VICKI GANDEE FOR GMSD
Strengthening Parental Partnerships
When we first started GMSD, our Mission Statement was "Local Control". That concept meant parents were part of the student's educational experience. As a school board member, I will continue to actively listen to parent concerns. Parents have expressed concerns to me about overuse of technology and too much testing, to name a few. We must continue to re-examine our methods and change course when needed to work with parents to achieve a well balanced education for all students.
Academic Success For All Students
State laws, mandates, and district policies control a significant amount of classroom learning. Also, we are still dealing with collateral damage from the pandemic. Board members must be diligent in determining whether programs/curriculum have a proven track record for improving student performance before adopting these programs. GMSD has been working diligently to fill the gaps where needed for wherever curriculum deficits have been found. We need to continue to work towards providing all our students with the best possible instruction.
My focus is on all student's academic successes and preparing all our kids for college, trade schools, community colleges and the work force. A four year college degree is not for everyone. I would like to see GMSD students be able to explore a variety of paths before choosing a college, ending up with significant student debt, and a degree that may not produce a job to match the investment.
UNFUNDED MANDATES
One of the biggest challenges presently facing our district.
What is an Unfunded Mandate? In the case of GMSD, the state may mandate for our District to add something to our school system, such as a required subject or course, but not provide any funding. This leaves the taxpayers and the school board with the bill on paying for whatever is needed to meet the law's requirements.
Unfunded Mandates are a long standing issue with public education and funding can be difficult and complicated. Solving this will take a jointed effort from everyone.
Additionally, vouchers threaten to magnify funding challenges for public education if they continue as they are. Ideally, the advocates for vouchers make a legitimate argument if the money is supposed to follow the student. The feared reality is the reduction of funding for public schools and this seem fiscally irresponsible with federal and state mandates existing without funding already. I don't get to vote on vouchers and there is a big push at the state level to expand vouchers. Our governor has said he will have a different budget for a voucher program next year, so we will see. I am continuing conversations with state leaders that I have already built relationships with and will continue to work and make sure our funding is not in jeopardy.
