Why I Am Running For the Lakewood School Board

The Markling Family

I am running for the Lakewood School Board because my wife, Kathleen, and I believe that I can offer a fresh perspective. I have experience as a community leader, university professor and school attorney. I also have a strong commitment to assuring a future of excellent education for all of Lakewood's children, even those not yet in school, including my sons, Declan and Nevan.

My family calls Lakewood home because it is a community with a sense of “we” versus “me.” We are a community that:

• Values diversity and intellectual growth.
• Walks and talks with friends and neighbors.
  
• Values safe and clean streets.
  
• Fosters civic pride and leadership.

My family also calls the Lakewood City Schools home because the school community shares that same sense of “we” and further, we are a school community that expects:

• Academic excellence.
  
• School safety.
• Leadership.

It is upon these shared values that I base my platform of academic excellence, school safety, and leadership.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Our children’s academic progress is directly related to their eventual economic and social success. Our mission is to lay the foundation for happy, engaged, productive citizens through academic excellence.

School leaders are sometimes tempted to make excuses for why their schools fail to meet one or more of the state accountability standards. These excuses can become self-fulfilling prophecies and serve no good purpose.

Admittedly, there are factors beyond the control of school districts that can make it difficult to meet all state standards. However, these factors should not deter us from doing everything possible to meet the standards. They simply mean that the Lakewood City Schools has to continuously evaluate our practices and make changes whenever indicated.

As a school board member, I will expect academic excellence throughout the Lakewood City Schools and work to ensure that appropriate resources are provided to our educational professionals to ensure that success.

While state accountability standards are important, we should not judge our performance exclusively by any one set of tests. To do so would obscure the broader educational mission that is over a 100-year tradition in Lakewood, including serving the wide range of needs of all students; emphasizing development of the whole person, including social and emotional aspects; emphasizing the importance of good citizenship.

As a school board member, I will work toward highlighting the academic excellence currently taking place in the Lakewood City Schools by recognizing both students and parents for their academic accomplishments on classroom, building, and district-wide levels.

SCHOOL SAFETY

As an active leader in both the High School and Middle School Student Conduct and School Climate Committees I have worked toward ensuring that our students learn responsibility for civility and student safety.

As a school board member, I will work to ensure that all school safety recommendations of both committees continue to be implemented fully including, but not limited to, Total Enforcement of the Student Code of Conduct (discipline and dress code) and Increase Student Opportunities for Extra-Curricular Activities.

LEADERSHIP

Theodore Roosevelt said: “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men [and women] to do what [s]he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” I believe that the most important responsibility of a school board is to employ a superintendent and treasurer and to hold them responsible for managing the schools in accordance with the school board’s policies.

As a school board member, I will not manage the day-to-day operations of the Lakewood City Schools; however, I will insist that the system is properly managed.

Lakewood City Schools has a rich history of civic participation that can never be taken for granted. As a school board member, I will help build public support and understanding of public education, and lead the public in demanding quality education.

The success of the schools facilities improvement plan, thus far, is the result of community engagement. I want to be sure all Lakewood citizens feel they are informed about and have the chance to be involved in issues facing the schools.

My campaign committee, spearheaded by Teresa Coyne Andreani, Chuck Greanoff, Paula Reed, and Rick Wair, has put together www.marklingforlakewood.com in an effort to share with you a summary of my personal background and platform.

Please contact us with any questions, comments or concerns you may have regarding my campaign for School Board. We hope you will Vote Markling for School Board on November 6, 2007!