Goals

Rich with wife and son

As the only parent running to represent the Lee Hill District, my family has skin in the game. Through my experience as a parent, I understand what you are having to deal with.   For most of my life, I have been an advocate for the children of Spotsylvania County.  If given the opportunity, I promise to be a voice for all parents.  To that end, before every vote, I will ask the question “How does this benefit our kids?” and vote accordingly.

I also bring a strong business background to the role of public service and leadership. My wife and I own two successful businesses that were built from the ground up.  I will bring this business sense to the board with experience in negotiating seven-figure deals.  Once these businesses became successful, we used these platforms to raise funds and awareness for various issues facing our local children, with a focus on food insecurity.

In 2022, Spotsylvania County Schools experienced the harsh effects of an echo chamber of a school board.  While it has improved somewhat with the election of 2023, multiple groups are trying to build a majority and minimize other voices.  We need a board focused on the issues facing our school system and NOT on majorities and minorities. 

Below are just some of my goals to improve our school system. 

Immediate Goals

  1. Improve Special Education Services and Compliance
    • We don’t have the staff to meet the needs of this vulnerable community.  This impacts the school system’s ability to meet our legal obligations to fully implement the Individual Education Plans (IEPs) of students with disabilities.
    • This has resulted in multiple lawsuits by parents against our school system.  These legal fights are frequently expensive and require already limited resources to be diverted away from investing in the staff needed to actually educate these children appropriately.
    • I will work with the board and administration to turn this challenge into a win-win for the entire community. We will improve services and compliance through targeted investments in additional staff and training.
  2. Expand Career and Tech Training
    • The current Career and Technical Education Center has way too long of a waiting list.  We need to either find additional facilities and/or offer evening opportunities to increase capacity.  College is not for everyone, and we need to help prepare our kids for the real world, preparing them for THEIR future.  
    • I will work with the board and administration to expand these programs to ensure ALL of our kids can learn and excel in programs that best meet their needs. 
  3. Find Compromise with “Hot Button” Issues
    • Too many organizations are focused on stirring the pot on issues without working to find a real solution that everyone can live with.  
    • As a political independent, I bring the mindset to the board to always do what is best for ALL of our kids.
  4. Provide Equitable Support for Music, Theater, and All Sports Programs
    • As a community, we need to remember that programs like band and the fine arts, as well as the “lesser” followed sports, can have the same impact on kids’ lives as the “major” sports.  
    • While it’s a good lesson to teach kids to fundraise and work for those activities, I will work with the board and administration to develop parity in our funding formulas.

Goals for the Next Couple of Years

  1. We Need to Build a Culture That Makes People Want to Work In Spotsylvania Again
    • Just a few short years ago, we had a culture among our staff that made them want to stay here in Spotsylvania, despite the fact that they could receive higher pay up North. The political drama and attacks on staff changed that desire and have negatively impacted the retention of staff. 
    • We need to recreate that work environment and culture.  I will work with the board and administration to explore strategies to recruit high-quality educators and increase staff retention. These ideas include the following:
      • Consider providing or working in a local partnership to provide free or reduced in-house day care for our 10-month employees.
      • Look at options to offer free lunch or reduced cost to the staff.
  2. 100% of Schools Being Fully Accredited
    • We have several schools that have lost accreditation since 2021. This accountability process and designation represent the quality of education.
    • Once again, our schools face a new accountability system with increased expectations and more rigorous testing. These expectations are accompanied without added funding.
    • I will work with the board and administration to help our school system become 100% state-accredited again. To accomplish this, the other immediate and short-term goals I have shared will need to be achieved. (increased funding, pay, training, etc.)
  3. While We Need to Improve Educator Pay, We Need to Give Support Staff a Livable Wage
    • Obviously, we need to have teachers’ pay to be competitive with our neighbors.  Even more concerning is the number of full-time staff, such as Para Educators, as well as other support staff, who don’t even make enough to afford rent on a one-bedroom apartment.  That doesn’t even take into account gas, food, utilities, etc.
    • I will work with the board and administration to advocate for and ensure adequate funding and targeted investments in our people.
  4. Return Focus to What is Best for Our Children
    • Over the past few years, our school board has become a political battlefield.  It’s really sad when you watch students sitting in the audience of a school board meeting, needing to be removed by their parents because the children are afraid of the behavior of school board members.  If you watch those squabbles, it’s generally board members with political endorsements (from both sides) trading insults with those from the other party. We need to have school board meetings focused on the effective governing of our schools. We cannot deal with most of these other issues until we have a board strictly focused on what is best for our kids and community.
    • I will work with the board and administration to focus on civility and service-oriented leadership on behalf of ALL students, staff, and families in Spotsylvania. This will include ensuring appropriate and professional conduct at all times.
  5. Proactively Address Aging Facilities and Operating Systems
    • We are playing wack-a-mole with school building maintenance issues like aging roofs and systems.  We need to find a way to get ahead of maintenance issues for the health and well-being of our kids.
    • I will work with the board and administration to enhance the capital improvement planning process by building and investing more in preventative maintenance.