I have been a board member for four years, two of those as president and leader. We have been through some of the greatest challenges to our education system in a lifetime. The work is not done, as we open our schools full time with lunch (safely) we will have to work through what our virtual options will look like going forward. This will take strength, experience and demonstrated leadership to maximize our best educational solutions. 

These COVID times have challenged every person in and around the school environment. I am proud of our accomplishments with opening for in-person learning. As president of the board I led a collaborative process working through obstacles to the educational environment such as: Staff vaccinations, COVID testing, stipends, sick days, work flexibility for “at risk” employees, childcare flexibility, enhanced cleaning procedures, special education, and, hybrid learning procedures. Listening as a leader while also being proactive, I have assisted in making RB a true frontrunner within the current COVID educational models. 

One of my major concerns throughout the pandemic has been the academic and mental health needs of our children. Therefore, I have been focused on in-person learning and the intricate process of getting this back on track for our most in need children within our community. We worked with the Special Education department to bring students back to school in August and these students have been in school five days a week for the entire 20-21 school year. Currently RB is open in a hybrid (50% student attendance) format, we have space available for additional children due to a modest turnout rate. We have opened additional days for low performing students and children with IEPs. Currently the administration and staff our working on an option to allow any student in the district the choice to attend four days of in-person learning. I do not believe any person or community could have prepared for a similar worldwide health pandemic; however I believe the district has done a great historical job of building and preparing our district financial situation so that we were able to react quickly to the needs and demands of our students and staff. Furthermore, we were able to make our school safe through enhanced cleaning, personal barriers, increased HVAC airflow, and were one of the first district to have 100% COVID testing available to our staff. Currently we are on track to have the entire teaching and support staff 100% vaccinated by April 1st. 

Equity is each of us getting what we need to survive or succeed to our full potential, access to opportunity, networks, resources, and support without any bias or favoritism. Education is the best antidote to prejudice and discrimination. There is no better way to challenge our own assumptions and come to appreciate cultural differences than to live and learn together with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. At RB we strive to value character as well as intellect. It commits us to helping students develop their capacities to think freely, critically, and humanely, and to conduct themselves with honor, integrity, and civility. This year we are committed to having open discussions as it pertains to the equity question, led by our principle Dr. Freytas. Discussions around rebranding the second week in October holiday currently known as Columbus Day have already begun.

I have been on the financial advisory board for past four years and we have been committed to living within our means. District 208 is coming into some difficult financial years, particularly due to the COVID pandemic. We are projecting deficit spending for the next five years. I believe our fund balance is strong enough to get us through this downturn. In the short term the population of the students is decreasing per our projections and feeder enrollment. Our focus must be on the students in most need of education. I would like us to invest in the Freshman on track program over the next couple of years. 

1. Budget: This is one of the major challenges for District 208, especially with COVID related expenditures. We are projected to have deficits for the next five years affecting our fund balance/reserves. The board will need to look to the future for financial stability and prepare for needed growth.

2. Preparedness: The loss of education for our students is staggering. As a board, we need to prepare our future students to increase their studies and make up for lost opportunities due to the virtual COVID response. Our middle school children will not be as prepared in the coming years as those students in a pre-COVID scenario. Balancing the needs of the students, teachers, and taxpayers’ will be instrumental in the next year. I have and will continue to work with the administration and RBEA in a productive way to increase the knowledge and learning environment for the students with greatest need.

3. College/Career path: Almost 40% of our students attend 2-year community/trade school or join the work force after graduation. I would like us to evaluate the means we are preparing these students for productive career choices. I have been working with local union education funds to prepare our students in the same manner as we do for college acceptance to the many apprentice opportunities available locally. With the incredible cost of post-secondary education, I would like us to track how many students complete their education with a diploma and a job in their related fields, not just a mountain of debt.