Sponsored: New Leadership that Listens: Michelle Belkot
The following content is sponsored by the author/candidate and does not constitute or imply endorsement by Vancouver Family Magazine. General election date is November 2, 2021.
Hello! My name is Michelle Belkot and I am running for nonpartisan Vancouver School District, School Director, Position No. 2. As a mother, procurement leader, and United States Navy Veteran, I bring a valuable and diverse perspective in resolving many of the challenges confronting our school district.
Despite the best efforts of teachers and administrators, online education couldn’t replace in-person learning. Last fall the school board opted to keep schools closed even when scientific research proved that schools could open safely and that educational, emotional, and mental harm was being befalling our students due to school closure. It became apparent that the needs of our community were not the first priority of the School Board. Our district has many talented and hardworking teachers and staff. We could do better for our students and should have allowed those who wanted to return to school sooner that option. Instead, we lost many students as they found options that better met their needs. Decisions made by the school board should have the best interests of the students first, as advocated by the parents.
I believe that a school board must be responsive and receptive to parents, staff, students, and the community at large, encouraging an open dialog. The board must take input from all groups and weigh all the facts before making a decision. A board member is a trustee of the community that elects him or her. That trustee must be accessible and willing to collaborate with all members of the community–that includes all district staff. Anyone that comes before the board has the right to speak and be heard. A school board member must build public understanding, support and participation.
In my opinion, the three most pressing issues in Vancouver School District are student performance, student safety and medical privacy, and fiscal transparency. Student performance in Vancouver School District is a failure across the board. In English Language Arts 53% of students met grade level standards, Math 42%, and Science 44%. If elected I look forward to working with the teachers and administration to identify and develop best practices that help children learn. That includes discussing with teachers what works best in the classroom. Currently, testing is the only way to show what kids know. I believe we need to look at a variety of assessment measures.
Student safety and medical privacy related to student COVID-19 testing and QR codes created to track student movement. The COVID PCR testing was discussed during the May Board Workshop meeting and implemented without district community discussion. The district has mentioned the COVID-19 testing is available with parent permission. It is difficult to trust the district when Columbia River parents were not informed of a vaccine webinar and students bussed over to a COVID-19 vaccine clinic, without parental knowledge. Medical testing should be left up to a child’s parent or guardian, and children’s medical information should be kept private. Let’s give the power of choice back to our students and families and allow them to control their medical care.
My extensive procurement and contracting background would benefit VSD in avoiding future violations of bidding and procurement laws. Vancouver Public Schools was the subject of two findings by the Washington State Auditor’s Office for lacking adequate controls to ensure compliance with state procurement laws on public works projects and competitive bidding for contractors during the 2019-20 school year. I pledge oversight and review of capital projects, particularly adequate controls to ensure compliance with state procurement laws on public works projects and competitive bidding for contractors. Furthermore, I will ensure appropriate oversight and compliance of the Federal Coronavirus Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER Fund), to ensure allowable purposes.
Many of the issues parents are concerned with today can be summarized with concern about parental rights. Many philosophies currently taught to our children in the school district are counter to the values of the parents, and more and more parents are not being included, or worse, purposefully bypassed. Parents are most often the best advocate for a child. Whether the issue is masks, vaccines, CSE, CRT or whatever issue the future holds, the parents should feel like the school board is representing them. I would be a school board member who is transparent and more communicative with the community. I am that candidate: “New Leadership that Listens.” I respectfully ask for your vote.
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