Let me describe the characteristics of an effective board-of-education member.
An effective board member serves as the eyes, ears, and voice of the public regarding the activities of the District’s administration, staff, faculty, and students. An effective board member should have knowledge, experience, and skills that help him or her understand and guide decisions regarding human resources, finances, curriculum, facilities, and operations. No board member can know a priori all matters of the District but should be expected to immerse him or herself in matters as they arise. An effective board member is one who seeks information, educates him or herself to make well informed decisions, ask questions, be willing to illuminate problems as needed, and be willing to find common ground whenever possible but also be willing to disagree with others when warranted, albeit in a respectful civil manner. A board member should not be beholden to any special-interest group. The Board will collectively be most effective when composed of individual members who have diverse experiences, knowledge, and expertise that complement each other when addressing district issues. I believe my experiences in higher education and industry have given me knowledge and skills that will prove beneficial to the Lindbergh Schools District.
Now to address two sentiments spoken to me numerous times that explicitly or implicitly imply that I should not being running for a position on the Board. Let me address each.
REASON #1 – YOU HAVE NOT VOLUNTEERED IN THE LINDBERGH DISTRICT: It is true I have not volunteered in the District, though I have volunteered in all the schools attended by my children. How many of the District’s administrative staff have a history of volunteerism prior to their hire? For instance, was Dr. Lake, the current superintendent of the District, hired in 2018 because of his history of volunteerism in Lindbergh schools? I doubt it since he lived in Overland, Kansas, prior to being hired by Lindbergh. Was he disqualified? Of course not. The Board hired Dr. Lake I presume because of his decades of experience, his knowledge of education, and his management skills, all of which would benefit the District. Should not a board member be “hired” who could bring unique expertise, skills, and fresh ideas to the table?
REASON #2 – MY CHILDREN ARE NOT ENROLLED IN LINDBERGH SCHOOLS: I believe I understand the underlying sentiment of people when making this statement – only parents of Lindbergh students can have the purest motives, best intentions, and focused interests of the students. Outsiders’ motives, intentions, and interests are inherently suspect. I get it, especially in today’s charged political and social climate. I have expressed my primary motivation to run for board member in a post from February 1st that is on both my website and Facebook page and starts with “I am concerned….” I refer you to that post. Realize, however, what this message communicates to 16,000 households in the District: If your children are not enrolled in Lindbergh schools, then you have no place on the school Board. Pay your taxes (my wife and I have paid over $50,000 since 2004) but you have no say on how the District manages your tax dollars or how the District educates children. Sixteen thousand households in the District do not have children enrolled in Lindbergh school. Who represents these 16,000 households on the Board of Education? Who represents the concerns of retired citizens who are feeling the financial pinch of rising inflation and taxes on their retirement nest egg? Who represents families in the District who have chosen to home school, send their children to parochial or private schools? I am a member of these groups and will represent them on the Board if elected.