Solutions for Our Schools

My 18 years of advocating in the public school setting, on behalf of my three children whom all have special needs, has given me great insight in to the barriers that directly affect the ability of these systems to provide the equitable and accessible education needed. I have lived a life of service, volunteering to serve as chair, board member, treasurer, president at the Sisterhood of Congregation Beth Israel and Women of Reformed Judaism of Southwest District; I served as an election judge for Austin, Texas general elections. Since moving to Wilmington, I have volunteered to canvass multiple years for candidates, serve as secretary for democratic precinct W33, and the chair for the Spring Carnival Silent Auction at BCES.

The most important responsibilities of a school board member:

1. Create and uphold policies that ensures a safe and accessible learning environment for students and staff.
2. Support and collaborate with the Super Intendent so that blocks in providing that environment can be addressed in informed and effective actions.
3. Create inviting and accessible communications with all of our community members, which included accommodations for parents who have limitations such as extended work hours, travel barriers, and language barriers.
4. Advocate at the local, state and federal levels for the funding and policies needed to support our county's needs so we can provide that free and equitable public education safely to every child in NHC.

Our most critical needs are staffing at every school but especially staffing at our schools with high enrolment of EC children and high Ace scores. Applying for Grants that can fund a security vetting and safety training program that we can quickly and safely process and deploy the rich adult retired community and collage community of volunteers through so that kids can access one on one reading tutoring. Restaffing teacher assistance back but prioritizing the restaffing to the schools that have the highest numbers of EC students first. Funding for a dedicated staff of grant writers who can both be applying for and training community members on how to successfully apply for grants so that we can build that funding source.

Create more effective pathways to allow the creation and deployment of a safe strong volunteer community for the teachers - especially the teachers in the school whom are struggling the most and where the economic barriers prevent parents from providing that volunteer support. We can also incentivize with retention bonuses but more money can not solve desperate burn out. Staffing with realistic teacher to student rations that support success for everyone is a more enticing invitation.

The national studies all show overwhelming long term benefits to students who have access to pre-kindergarten verses peers whom did not have that same access. It is imperative to our community that we provide Pre-Kindergarten to our district.