Candidate questionnaire: Daneke` Murphy

NAME: Deneke' Murphy

AGE: 41

PLACE OF BIRTH: Sikeston, Missouri

SPOUSE, CHILDREN'S NAMES:

Ken Murphy (spouse);

Morgan Murphy (daughter - 9th grade);

Connor Murphy (daughter - 7th grade);

Brady Murphy (son - 4th grade)

OCCUPATION:

Director of Children's Ministries

EMPLOYER:

Centenary United Methodist Church

BUSINESS OWNED, ALL OR PART:

n/a

PREVIOUS OFFICES HELD OR SOUGHT:

2 years - Vice President, Alma Schrader PTA;

6 years - President, Alma Schrader PTA;

3 years - Vice-President, Central Middle School PTO;

3 years - Secretary, Central Junior High Athletic Booster Club

WHY DID YOU VOTE FOR/AGAINST THE DRESS CODE PROPOSAL?

I voted for the revised dress code proposal that was presented after many changes were made by the School Board. I do not agree that our schools need a uniform, but I am in favor of tightening up our dress code with specific guidelines that can be followed by our students, endorsed by our parents, and enforced by our faculty.

WHAT ACTION WILL YOU TAKE TO HELP REPAIR A HURT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOME PARENTS AND THE SCHOOLS CAUSED BY THE DRESS CODE ISSUE?

I will continue to encourage the parents in our district to voice their thoughts and affirm to those parents that they are being heard.

THE NUMBER OF CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GOING TO A 4-YEAR UNIVERSITY OR COLLEGE HAS DROPPED BY NEARLY 15 PERCENT SINCE 2008. WHAT CAN A SCHOOL BOARD DO TO ADDRESS THAT?

The School Board needs to practice discernment regarding this issue. All factors need to be considered in what may be causing the number of students to drop - is it the performance of the school or are outside factors affecting the change? Is the percentage that we are seeing just for our district or is it a comparable percentage to other districts nationwide?

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST PRESSING NEED IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The Cape Girardeau Public School District needs to embrace change. This can be done by practicing a progressive approach to implementing changes, as opposed to black and white lines drawn. We need to consider all options and include the thoughts and concerns of all students and parents so that they are on board when change is being considered. If we don't have the endorsement of our parents and students, it will be much more difficult for them to embrace new ideas and policies that go into effect.