One of the most important job interviews for Richmond Public Schools School Board candidates took place at Third Street Bethel Church on last Thursday. The Richmond Crusade for Voters hosted the candidates forum, which included 11 of the 16 persons running for office.

Each candidate had segments of “yes” or “no” questions, and open-ended questions timing around 30 seconds to a minute to respond on their initiatives and priorities for RPS if elected. The forum was moderated by 12 On Your Side political reporter, Henry Graff.

The candidates found common ground early on, with all of them supporting restricting cell phone use in classrooms, as the Virginia Department of Education released new guidelines on cell phone-free classrooms on the same day. However, opinions were mixed on implementing school uniforms.

The panel included several candidates: incumbent Mariah White (2nd District) and her opponent, former history educator Kathryn “Katie” Ricard; 3rd District (North Side) candidate and senior policy analyst Ali Faruk; opposing 3rd District candidates Kevin Starlings and Charlene Riley; incumbent Stephanie Rizzie (5th district, Central); 8th District (South Side) candidate and Richmond City Police Chaplain Patrick Sherman; incumbent Garrett Sawyer (4th District, South Side) and his opponent, social studies teacher Wesley Hedgepeth; and incumbent Shonda Harris-Muhammed (6th District, Gateway).

Candidates running unopposed in this year’s upcoming election include Matthew Pervical (1st District, West End), incumbent Shavonda Dixon (9th District, South Central), Sherman, and Harris-Muhammed.

The following School Board candidates were not present at the forum: Pervical, Angela Fontaine (4th district), Mamie Taylor (5th District), incumbent Cheryl Burke (7th District), and Dixon.

Discussions then began to form heavily around positive behavior interventions and decriminalizing students, with the majority of School Board candidates supporting in-school suspension for elementary school students.

Riley, who is a mental health advocate for students, said she is for in-school suspension, as long as the suspension comes with mental health resources.

“I would support in-school suspension for elementary schools only if the in-school suspension is going to pair with licensed clinical psychologists or therapists,” she said. “Besides holding them in the room all day, at the elementary level, you would need access to mental health services or some sort of resource besides in-school suspension.”

Sterling opposed in-school suspensions, stating mental support services should be provided.

“It’s really important that we provide [students] with wraparound services and also the support services when it comes to mental behaviors to try to really understand the root causes of that child’s behaviors,” the 3rd District candidate said.

Candidates also were asked for recommendations on how to improve literacy rates among third through seventh graders.

Harris-Muhammad said students should be given books they should enjoy reading.

“Allow the students to choose materials that they enjoy reading. Can we start there first?” she asked.

Towards the end of the forum, Graff asked the candidates to give a grade from “A” to “F” of RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras. Most of the candidates hesitated to raise their hand. Both Ricard and Faruk gave Kamras a “B,” Hedgepeth raised his hand for a “C” and Sherman raised his hand to a “D.”

None of the candidates raised their hands for grades “A” or “F.”

The next School Board candidate forum for 3rd District candidates only will be held at the gymnasium of Linwood Holton Elementary School on Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. This will coincide along with a forum for 3rd District City Council candidates.