The decision that I am most proud of is easy. In the spring of 2019 (my first year on the Board), Superintendent Kevin Emsweller came to us and said he wanted to eliminate one fourth grade classroom for the 2019-20 school year. (This wouldn't have resulted in a reduction in force. That teacher would have been assigned to a different grade level) I knew the third grade numbers would result in those fourth grade classrooms having 28-29 students that next year. I talked to individual Board members and expressed my concern. It seemed like people heard what I was saying but seemed resigned to making this cut. During the pre-meeting work session that decision was discussed. I explained as best as I could that the difference between 28-29 and 23-24 students may not seem like much, but it's huge. I stated that we needed to keep all of our fourth grade sections. There wasn't much discussion. In between the work session and the meeting I had time to ask a fellow Board member how to properly cast a no vote because I was sure the reduction would pass. When it came time for this agenda item, Board member Jim Ankrum started asking some questions about what it would cost to keep that position. It was his point to change the motion to KEEP the position instead of reduction. I happily seconded the motion and it passed 6-1. I think if I wouldn't have spoken up and expressed my concern, that elimination would have taken place.
The decision I regret the most also includes staffing but this time at the high school. I don't think I fought hard enough or expressed myself well enough after Miss Ferguson retired from the art department. How that position was filled didn't sit well with me then and it still eats at me. Although I was adamant at the time how I felt like the classroom should be filled, I'm not sure that I was very effective in getting my point across. I knew the message we would be sending if we went with the recommendation presented to us. Thankfully for everyone involved, the solution that we approved was short lived and the position is now filled by a very competent, licensed art teacher.
Personnel decisions are very challenging at times. These aren't numbers we are dealing with. They are humans who give so much to our schools. Over all of my time as a student and my time as the elementary science/health instructor, I saw many personnel decisions that were just haphazardly made. I don't ever take those decisions lightly.