1. I am running for the Annandale School Board because I am proud of our community and want to be part of the team that sets the vision and goals for our district.
School board members bring their expertise and talent as they collaborate with other members. I want to be a decision maker that focuses on what is best for all students, advocate for what is needed, and communicate what is happening with the community.
2. I have worked in the education field for over 25 years, which has given me the experience and insight on decision making from an educator’s perspective.
I am also an advocating parent and involved community member who is honest, straightforward, fair, and likes to make a difference. Clear, respectful, communication is imperative for a position as a school Board member and my exceptional skills in this area, will allow for others to feel heard, respected, and wanting to connect.
I have four children, two of which have already graduated from Annandale High School. Through the years my children have been in school, I have experienced each grade level and their programming, academic and sports clubs, countless conferences, and have gotten to know staff and administration. I am passionate about, not only my own children, but the children in our community.
I volunteer with organizations that pertain to the children of Annandale, such as: the Cardinal Athletic Foundation, Annandale Boy Scouts, Annandale All Night Grad Party, Annandale Youth Basketball Association, and Annandale Summer Baseball.
3. My main, and most important, involvement with education in the Annandale community has been as an active parent and advocate for my children. Each of our three schools present as welcoming and open for parent involvement, questions, concerns, and celebrations.
It is an understatement when I say that I am not afraid to and have asked my fair share of questions within the past fifteen years that my children have been enrolled in school. If I was unsure of what was, I asked.
Every employee I have connected with has been amazing about being helpful and clarifying any information that I needed help with.
At the end of last school year, I was honored to be able to sit in on an IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) meeting for a friend’s child, and witnessed our special educators and providing services working together to put a program in place. I found their expertise in each area to be outstanding, and their demeanor and relationship with the student’s parents to be admirable. It was one more reminder that we are fortunate to have the adults and educators that we have within our district.
4. Our teachers work hard, they take pride in what they do and continually strive for excellence. When they don’t have ample time to plan, they take their own time to get the job done in order to serve their students.
Our district administrators notice their efforts and recognize and commend the teachers. Thanking them and letting them know that they are appreciated boosts morale in the building. Having a good morale in building makes for a welcoming environment for students and families.
Our district teaches our students at an early age about respect and integrity. This is carried out grade by grade, and demonstrated by the adults that work with them. We hold them to high standards and expect them to carry this pride with them in all facets of their day: at school, within our community, while out in other communities, at home.
The Recreational Park was a monsterous task that took the collaboration of the school district, community members and community organizations to come to fruition. There have been many moving parts to get the park to where it is right now, in its early stages. Without the willingness of the school board to listen and take part in the creation of the park, I do not believe that it would have been made.
5. Facilities and growth continues to be an area that the district will need to continue to work toward improving. Our student population is steadily climbing and we are outgrowing our buildings. When we plan for new facilities, we should keep in mind the future monetary upkeep necessary to run it and possible emergency situations that we may run into.
Training and finding the time to do it for several items: curriculum throughout the school year, bullying, technology and health just to name a few. The few days before school begins and the few days after school ends does not provide enough time to train. We need to get creative with coverage and days so teachers have time to at least research, plan, and learn.
Planning for students that are transitioning into post secondary education should include programming other than a four year college. We do not have enough information and resources to help students who may want to go into a trade. Collaboration with other schools would be helpful to see how they are handling their programs.
6. Standardized testing is a useful tool to measure progress in core areas. It is necessary to track growth and build off the results. It would be highly beneficial if we were able to see immediate results from such tests, rather than waiting to receive them months later. It makes it more difficult for teacher planning, tracking, and remediation. We should keep in mind that standardized tests and the corresponding results do not define the student as a whole. It is one test, on one day. There are many other tools and measurements to track progress and growth that can be done over time and in different environments.
7. Collaborative decision making and budget adjustments before the fund balance becomes too low or depleted would be one direction to go. Expenditures and revenue need to be looked at and adjusted. Once final decisions are made, the budget should be closely and consistently monitored. Superintendent input would be helpful during this process. The board should have the taxpayer in mind, as not to spend their dollars unwisely.
8. Local school boards will always be significant, because they make the decisions that affect our students and community. Community involvement and attendance at meetings to educate themselves on what is going on in the district is important.
A great example of this is the most recent strategic planning sessions held within the district. Staff, parents, community members and board members discussed ideas that should be focus areas. Everyone’s ideas were heard, discussed, voted on and then used to put a plan in place. The local school board also makes decisions based on recommendations and funds available for items such as curriculum and programs for students.
9. The superintendent is the leader in our district, responsible for implementing policies and directives. His role intermingles with that of the school board. Examples would be: the school board adopts policies, as the superintendent makes suggestions, as well as, implements them.
The board is in charge of and adopts the budget, as the superintendent administers and monitors the details. When it comes to hiring, the board establishes criteria, approves, or rejects as the superintendent interviews, hires, evaluates, trains, and promotes.
The superintendent identifies needs within the district and reports it to the board. It is the job of both the superintendent and the board to participate in workshops and conferences to stay knowledgeable of current educational trends.
10. A board member should know what the different operations of a district are and the contact person in charge of each one. From there, I believe, that the board member should observe and proceed with letting the operation run as planned.
Should the board member have knowledge in a particular area and can be an attribute to becoming more involved in any one of the particular operations, then I believe the member should be able to explore that option through the appropriate channels.
Questions posed to candidates
1. What motivated you to run for a seat on the Annandale School Board?
2. What qualities, skills and experience would you bring to the board as a member?
3. What has been your personal involvement with education in our community?
4. Name and discuss three things that the Annandale School District 876 does well and should be proud of?
5. Name three things about our school district that are less than positive and ideas on steps to improve.
6. What are your thoughts on the amount of standardized testing in our schools?
7. The school district budget has shown a deficit for the past few years. During that time the board has gone to the fund balance to cover the shortages. If the district continues to operate with a deficit the fund balance will eventually be depleted or at a dangerously low level. How you would approach this problem?
8. Are local school boards still significant when the state and the federal governments have taken over so many decisions concerning local schools?
9. What is the role of the superintendent of the Annandale School District as it relates to the school board?
10. Outside of making decisions, as a board, how involved in school district operations should an individual school board member be?
Jacobson has lived on Union Lake in South Haven for 22 years. She has been married to husband Wayne for 22 years and they have four children Deanna, a junior at UMD; Pauly, a freshman at Central Lakes College; Graham (Tony) an AHS freshman and Sam, a seventh grader at AMS. Jacobson is the Special Education Coordinator for the Crosslake Community School. She grew up in Livingston, New Jersey and graduated from Livingston High School.
Jacobson holds a BA as a teacher of the handicapped from Kean College in New Jersey. She earned her MA in education from St. Mary’s University, Minnesota. She is a board member of the Cardinal Athletic Association (CAF); the travel voucher chair for the Annandale All Night Grad Party; secretary for Annandale Boy Scout Troup 354; helper to her husband and sons while they maintain the baseball fields in town and an avid supporter or small town businesses.
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