Longtime Danville District 118 school board member Dr. Randal Ashton says that his experience on the board can help it move forward with decision making by learning from the past.
Ashton, a longtime local dentist who is seeking his fifth term on the board, says that he is committed to making the students, staff and the district as a whole successful. He notes that the board has voted on plenty of different measures over his tenure in office.
“I’d like to make sure that some of the things we started can continue on, and also as we plan for the future, have an idea of what our history was so as we go for the future, we have a better idea of what to plan for and maybe not make some of the mistakes we have done in the past,” he explains.
One of the most pressing questions facing the district in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is when all of the district’s schools will be back to full in-person learning. Ashton has been one of the most vocal supporters of returning to school and has lent his support for going against state guidelines in the fall if restrictions continue. He does say that the district needs to have better communication with parents regarding reopening so that everyone is onboard with the plans.
As for remote learning, Ashton says the concept could prove to be a good option moving forward once the pandemic is long past.
“I think it gives us an invaluable option now,” he says. “I think we’ve learned what works and what doesn’t work. I don’t know if we’ve perfected it, but we’ve come a long way since we started.”
Ashton says he thinks education will actually improve in the post-pandemic world, as there will be plenty of options available for teachers to incorporate into their classroom lessons. He also says the district made great strides in preparing students for college or the workforce, but the gap needs to be closed a little more.
