LINN-MAR WEAVER: Representing all members of the Linn-Mar community

I am running for the Linn-Mar board of directors. I have had a fulfilling career as a teacher, coach, mentor and a member of the student's assistance team. I was a sponsor of SODA (Students Opposed to Drugs and Alcohol) and helped with Lean on Me students. I also have been involved with the Linn-Mar district as a parent and taxpayer for more than 40 years.

As a potential board member, I feel the three main factors that need to be addressed are; 1) more fiscal responsibility, 2) better communication and 3) transparency between the board, the staff and community. The Linn-Mar community is comprised of people with no children, people with children presently in school, people that no longer have children attending L-M schools or children attending other educational facilities and senior citizens. Whichever their situation, people are concerned with the quality of education, what programs and facilities are available to the public and how the money is spent in their school district. With effective communication, the patrons of the district will have a better understanding of how and why the decisions are made. Communication can be increased by utilizing mass-media such as The Gazette, Marion Times, the Linn-Mar website, Linn-Mar PTOs, the Linn-Mar Foundation and social media to disseminate the information.

The district's population is increasing and with that the numbers indicate that class size will continue to rise. With this in mind, it is vital that the staff will need to be increased to accommodate and serve the Linn-Mar students. The class size needs to be such that all students receive the teacher's attention and student's needs are met. When class size grows, for example, to twenty-five or thirty (or more) students, it becomes more difficult for teachers to attain the goals they have for their classes. This falls in line with fiscal responsibility in that student's educational needs are of paramount importance. Financial excesses that do not contribute to student success should be questioned and re-evaluated.

I feel I have the pulse of the district, staffs, students and community. I want to keep the Linn-Mar district one of the best in the state. I take this opportunity very seriously and I will do my best to represent all aspects of the Linn-Mar community.

' More information: cweaver324@yahoo.com