"What Are Your Priorities?

Perhaps the most important question people may have is just what issues I am running on. As I told people when I was first seeking petition signatures to get on the ballot, I think it is important to note that I am not running because I am a single issue candidate. I did not come up with this idea simply because I became upset about something in the last year or two. Being a board member has been on my radar for years. I think SLCS does an overall amazing job and I want to see that continue. There are, however a few issues I feel are important to help South Lyon Schools to grow as a leader in education.

Helping schools grow as the community grows

We all know that growth in the South Lyon community is something that has been happening for years and will continue to occur. I've seen many families proudly share how long they have been a part of this community. Others are just moving here from places near and far. I believe it is important to embrace this growth and change by engaging with everyone. It is important that everyone in the SLCS community has a voice - whether their family has lived here for generations, or whether they just built here this year. By acknowledging that our community is growing, and seeking ways to use this to our students' advantage, we can make South Lyon even better than it is today. I will do all I can to connect and work with all families throughout SLCS.

As the community grows, it is important that we secure every penny for our students that we can. Many don't know that the state per-pupil funding is not the same from district to district. State school funding has a long and complicated history. I won't bore you with the details, but there are some important things to consider. For example, South Lyon Schools receives $8,700 per student. Neighboring Novi Schools receive $8.948. Farmington receives $10,353 per student while Bloomfield Hills, also in Oakland County, was able to secure $12,517 per student in state funding. It is only fair that our schools have as many resources as possible to work with as the district grows and serves an increasingly diverse community. I will work to find ways to ensure that our students have access to state resources which are allocated fairly, and not according to how far down 10 Mile their address is. This includes partnering with state leaders to make school funding equitable.

Fostering a safe, inclusive environment

As a law enforcement professional for over 20 years, safety means a lot to me. I have seen what it takes to keep a community safe; it takes the partnership of all stakeholders working together to identify and predict possible threats while working to mitigate them through policy and practice. As a board member, I will work to help the administration develop and improve policies which keep students and staff safe every day. The second half of that job is finding creative ways to fund safety initiatives without needlessly taking away from educational funds. I will work to strike a balance between creating an environment which fuels growth and learning and one which is also safe for all involved. 

While we often see physical safety at school discussed in the news, it is just as important that we focus on the emotional and mental factors that help students and staff feel safe each day. Students should come to school each day in the proper mindset, ready to learn from staff who are emotionally prepared to educate. I will work to make sure that mental health is an area of focus so that the entire learning community is best situated for success. This includes ensuring that all feel welcome and included as South Lyon continues to grow and diversify. Our schools cannot be a successful team if some feel like they are pushed to the sidelines. 

While these are only a few of my concerns, they are some of the issues which most compel me to seek a spot on the SLCS Board of Education. I welcome questions or feedback. You can comment below or email me at [email protected]. In the mean time, I hope you will share my name and why I am running with your friends and neighbors throughout South Lyon. Most importantly, I would love your vote on November 8th.