I believe I have a skill set and experience that would bring a unique voice to our Board. In my day to day job as an attorney my field of practice consists of family, juvenile, and criminal law. My clients are virtually all low-income, and my experience with families and children who are in state custody gives me a unique insight into the struggles of our most at risk kids. I will be an advocate for our families, our employees, and a voice for a quality education for all of our children no matter their needs or circumstance.

Budget priorities are likely going to change dependent on whether or not the bond question is passed by voters. Assuming it is passed, my first priority is to insure that money is spent wisely, transparently, and effectively on the uses it was advertised for. I will be keen to review the budget overall as it relates to school security and related improvements, as that is an issue I am deeply passionate about. The greatest priority is investing our school dollars into the classroom in a manner that translates into student success. Additionally, we need to insure our salaries and benefits for our employees are competitive enough to induce them and their families to stay in Empora and grow with our community.

In brief, school security and safety should be at the forefront of our focus(in particular if the bond passes and buildings are redesigned), considering the rising tide of mass violence across our country. Some of our schools have secure entries with locking mechanisms and a buzzing system, and I’d like to eventually see something similar in all of our buildings. If the bond question passes then we need to take fiscal responsibility seriously as those taxpayer dollars are allocated for school improvements. In short, we need to support our faculty, retain our good employees and teachers, and insure every child in Emporia has access to an education no matter need, circumstance, or what struggles may face them or their family.

I’m a life-long resident of the Emporia area and a former graduate of USD253 schools. My wife has taught for the district for many years and I currently have 3 children in two different schools in the district. This gives me a somewhat unique insight into the inner workings of the school system from both a student's and a teacher's perspective.

I believe a local education budget must be a careful balance between wise spending as well as providing the district with the tools to give our children the best education possible. I believe the current board is doing a good job of this and I home my unique perspective will contribute to that continued effort.

I believe the proposed bond does a very good job of addressing and detailing the highest priorities of the district moving forward. Even if the bond fails to pass in November, the priorities largely remain the same. We need to improve building security and safety, address space issues, and address aging infrastructure.