Love for a little old town like Marion...

So what is really needed to find an agreement?

I think that even more than persuasive words, we need persuasive action.

I think reaching an agreement must come from a deep desire to offer every opportunity within our power to our students learning in our school system.

I think the decision making process benefits from a person who is a product of the very educational system that is being addressed.

I think the decision making process needs a perspective that keeps the focus on the quality of education we provide our children.

I think the decision making process is best helped by someone committed to the community and school system it serves.

I think the decision making process is best helped by someone who displays her trust in the system by placing children in that school system.

I think that having roots in the community and entrusting my young ones education to this school system gives credibility to my desire to see our schools succeed.

I think the school board benefits from the perspective of a parent whose family is directly, educationally affected by the decisions made.

I think the school board should encompass many degrees of experience.

I think the school board and the community benefits from a perspective that has a vested interest in where our educational system is going.

I think the school board should be comprised of different perspectives throughout the community unified towards a common goal.

I think we need to keep asking the question: How does this affect the education we offer to our students?

Hot Topic...Wednesday

So sorry to miss the Hot Topic Tuesday! As we get closer and closer to the Big Tuesday, it is ever more important to keep up with what is going on in this candidate's race.

I must admit, the last few weeks have been amazing! So many things to learn, so many thoughts to process, so many decisions to be made. As I have taken in more information, I have attempted to be diligent in taking the time to question and search for answers that would aid me in coming to a place where I have an informed opinion about whatever given scenario is laid out before me. There have been many helpful people along the way and others that intrigue me in their appearance of dismissal towards me. Whatever the case may be, I am here to do what I am called to do and that is to be active in the education of my children.

I have to say, in all of this, God is the mainstay in my life. He has always answered my prayer for encouragement when I began to feel defeated or weary. He has provided others to be His hands and feet and they have ministered to me in ways that are beyond description. Sometimes this venture seems bigger than what we ourselves are, and it is, but believing that all things are possible through Him who loves us, we are capable of going out on that limb and being the vessel through which He is able to reach others.

What light can I shine? His light, His desires, His ways. I am thankful for the opportunity to be used by Him, for Him. This is not truly about me or winning. It is about being obedient, being willing and being placed (potentially) somewhere that His light is needed.

May His glory be evident in the future decisions made.

Thoughts on a School District Reconfiguration

Let me just lay out a few thoughts here, nothing that can't be questioned or contested, just some thoughts to get the conversation going.

As many may be aware, one of the issues facing Marion Community Schools today is the issue of a budget that is not large enough and an enrollment number that is not high enough to maintain the current status that we have now. Money issues notwithstanding, I still maintain that we could lower classroom student numbers and hire more teachers and utilize the rooms that are currently empty in each of these schools. As I am now well aware, that is evidently not an option. The push to reconfigure is on. What we have left are options as to how this reconfiguration will proceed.

How familiar with the possibilities is the average parent of the MCS student? We started with 4 options, after about 5 of the 10 meetings set up to discuss these options, the middle two were dropped and the focus was given mainly to the 1st and the 4th option.

The details are numerous enough to warrant one to check out the plans on the MCS website. This is quite obviously still in the early planning stages, no matter the desire that our newspaper has displayed in admonishing us to come to a decision soon, there are too many details to be discussed to simply roll the die and make the decision for whatever "luck" would have in store for us.

This is a pivotal point in the life of Marion Community Schools and the students for which we are responsible! It requires far more discussion. We are on the brink of making decisions that will either inhibit our progress or propel us towards the noteriety our school system could have as a system that is cutting edge and unique in our approach to common problems that face school systems today. Our children and their education is far too important to carelessly choose and be left with problems later that are bigger than the ones we face now.

The children and future generations of Marion are important and vital to town like ours that is poised and ready for an economic upturn!

Monday's Luncheon-Innovative and Progressive!

So I think I am beginning to get the hang of this! Maybe even actually enjoy this...pressing on, I was able to participate in a luncheon on Monday that consisted of members of the Grant County Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Growth Council, a current member of the School Board, the Superintendent and my opponent. As I stated in a post on another website, this meeting was informative and positive!

This luncheon was such an amazing learning experience and encouragement to me. An encouragement in that I realize how desperate this School Board is for a member such as myself!! My perspective is one that is in no way represented at this time with this current school board. For that matter, it isn't represented by any of the others who are running in this election for this position. They can play the experience card, but with all of the years of cumulative experience they have going for them now, our current situation is still messy.

Is it possible to get down and dirty and right to the heart of it? Throughout this luncheon, no one (other than myself) made mention of the teacher to student ratio or how WE can be instrumental in increasing our enrollment figures. These are issues that speak directly to the heart of the matter. No matter what our teachers' preferred method of teaching is, it cannot flourish in a setting in which the population of a teacher's classroom is too high to maintain an instructional connection with a child. Our teachers' must have the freedom to use whatever particular teaching techniques they specialize in that ensures sound education. How impossible when you have over 20 students in a classroom!

There was talk of innovation and progression, let's do something no other school district is doing: let's limit our class size to no more than 15-18 students per qualified teacher! Wouldn't that be innovative and progressive?!

We absolutely have the power to budget wisely. Let's start doing it. Let's make cuts that are necessary, not optional. We can make Marion Community Schools a school system that is envied for its progress and ability to turn around student academic achievement.

I maintain that we would have such a striking upward swing in our scores within a relatively short period of time that it would be almost senseless not to implement a plan that is as simple as this. We don't need studies to show us these facts, it is a commonsense idea that comes from seeing how these children desperately need to interact with those adults that are responsible for teaching them.

Crazy notion? Lofty ideal? Unobtainable aspiration? I call it innovative and progressive!

A Mom who can Make A Difference

Yep, that would be me, a mom...who can make a difference. What kind of difference do you ask? Well, let me give you just an idea!

Of all of those who are running in this particular race to the title of Marion School Board Member, I am the only one who is a mom. I volunteer in my son's first grade classroom. I have the perspective of being in the room and witnessing the teaching and learning (Yes! Lots of learning!) going on in this classroom on a weekly basis. I am able to talk with the teachers and hear their thoughts and concerns. I am visible to those who work in the school and to parents who happen to visit the school.

I have walked the halls of Kendall Elementary, Justice Junior High and Marion High School as a student. Even though things have changed since then, the familiarity I have with these schools as well as having children who attend them places me in an "in the trenches" position. I have the perspective of a mom that is affected by the changes presented to the Board. I have an interest in making decisions that keep into account the positive learning environment for our children.

Marion is moving forward! Our schools need to be a part of these changes. Marion has many good things to look forward to. Let's make sure we move forward with our education for our children as well.

Clarification

This post is an add-on to the post: What's Going Right!

The question was asked: Who is Kyle Kirby?
Kyle Kirby is a graduate of Marion High School. He is currently the principal there.

Another item I would like to mention that did not fit into my outline is that Noelle (Velasquez) Lehman has joined the staff at MHS. Noelle is a 1987 graduate of Marion High and was able to experience Ritchie Walton at his all time best! She is back in the capacity of choir director and I have no doubt that she will be able to renew excitement in that department! I look forward to hearing good things...

What's Going Right!

It's Hot Topic Tuesday so I am going to dive right in and open it up. This first post is titled What's Going Right! I think it is important for us to look at what we have and make note of the positives that we are surrounded with. Marion Community Schools has some amazing things going for it, why don't we list them?

1. Teachers-we have teachers that are dedicated, smart, selfless and truly have the joy of teaching in their hearts. They have a strong desire in their hearts for children to succeed and thrive. They are willing to open up their classrooms and are truly thankful for the input they receive from parents.

2. Kyle Kirby-how cool that we have this young man (yeah, I'm older than him, makes him a young man!) who is willing to stick around and put forth effort to help create an environment in his alma mater that is conducive to learning and achieving. I think he has some terrific ideas and a fresh perspective and he is able to really connect with these kids! Kyle could have left town to pursue other avenues but he chose to remain here and to become a vital part of the school system.

3. Powerschool System-this genius idea of putting grades, tardies, absences, itemized assignments and teacher e-mails for simple communication is brilliant! For those parents who need verification of work and homework tracking, this tool is invaluable. It is easy to use, available 24 hours a day and convenient. If you aren't using this yet, start today!

4. Mayor Seybold-Marion has the right mayor for progress. Mayor Wayne Seybold is continually working on making Marion a better place for business and family life. He is pivotal in making Marion a place where businesses would like to be and he is dedicated and ardent in pursuing new possibilities.

5. New Businesses on the Horizon-Marion is awaiting the arrival of Veriana and Meijer, both of which will be bringing in jobs. With these two building and the recent purchase and upgrades being done at Five Points Mall, things are certainly looking up! We have people investing in the promise of better tomorrows here in Marion.

With all the positives that we are able to look at, why don't we also look forward to what a postive impact a thriving school corporation can do for us as a community. We can enable each child to achieve his or her best, we can provide opportunities that perhaps wouldn't be realized in other districts, we can grow as a community with trust and unity working in our favor. Working together, as a team, we can help Marion Community Schools realize it's potential and watch it become a school system that is highly esteemed.

Hi and welcome to my blog!  I am hoping this blog will be a way for me to communicate effectively with others who are interested in making Marion Community Schools a place one desires to send their children.  

To tell you just a little bit about who I am, I will begin with the fact that I moved into the home I currently occupy in the winter of '77 as a young girl in the third grade.  Apart from the ten or so years I spent after high school away from my family home until the time I returned in the fall of "99, I have lived most of my life in this home.  I attended Kendall and Justice and have fond memories of both!  My husband is from Marion as well.  In fact, he grew up about ten houses down the street from where we live now and he attended Marion schools also.  We both graduated from Marion High School.

We are blessed to be able to live in this home and to send our children through the schools in which we attended.  We know that Marion is currently struggling and that morale is low but these are issues that can and should be addressed.  We are proud of the education we have received and we know that the future can be better for our children and all the children in our community!

I look forward to hearing your comments, ideas, and thoughts about Marion Community Schools and the issues that are facing them today.  Let's work together and make it better for future generations to come!  Go Team Vinluan!