10-25-2025 5:37pm

Todd Rump Spotsylvania School Board Lee Hill District

John L Williams Editor

1. Why are you running?

Answer: Ultimately, it’s about public service and wanting to make a positive impact on the community. There were two strong motivating factors for getting into this race. First, my time spent supporting students and working with educators as a Spotsylvania County Public Schools social worker. Second, my understanding of the significant impact that School Board dysfunction has played in depriving students of receiving the best education possible.

2. What are the top three issues you want to address in office?

Answer:

1. Competitive Teacher and Staff Pay: I believe that our teachers and staff are the cornerstone of Spotsylvania County Public Schools, and it's time we ensure they are recognized for the vital role they play. By offering competitive pay, we can attract and retain the talented educators who are committed to the success of our students. Providing fair compensation will help us maintain a stable, skilled workforce and create an environment where teachers and staff feel valued and supported.

2. Accountability and Transparency: Accountability and transparency must be priorities for our school system. In recent years, public trust has been undermined, and we need to take concrete steps to restore it. By improving our hiring processes and making sure they are thorough and transparent, we can ensure that we have highly qualified educators and staff who are fully committed to the safety and success of our students.

3. Back to the Basics: We must focus on the fundamentals. Core subjects like reading, writing, math, and science are essential to our students' success, both here and in the world beyond. While supporting the whole child is important, we need to make sure every student has a solid academic foundation.

4. What is the number 1 issue on the minds of voters in Spotsylvania County?

Answer: As I’ve been knocking on doors, I have been surprised how many voters are less interested in the School Board race. Most voters are aware to varying degrees the recent chaos that has defined the School Board over the past few years, which remains a significant community concern. I have also been surprised with the level of support for part of my platform to place greater emphasis on raising proficiencies in core subjects like reading, writing, math, and science.

5. What problems are you noticing in the county due to the Federal Government Shutdown?

Answer: As a federal worker, I feel it best not to publicly comment on the current shutdown.

6. How should we improve education in County?

Answer: The School Board needs to take a more proactive, public approach to evaluating the academic progress of our schools. This will often highlight positive trends that could potentially be scaled up across the division. For example, the recent focus at Parkside Elementary led to significant improvements in their science proficiency scores. I don’t see this kind of scrutiny as micro-managing the School Division; rather, it’s the School Board’s responsibility to ensure that schools are meeting their goals. If they’re not, accountability ultimately falls on the Board. When results aren’t trending in the right direction, it’s the Board’s duty to ask tough questions, closely scrutinize the data, and direct the Superintendent to develop new initiatives to address these challenges. Spotsylvania’s SOL scores have remained relatively stagnant over the years, averaging near the state norm. We should not be content with "average." We need to push our talented educators and students to believe in their potential to rise above it.

7. How can the County and or the State improve Mental Health Services?

Answer: I believe this is a question more suitable for the Board of Supervisors.

8. How can we improve funding for Special Education and English Language Learners?

Answer: I don’t believe this issue can be solved solely at the local level. It requires School Board members to actively advocate and lobby the Board of Supervisors, as well as state and federal officials, about the consequences of failing to adequately fund these needs. Special education and English language learners require more intensive instruction, which in turn necessitates more teachers and paraeducators to help these students reach their full potential. Failing to provide these services – especially those outlined in a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) – could have serious consequences for both Spotsylvania Schools and the county as a whole. This is why advocating for these critical services will be a priority for me. I will seek collaboration with elected officials who have the power and influence to ensure that, as our special needs and English language learner populations grow, the investments in these students grow as well, so we can provide the support they need to succeed.

8. What can we as a County do to create affordable housing for our Teachers, Police, Firefighters, first responders, and health care workers?

Answer: I believe this is a question more suitable for the Board of Supervisors.

9. Is there anything else the voters should know about you?

Answer: Over the past 10 years, I have had the privilege of being elected to lead five different local boards. In each of these roles, I provided strategic direction, oversight, and ensured accountability. These experiences have not only sharpened my leadership skills but also taught me how to collaborate effectively with others. My ability to work with a diverse group of people is evident in the trust my peers have placed in me by electing me to lead these teams. While being a strong advocate for students and educators is essential, it’s equally important for School Board members to have executive-level skills. This way, they can start making a positive impact from day one, rather than needing to learn on the job.