#LocalElectionsMatter: LCS Board of Education Ward 5 Candidates
Sidney Briggs, our first intern at Davidson Local, approached us a couple of months ago with an idea. As a soon to be high school graduate who will be voting for the first time this fall, being an informed voter is of utmost importance to Sidney. She also believes her fellow citizens should have access to information that will assist them in the voting booth.
For over a month, Sidney has been calling candidates running for Lexington City Council, Mayor of Lexington, Lexington City Schools Board of Education and Davidson County Commissioners to collect their email addresses. She has begun the process of submitting questions to them in an effort to share their platform.
Today, we are publishing answers from Lexington City Schools Board of Education candidates. Answers are verbatim.
We appreciate Sidney’s commitment to her fellow residents.
-Kassaundra Shanette
*All candidates were contacted. Responses to questions weren’t received by Lewie Phillips and Debra Verdell before publication.
1) What are your plans to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and recover from the damage it has already caused to education systems?
Ward 5
Faye Craven-Boger: COVID-19 caused damage in schools across the nation. There were some improvements this school year due to the return of in-person learning, but we are not completely out of the clear. It is imperative that we began the damage control process. I believe one of the most impactful ways that we can recover this learning loss that our students experienced is to make sure we have quality educators in our classrooms. We need to focus on the recruitment and retention of quality teachers. Employing high quality dedicated educators ensures that our students will receive the best education.
Angela Knotts McDuffie: To continue to support and monitor the programs and alternatives that are in place to combat the learning loss from COVID-19.
2) Do you think it’s important for Lexington City Schools to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging? If so, why?
Ward 5
Boger: I believe promoting diversity and inclusion should be a requirement for every school district in the country, especially here in Lexington. Whenever diversity and inclusion is present students are faced with opportunities to think critically and challenge their own thoughts based on what they were taught. Students in diverse environments have the opportunity to converse with other students from various backgrounds with different mindsets. This helps teach them to be culturally responsive and to prepare them for the workforce.
McDuffie: It's all about equity in education. That is of high importance to me. Every student and staff member should feel they belong and that they have value and are valued.
3) What do you think is the biggest challenge to Lexington City Schools today and how do you plan to combat it as a part of the Board of Education?
Ward 5
Boger: I believe the biggest challenge we currently face is outdated schools. Lexington Senior High School was built in the fifties. Most of the schools in the surrounding areas that were built around the same time, have been rebuilt or remodeled. I plan to speak to my fellow school board members about the importance of a new or remodeled school building. I will bring awareness to the overall condition as well as the health and safety concerns of the school that many parents and community members have.
McDuffie: Parent involvement has been one of our biggest challenges and my plan to combat it is to continue to support and advocate initiatives that will increase parent involvement. When parents are involved, improvements exist in student's grades, their attendance, their behavior and in their relationships.
4)What is your opinion on the best way for Lexington City Schools to support students in the wake of increasing hardships due to the pandemic?
Ward 5
Boger: As bad as we would love to change home life situations for students, unfortunately we cannot. But what we can do is focus on the experiences that they will have in the classrooms. We can do this by making sure that our students have the best resources, community support, dynamic educators.
McDuffie: I believe the best way is for students to continue to have access to resources such as counseling and mental health, nutrition, basic healthcare and funding.
5) If you could choose one word to describe what you want your impact on Lexington City Schools to be, what would it be?
Ward 5
Boger: Growth
McDuffie: CONSISTENCY! Consistency in backing our administrators, educators and community in upholding our mission in meeting the educational needs for all of our students.
