What Qualifies Me?

I have been asked two questions in increasing frequency lately. 1) What made me decide to run for school board? 2) What makes me qualified to be on the school board?

I considered running back in May when the families of OUST were ignored regarding the school calendar for the 05-06 school year, and reconfirmed my decision after listening to discussions about the budget and the numerous marketing and public relations schemes, while no discussions occurred on how to improve test scores, raise graduate numbers, address student disciplinary problems, get back students who are leaving the district because of concerns about quality of education and safety (per the consulting firm's report).

As far as my qualifications, I am a mother of four children, three who are currently in the district. I would consider myself a significant stakeholder in the schools and the quality of education our children receive. I am also a citizen and taxpayer of Oshkosh. I want to know where our tax dollars are going and if we are getting our money's worth. I have spent the last eight months attending meetings to learn as much as I can without actually being on the board. I am an active member of my children's PSC (PTA) organization and currently representing families of disabled students (my daughter has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism) on Traeger's Site Council. I have a BA in English with a minor in Secondary Education. I am currently working toward my MA in English with minor studies in African American Studies. I served in the Army for six years learning leadership and discipline.

On a personal level, I am from Sheboygan and spent eight years in Manitowoc before moving here to Oshkosh. We could have chosen to live anywhere in the Fix River Valley and consciously chose Oshkosh because of what the city had to offer and the quality of schools we had heard about. I want to make a positive contribution to our community and help our schools become the first choice for all families.

I welcome any other questions anyone may have about me or what I hope to accomplish as a member of OASD's School Board.

Passion Versus Combativeness

This morning I received a call from WOSH requesting if I had time to answer a few questions. First of all, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to answer questions as opposed to the rumor mills "telling it" like they "think" it is. I would like to thank WOSH for taking time out of their busy schedules and invite anyone else who may have questions about my positions on issues or feelings on anything else to do with my campaign to email me at monte06@sbcglobal.net or post on this blog and I'll answer as quickly as I can.

Second, there was one question asked of me that especially peaked my interest. I was asked if I felt I came across as "combative" or angry. I have to confess that I did chuckle a little, but not at the question. I never thought of myself as combative about anything. I do admit that occasionally things are said and done by members of the school board and district that upset me, and those moments of emotion are out there for everyone to see. However, I see myself as very passionate, especially when it comes to my children and their futures. Their futures are dependent upon what they learn in school as well as home, church, and in the greater community. Our future is dependent upon our children. A quality education focused on learning and applying what is learned is of the utmost importance to me. My children's welfares in every facet of their lives is what I am passionate about.

When I think that the opinions of a few outway the needs of the many, I get passionate about correcting the balance in favor of our students. When money is spent on reports to tell us what we have known for years about communication gaps, I get passionate about finding a better and less expensive way to utilize the vast communication resources our district has available but doesn't already use or underuses (ie newspaper, radio, blogs, local cable shows, community news websites, etc). When money seems to be leaking out of our district in the form of $250,000 for marketing and logo and branding schemes, I get passionate about what may be leaking on the heads of our students and teachers every time it rains. I get passionate about spending $250,000 per year on logos and marketing instead of fixing the reasons families choose to educate their children elsewhere in the first place.

I apologize if my passion for my children and all of our children and their futures frightens someone. I am not trying to start a turf war, that happens enough at the current school board's meetings, but I do believe we need a change in our school district for the better. I believe we have a wonderful district, but nothing is perfect. I believe by putting the focus of education back on the students, we can be the best option for any student from anywhere in the area. Our community has so much to offer, particularly great schools trying really hard to teach and comply with various legislations. It is time to set aside politics, personal agendas, union squabbling, and pretty logos and educate, that is what we are truly here to do: every single one of us.

I am passionate and it clearly shows. I won't apologize for working and fighting for what is best for all of our children. I hope other family members and community members become passionate and start attending the school board meetings and tell those elected board members what you want for your children and our future. If you can't, let me know and I'll be your voice.

BTW there is an open forum meeting at the district offices on Eagle Street this Wednesday at 7pm. I hope to see many new faces there.

OASD School Board

It is nearly December 1. By my side is a file folder filled with all the forms I need to file as a candidate for the April 2006 School Board election. Without a doubt those papers will be filed and I will begin collecting signatures on my nomination papers. I look forward to meeting more people in Oshkosh who are interested in supporting our students.

Since I have never been involved in politics, I am not sure what people want or need to know about me or my views regarding the school district. I will start with some basics. I have four children, three currently attending school in Oshkosh Area School District. My husband and I have lived in Oshkosh for the last three years and know what it is like to come into a city and evaluate the schools for our children. I grew up in Sheboygan and lived for several years in Manitowoc. I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from UWGB and am attending UWO for my Master of Arts Degree in English with an additional minor in African American studies. I am employed at UWO part time. I also write short stories for my children and have begun compiling some poetry for submitting. I would like to be a published author someday.

I have been a member of the Traeger Elementary PSC (PTA) for the last two years and Site Council representing parents of disabled children beginning this year. My three older children are students at Traeger, my younger daughter is in the autism program there. My youngest son is in St. Francis Cabrini's four-year-old Kindergarten Enrichment Program and looks forward to going to his big brother's school next year.

I got involved in school board issues last year during the calendar controversy. I do not feel the voices/signatures of six hundred people should be ignored in favor of less than a half dozen emails and phone calls. I have since attended more than 80% of the school board meetings taking extensive notes. Those notes were published on Eye on Oshkosh and Oshkosh News to help spread the word about what is going on in those meetings for those unable to attend. Though I have been attending meetings recently and taking notes, I have not had the time to transcribe them and post them. My schedule is calming down as I readjust to Higher Education, and I will be able to begin posting again. I am a firm believer in utilizing every available venue for communicating with the citizens of Oshkosh who support the school district.

Some of the issues I am interested in (in no particular order) are keeping our students the most important part of the district; allowing for collaboration time for teachers while accomodating the needs of the students and their families; creating an efficient budget that maximizes current district resources, while minimizing tax burdens on the taxpayers; and creating effective communication within the district, between the district and families, and district and citizens of Oshkosh.

Right now I am concerned that some personal agendas of individual board members are taking priority over the needs of the district. While I think we have a wonderful school district and my children are very lucky to be a part of it, I am worried about lagging test scores in the middle and high schools. I am very afraid that children are being lost in the cracks. I am also concerned that parents are being left out of important district decisions. Every citizen in Oshkosh benefits from quality education.

I welcome anyone to post questions for me on this site. I must warn though, any posts that contain profanity or inappropriate comments will be deleted. I will try to answer posts as quickly as possible.

Happy Holidays!!!