing someone without direct experience in the education system could be "incredibly damaging" when the district brings in a new superintendent.

Adams concludes by emphasizing his campaign themes of "truth and transparency," stating he is "here for the kids."

The school board election is scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Learn more about upcoming elections at votepaynecounty.com.

Candidate Websites

📺 Watch the Candidate Forum on the Stillwater Frontier Rotary YouTube Channel