Position sought: Darlington School Board
Age: I am 50 years old.
City/town of residence: I live at 18741 Hwy 81 Darlington WI 53530
Family: Husband, Tony. Children, Shawn, 32; Dominic, 31; Mindy, 29; Courtney, 24; Chasity, 10; Marissa, 9; Devan, 8. We have had over 20 foster children and we are currently hosting two exchange students.
Education: I received my education through Darlington Schools and graduated in 1981. I attended Capri Cosmetology College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1993 and received my technical degree in barbering and cosmetology in 1994. I continue to be educated through the Foster Care System on the needs of all children.
Occupation: I have owned and operate a hair and nail salon in my home for the past 12 years called Donna Jean's Salon, but have been in the industry for the past 18 years.
Previous elected positions held: I was seated as a parent representative for the Head Start Policy Council in October 2008 and I served on the financial committee. Also at that time I was nominated by my peers to sit on the SWCAP Board of Directors. For the past three years, I have sat on the Darlington School Board of Education. I have been on many committees within the board. I served on finance, food service, trust and agency and technology for the first two years. In this past year, the committees I am on are building and grounds, policy book, scholarship, long range planning and curriculum.
What are the top issues facing this district and how would you work to resolve them?
BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET. We have had increases in the cost of living, transportation, heating etc., but we continue to receive less state aid and with the declining enrollment, we have had and will continue to have challenges in balancing the budget. We have been and will continue be very frugal with our expenditures. I would like to see what can do to look for more grant money that is available to help alleviate some of the deficit.
What are other key issues facing the district, and how would you work to resolve them?
The other issue that faces the district is our State Superintendent Tony Evers Agenda 2017. In this agenda, he has set forth goals to achieve by 2017. He would like to see an increase graduation rate from 85.7 percent to 92 percent and increase career and college readiness from 32 percent to 67 percent. Along with other goals he has set forth, there are areas that he would like to focus on, with one being the Common Core standards with the biggist area being School Finance Reform.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I am the best candidate for the position as a board member of Darlington schools because I have been on the board for the past three years. I know what challenges we are facing. I have been very involved with making sure all the children are getting everything that they need to thrive, and keeping our campus's safe for our children. I also have been a foster parent for the past nine years, which has helped me see the needs of our youth.
I am running for re-election because I have a passion for our future. Our future is our children. And without our teachers giving our children everything they need, we have no future. I am going to work hard with the funding that we have to keep the future going.
Age: I am 50 years old.
City/town of residence: I live at 18741 Hwy 81 Darlington WI 53530
Family: Husband, Tony. Children, Shawn, 32; Dominic, 31; Mindy, 29; Courtney, 24; Chasity, 10; Marissa, 9; Devan, 8. We have had over 20 foster children and we are currently hosting two exchange students.
Education: I received my education through Darlington Schools and graduated in 1981. I attended Capri Cosmetology College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1993 and received my technical degree in barbering and cosmetology in 1994. I continue to be educated through the Foster Care System on the needs of all children.
Occupation: I have owned and operate a hair and nail salon in my home for the past 12 years called Donna Jean's Salon, but have been in the industry for the past 18 years.
Previous elected positions held: I was seated as a parent representative for the Head Start Policy Council in October 2008 and I served on the financial committee. Also at that time I was nominated by my peers to sit on the SWCAP Board of Directors. For the past three years, I have sat on the Darlington School Board of Education. I have been on many committees within the board. I served on finance, food service, trust and agency and technology for the first two years. In this past year, the committees I am on are building and grounds, policy book, scholarship, long range planning and curriculum.
What are the top issues facing this district and how would you work to resolve them?
BUDGET, BUDGET, BUDGET. We have had increases in the cost of living, transportation, heating etc., but we continue to receive less state aid and with the declining enrollment, we have had and will continue to have challenges in balancing the budget. We have been and will continue be very frugal with our expenditures. I would like to see what can do to look for more grant money that is available to help alleviate some of the deficit.
What are other key issues facing the district, and how would you work to resolve them?
The other issue that faces the district is our State Superintendent Tony Evers Agenda 2017. In this agenda, he has set forth goals to achieve by 2017. He would like to see an increase graduation rate from 85.7 percent to 92 percent and increase career and college readiness from 32 percent to 67 percent. Along with other goals he has set forth, there are areas that he would like to focus on, with one being the Common Core standards with the biggist area being School Finance Reform.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I am the best candidate for the position as a board member of Darlington schools because I have been on the board for the past three years. I know what challenges we are facing. I have been very involved with making sure all the children are getting everything that they need to thrive, and keeping our campus's safe for our children. I also have been a foster parent for the past nine years, which has helped me see the needs of our youth.
I am running for re-election because I have a passion for our future. Our future is our children. And without our teachers giving our children everything they need, we have no future. I am going to work hard with the funding that we have to keep the future going.