Why Voters Should Consider My Candidacy

By Marsha Eagles

There are five qualified candidates running for the Board of Education. Presented here are reasons I'd ask voters to consider when choosing where to place their vote.

First, I have several years of business and managerial experience including fiscal and personnel supervision. Board members are asked to make many critical decisions, such as where to invest the district's limited resources and how best to insure the health and welfare of all individuals within the system. The kind of experience I have will count when priorities need to be established. In addition, my years of experience serving on a school site council will also be good preparation for service as a school board member.

I tend to be a very practical person. That's an attribute that I would say I possess in great measure. I believe that schools can't afford to run on anything but good common sense. I would be the type of board member who would carefully deliberate the issues, promote a dialogue with all interested parties, and then encourage straight-forward and timely action.

I have no preconceived notion of what needs "fixing" within the district. Said another way, I have "no agenda." I do have a philosophy however, and that philosophy has to do with promoting what is in the best interests of the students we serve. Besides, the issues facing the district today will not be the same as the ones tomorrow. So I would have to say that I believe it is better for voters in the long run to elect a candidate based upon his/her ability to provide good leadership and sound decision making, and not on his/her stance on a particular issue.

I believe in the principle of "continuous improvement." Therefore, that means that I believe that all things can, and should, be improved upon no matter how effective they may appear to be at the present time. As a Board member, I will always ask, "Why are we doing what we are doing and how could we make it better?" Excellence in education is not a goal, it is more of a journey. As leaders, Board members must encourage continuous growth in students, in staff, and in themselves. We need to continually set/reset goals and regularly monitor our progress in meeting them.

Lastly, I believe in accountability, beginning with the Board of Education and administration, and running through every program and service offered by the district. High standards must be expected of Board members and staff just the same as high standards are expected of students. A high quality, responsive program for students can only be provided when every element of the system works properly and efficently. I would work toward maintaining a high level of integrity and accountability throughout the district.

As a Board member, I will study every issue carefully, I will be open and receptive to varied input, and I will be candid and forthright with my opinions and beliefs. I will work hard to make the best decision possible every time with the information I have at my disposal.

There are five good candidates running for the Board of Education this fall. I am pleased to see so many express an interest in wanting to serve as I am sure all residents of the district are pleased to have a choice. Each candidate would bring a distinctly different set of qualifications to the Board. After examining each of our backgrounds and philosophies, I hope that the voters believe that I am a candidate worthy of being elected to one of the two vacancies now on the Board.

I thank you for taking the time to considering the things I have presented here.