I’m not presuming to come in with prepackaged solutions. It’s not helpful for each board member to have their own individual platform or for candidates to make grandstanding promises to get elected when, on their own, they won’t have the authority needed to deliver on them. The school board and superintendent are an eight-person team that operates by consensus. I have no delusions of grandeur.
I’m learning more about the district from as many knowledgeable sources as I can. Among the key issues facing the Board of Education are:
- Transparency and community trust. Information wants to be free.
- Equity. Students at some schools in the district have access to a lot of resources; others don’t.
- Financial sustainability. A $35 million operating budget deficit is forecast for 2024-25. The cost of maintaining the district’s school buildings is estimated to reach $1.8 billion by 2044.
- Spending oversight. The internal audit revealed issues with unauthorized salary offers, credit card charges, expense reimbursements, and consulting agreements. The forthcoming state audit will likely reveal more.
- Declining enrollment. The city’s population also continues to decline.
- Transportation. The fiasco this year directly affected thousands of families, especially our most vulnerable ones.
- Teacher recruitment and retention. Hire good teachers, pay them well, and let them teach.