Who is Bill Fountain, 2023 candidate for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board?
Name: Bill Fountain
Age as of Nov. 7, 2023: 65+
Campaign website: electbillfountain.com
Occupation: Retired
Education: Teacher’s license from University of North Carolina Charlotte; master’s degree in business management and supervision from Central Michigan University; bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Mississippi State University; Military Service schools: Industial War College, Command and Staff College, Squadron Officer School, and USAF Fighter Weapons and Tactics School.
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held)
Yes, CMS School Board District 1 in 2022.
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
Volunteer pilot for North Carolina’s Civil Air Patrol, American Legion, Speaker at 9/11 Flags of Remembrance, regular speaker at CMS school board meetings
What are your ideas for improving student performance if elected to the CMS board?
I’m committed to a holistic approach to an education designed for self-reliance and post high school success. My goals: 1. Hold CMS leadership accountable for student performance and transparency. 2. Invigorate the student-teacher-parent relationship to include parental rights and values. 3. Create an environment that values classical education, the child development process, and age-appropriate learning materials. 4. Respect the code of student conduct for safe and productive classrooms while retaining good teachers.
Will you support the $2.5 million bond that will be on the November ballot for school projects? Why or why not?
As of July, CMS still has not spent all of the money from the 2013 and 2017 bonds. County Commissioner Arthur Griffin may have it right in regard to the $2.5 billion bond. We need to fix old buildings and build new ones, but CMS must fully utilize the current facilities and know where shortfalls exist. Taxpayers need to know their money is being used wisely. Given the above and the expected tax increase due to the bond, I do not support the $2.5 billion school bond.
Editor’s note: This answer has been edited for clarity about what remains unspent.
What’s your opinion on school book bans or decisions to limit the audience for particular titles. And how would you approach the problem if a parent brought a book to your attention?
My position is there are three core considerations for age appropriateness curricular and co-curricular materials. These are knowledge of principles of child development and learning, knowledge about each child as an individual, and knowledge about the social and cultural contexts in which each child lives with emphasis on children’s families. Each child is different; most reach developmental milestones and achieve learning readiness at around the same time or age. Much of this is due to neurological and biological maturation and cannot be influenced by pushing a child harder to excel in tasks that he/she is simply not ready for. Regarding classification, categorization and student access control, parental rights should rule. Given the impassioned protests from each side concerning transgender and sexuality, it’s prudent to defer to the parents and keep it out of K-12. My reason for this position is U.S. courts have recognized that becoming a mother or a father creates a duty to care for one’s own child. This duty means that parents have a “fundamental right” to direct the care, upbringing and education of their own children. Parents have a sphere of sovereignty over their children into which the state cannot intrude. The more transgender and sexuality is discussed in the classroom expect more outside pressure from the legislature. As to how to enforce this, I would encourage the superintendent to provide parents with access to their child’s classroom instruction on a noninterference basis. Likewise, CMS students need to be aware of this protocol.
How will you prioritize projects if the bond referendum is approved in November? And how would you approach deciding on major construction needs more broadly?
I would prioritize the renovation projects first, followed by the build on site plans, the new facilities, and last incorporate the magnet changes.
What are your ideas for CMS to foster good relationships with towns and different communities across Mecklenburg County?
The school board and superintendent should offer Charlotte’s city council and the incorporated towns’ councils of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Midland, Mint Hill, Pineville, Stallings and Weddington at least an annual state of the schools in their area. This state of the schools should include demographics, student tests results, absentee data, construction/renovation status, and any known issues to their particular area such as traffic congestion.
What separates you from you opponents and makes you the best choice on November’s ballot?
First, I’m a licensed and experienced middle and high school teacher in North Carolina. I know the challenges of teaching, school administration, and parental concerns for the safety and success of their children. Second, I have proven leadership success as an Air Force Lieutenant Colonel combat fighter pilot and defense planner. Third, I’ve demonstrated teamwork expertise as a programs and marketing manager in a Fortune 101 corporation. Fourth, for the past 15 years, I’ve focused on helping children as a teacher, volunteer pilot, and monitoring CMS. I’m committed to working with the CMS Board of Education, administrators, experts, parents, students, and decision makers to ensure an education curriculum designed for self-reliance, post high school success, and a safe learning environment. My leadership and teamwork experience, whether in combat, peacetime, or in a competitive business environment, bodes well for helping our students succeed.
