Last time I ran for the Hickman Mills School Board, I created a list of three goals I wanted to focus on for my term. I thought you'd like to know how I did; I summarize my results below.

 

No Empty Words 

 

If there's one thing I want you to remember it's this: my campaign promises aren't empty words. I kept my promises from last election and will keep my promises for this term. My commitment to you is to deliver what's promised ...  and I expect to be held accountable!

 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

 

Here's what I wrote three years ago:

 

A school board cannot be run by people who show up once a month at board meetings and then call it a day. It takes time and dedication. It takes really listening to people and working hard to solve the issues that affect our community. I’ll work with the school administrators and the teachers. I’ll work with the parents and their kids. I’ll be there at the PTSA meetings. I’m not afraid to say that I alone do not have all the answers but if there’s someone out there with a great new idea or a concern, I’ll always have the time to listen to him or her and work together to solve it.

If elected, I promise to hold an open forum once a month at a local business. It will be a place where we can discuss what’s happening in the district and, most importantly, an opportunity for you to speak about issues that concern you in a receptive environment.

 

For three years, I've been the PTA representative to the school board. I attend their meetings, listen to the concerns of each of the schools, and relay that information to my fellow board members. The PTA selects who they wish to have as the board representative and they've wanted me for each year I've been on the board. I hope to continue this relationship into the next term.

 

In addition, I have a newsletter that I send out on a monthly basis and hold a meeting at a local coffee shop just as often. If you'd like to get on my e-mail list to read my newsletters, please click the orange link in the top right of the screen. Those that contact me know that I'm always accessable and available to meet and discuss whatever you want to talk about with regards to Hickman Mills. Click on "My Goals" tab to learn more about my goals for this term. 

 

 

TEST SCORES

 

Here's what I wrote three years ago:

 

Hickman Mills has failed to meet its state mandated communications and mathematics scores for eight straight years. This isn’t just an issue about accreditation or state and federal funding. This is about the kids in our district and their parents who put their trust in us. We are failing them and it’s time to change the direction we’re headed. 

Too many times, we rush ahead and try to fix a problem before we really even understand what the problem is and whether our actions will fix anything. By evaluating, understanding and then implementing, I believe we’ll finally bring up standardized test scores across the board.

 

 

My work on the school board has always been geared towards improving academics. Test goals continue to be a great concern for Hickman Mills. Click the "My Goals" tab to more about my plans for the next three years. 

 

 

BUDGET

 

Here's what I wrote three years ago:

 

 

Conservative estimates put the 2011 budget at a four million dollar deficit. Hard choices will need to be made about what to do. Some may go in with the mentality of “what can we cut?” Others just see the budget as too big a problem to even tackle. But hacking away or ignoring the problem will not produce meaningful long-term change. I promise to examine Hickman Mills’ balance sheet line by line to find creative solutions towards these seemingly unbeatable hurdles.

 

 

When I came on the board in 2011, we were facing some tough decisions. We let go 47 teachers in the budget approval process. Our reserves were at 5% and we were under threat of a state takeover if it dipped to below 3%. Teachers hadn't gotten a raise in 4 years.

 

Now, three years later, it's a completely turned around financial outlook. Through judicious cutting of unncessary expenditures and careful spending, this year we expect our reserves to be at 22%. Teachers and staff members alike have gotten a percentage raise as well as a step increase. 

 

We are finally getting to the point where we can start investing heavily in things like teacher retention programs, new technology for the classroom, and several other things I want to make priorities in my upcoming term. Click on the "MY GOALS" tab to find out more.