Make Certain You Know The Candidates for This Office

By Elizabeth Dorn "Liz" Parker

Although a rather unknown office, the Orange County Board of Education is critical to the success of the local school districts.

In addition we operate our own schools for those students who are homeless, in foster youth, in the Juvenile Justice system, most likely to drop out and 'hard core' truants. And we operate schools for those special education students that are the most challenging and most expensive to implement their personal educational plans, and we are the agency to oversee the County-Wide Academy Charter.

I have the passion and expertise to ensure these services and our schools are well run, even for those students that seem to have no-one who cares about their future.

In addition, I attended and graduated from Orange County Public Schools as did my own children. Those who run for this office should have this same passion and experience with the public school system. They should understand the complexities of the services we provide and the students we serve in our own schools.

Someone who is looking to simply hold an elected seat without true interest in our public schools does not deserve your vote. Make certain the candidate has at least attended a school board meeting BEFORE they took out papers to run for office.