Melissa tackles the tough topics

Budget

I cannot emphasize enough that it is the responsibility of our board to make future-focused financial decisions. For me, this isn't only about responsibility, it's about value. The value we deliver to our students through academic excellence, the value we contribute to our community by maintaining safe, vibrant neighborhoods and the value we protect in our own property investments. I would be a board member that didn't just talk about these issues but delivered on vision and solutions. I would speak with constituents and local businesses to invest in our schools. I agree we all have a part to play but there are resources available too we can lean on.

Extreme library policy overhaul

I am deeply concerned about the adopted library policy, which undermines the professional expertise of our educators and librarians by shifting exclusive decision-making authority to the school board. The policy removes the essential voices of those who are trained to support diverse, age-appropriate learning resources in our schools. This not only compromises education integrity but also weakens the trust and collaboration that have long supported academic excellence at Pine-Richland. This top-down approach has already resulted in unnecessary costs in administrative time, legal consultation, and resource management, all while the district is facing a $2 million+ budget deficit.

The board's decision to make counseling lessons opt-in

This policy is a waste of time and resources. Kaizen means continuous improvement; this means to reduce waste and unnecessary strain on resources. The solution is easy — when the value is less than the reward, you make the necessary change.  The numbers speak for themselves, resort back to the original methodology and save time and resources. 

Student wellness and safety

It is critically important to prioritize student wellness and safety. This also builds on the students' foundation to academic success and community wellbeing. I advocate for proactive measures that foster a secure and inclusive learning environment, ensuring that all students feel supported and valued. I am committed to students wellness and safety not only benefits individual learners but also strengthens the broader community by promoting trust and engagement. Every student should have a safe space to learn. 

What good governance means to me

I am an advocate to my core. As a strong advocate it is necessary to demonstrate and hold value in ethics, transparency, and good governance in any leadership role. I believe open communication, fiscal accountability and community engagement are essential to earning and maintaining public trust. I approach actions with data-driven decision making and believe collaboration leadership will sustain the district's long-term success. 

The role of the school board

The role of the school board is NOT to manage day-to-day school operations, micromanage staff, or act based on personal agendas. This is why I do not understand the value in our political affiliations. Instead, it should focus on setting strategic direction, approving budgets, establishing policies that elevate the teachers' and students success. A STRONG board prioritizes student achievement, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement to ensure decisions align with the values of the district. 

Let's include students in the decision-making process

Students are directly impacted by the decisions made in the schools, they experience the outcomes of policies every day. Giving them a voice fosters a sense of agency, belonging, and accountability, which contributes to a more engaged and motivated learning community. When students are included in decision-making, schools become more responsive, inclusive and better equipped to meet real needs, both academic and emotional. 

If a school or district doesn't value the voices of students, it becomes out of touch, inefficient, and inequitable. The entire process in education is to develop independent thinkers and future leaders, ignoring student voices directly contradicts the mission.