Retired educator and school superintendent Gary Jones is a candidate for the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education District 5.
Jones says he doesn't see Common Core being a part of the future of education in Louisiana. "I think Common Core is dead on arrival. None of the major gubernatorial candidates have voiced strong support of the standards. I don't favor Common Core, I do favor higher academic standards."
He feels a greater issue to address is the resources for local school districts. Jones cites the current state budget issue and that public education should be looking at ways to address the financial pinch.
Jones also points to the weighting of teacher evaluations and supports developing another plan for those assessments.