Pay To Play

Last month, the Hazel Park Board of Education approved a Pay to Play Structure for the district. Under the new structure, each child will be charged 50.00 per sport they desire to play. However, I have not heard about any scholarship or financial assistance under the plan.

I would like to see a scholarship established for those families who demonstrate the greatest financial need. It is unsettling to me to think that a child will be denied the opportunity to participate as a result of financial status. I will be suggesting that the current Board of Education considers establishing a “Pay to Play Scholarship Program”. I personally am willing to contribute financially and volunteer my time to help establish the program so that every child in Hazel Park has the opportunity to participate.

LONG TERM SOLUTIONS NOT SORT TERM FIXES

It's difficult to provide leadership and carry out a vision when a district lurches from crisis to crisis, like a ship without a rudder. As a member of the Board of Education I will work to ensure the long term economic stability of the district. The only way to do this is to have a long term, 3,4,5, and 10 year plane for economic stability.

Moving from short term fix to short term fix without doing the work necessary to develop a long term plan will lead to short sighted decisions that neglect the larger, long term health of the district.

Support The Classroom

One of the reasons my family bought our current home and the primary reason for choosing to remain in Hazel Park is the influence teachers have had on our two children. It's amazing how quickly we forget important people, the winner of the Nobel Peace Price, the starting quarterback for the Super Bowl Champions... but almost all of us can remember at least one of our teachers from school. They are the ones who invest themselves, not only in our education but also in our lives.

Education does not take place in the boardroom; it takes place in the classroom. As a member of the Board of Education I will use the boardroom to help support what goes on in the classroom.