Biographical Information
Campaign Phone
4174549090
What specific issue or motive inspired you to run for school board of education, and what are your qualifications?
My family is one of the biggest motivator and the other is my love for McDonald County School District Students. Our students are the future!
My children and I graduated from McDonald County and now I have grandchildren in McDonald County Schools.
I retired from McDonald County School District so I have insight of not only graduating from McDonald County but also working in the there.
I now work at McDonald County 911 part-time and I volunteer as a CASA Advocate.
What are your budget priorities to improve the school system?
McDonald County needs to continue to improve salaries and benefits for qualified teachers, to entice new teachers to come to our district and to retain those we have. Our students deserve to have the best teachers we can hire, so a budget priority would be to consider how we can increase the appeal to be here in salaries, benefits, tuition reimbursement.
Having certified teachers is partly how the schools accreditation is determined by the state. This score affects funding percentages for our districts. These funds are used directly for education needs and services. The responsibility of educating and growing the future minds of our students.
As a board member, where would you look to make budget cuts? Are there any areas you would not consider cutting? How would you determine your budget priorities?
As for budget cuts, without seeing first hand where the district is financially, I don't know that cuts are the focus. Rather directing funds appropriately as needed.
How would you balance students’ access to books and literature that some, but not all, parents might find objectionable? Who do you consider responsible for what students are encouraged or allowed to read in school: the teachers, librarians, parents or the students themselves?
What you or I deem as inappropriate may not be inappropriate to others. Anyone can sign up to address the school board and they might organize a committee to review their concerns.
Approximately ten bills teed up in the Missouri General Assembly would allow open enrollment between school districts and/or expand tax-credit scholarships for private schools if passed. What is your position on open enrollment between school districts? What is your position on state sponsored tax-credit scholarships for private schools, children who are home-schooled?
Parents in many states, including Missouri, can now get a state tax deduction for private school tuition.