One year in ...

I thought it was about time to start using this blog again. One year into my term I've learned so much, but I've also learned how much more there is to know.

When people ask me how my work on the board is going, I tell them that it's interesting and challenging, and that I'm confident we're making good decisions for the students and staff of LCSC. The past year included several issues that brought out strong feelings from the community. The dress code, a personnel decision about Coach Hammel, and the budget cut package, including eliminating the Academy, were all truly difficult episodes. Though we didn't always agree with each other, board members treated each other with genuine respect and worked toward consensus in a professional way.

One of my goals on the board is that school issues be well-publicized, but that the board itself not make headlines. Too often there are personality conflicts, or just questionable behavior by board members, so that what a community hears about is the board itself. This can never lead to strong educational decisions, and takes the focus off of student achievement. I'm grateful to be part of a board that truly works together--a big "thank you" to Alan Cragun, Tom Merritt, Michael Burtron, and Dave Herr.

I'll try to post here a couple times a week. I will use this blog to try to explain what's happening, and to reflect on education issues, local and larger.

Thank you for reading. My board e-mail address is thomasmm@leb.k12.in.us. Feel free to drop me a line with any thoughts about the board, Lebanon schools, or this blog. For now I'm not inviting comments, but if you think I really should, please let me know.

Thank you so much

I am so grateful for the support I received during this election--thank you to anyone who trusted me enough to vote for me.

Over the next couple months I'll be on a steep learning curve as I get up to speed on board responsibilities and the issues facing the Lebanon schools. I hope I continue to hear from LCSC patrons as I take office. When I begin something new, I try to spend as much time listening and learning as I can, before coming out with ambitious plans.

I hope to be able to continue this blog in some fashion, and to make it a place where Lebanon citizens can come for perspective from a board member. But I'm not yet certain what parameters I'll have to contend with in doing that. Please check back from time to time, and hopefully I'll soon be posting on the life of a newly-elected board member, and providing some insight into school issues.

Thank you for your interest in the Lebanon schools, and for reading my blog.

First things first--a little more about me

(Please note: I leave this post at the top of my blog so that new visitors can easily see this information about me and my candidacy. Thanks to return visitors for their understanding!)

I'm interested in hearing from Lebanon community members, but I want you to know something about me as well. So here's some basic information:

I grew up in a family of seven children in Michigan. I earned a B.A. at the University of Notre Dame, and an M.A. in English Literature at IU Bloomington.

Steve Wornhoff and I married in 1992. (He didn't change his name when we married!) Our daughters Becky, Nina and Nora Wornhoff attend Lebanon schools—next year they will be students at LHS, LMS, and Central Elementary respectively. Steve works as the Director of Special Education for a co-op serving 7 school corporations in Hamilton, Boone and Madison counties. He was formerly the director of the co-op that serves Lebanon and 6 other districts in Boone, Clinton and Hendricks counties.

My work experience includes being an admissions counselor at Notre Dame, an assistant director of admissions for the IU Kelley School MBA program, an instructor and academic advisor at IU Bloomington, and executive director of the Frankfort Education Foundation.
Most recently I worked for nearly four years as copy editor and occasional columnist at The Lebanon Reporter.

Since moving to Lebanon in 2003, my family has done its best to become contributing members of this community. We like it here and we plan to stay, so we do what we can to make Lebanon a better place to live and work.

Here's some of my community involvement:

• President (2006-'07 and '07-'08) and vice-president ('05-'06), Central Elementary PTO
• Classroom volunteer for reading and poetry, LMS and Central Elementary
• Served on committees to interview candidates for LCSC Curriculum Director (2006) and LHS Principal (2007)
• Member of corporation broad-based plan committee since 2004
• Parent liaison to Central Indiana Education Service Center since 2006
• Member of School Improvement Team at Central Elementary, 2006-present
• Participated in LHS action group on weighted grades, 2006-'07
• Board member and officer, Lebanon Swim Club, 2004-present
• Cantor and Sunday school teacher, St. Joseph’s Church
• Cast member, Lebanon Follies
• Back to the Fifties Committee

Why run for the Lebanon school board?

I want to have a positive impact in Lebanon, and the schools are the public issue I care about most. As a board member, my goal will be excellent schools for all students. I promise I will:

• Listen to LCSC constituents
• Prepare for and attend meetings faithfully
• Spend time in LCSC buildings and facilities
• Be available to the public to answer questions and provide information
• Promote transparency by communicating with the public through the corporation Web site, newsletters, or regular columns
• Be a careful steward of corporation finances and facilities.

The Home Stretch

The campaign is now in its final weeks! Some people have voted already, and most of you will go to the polls on May 6.

Remember how the school board races work:

• All voters in the Lebanon school corporation boundaries vote for all seats. Myself, Michael Burtron, John Rice and Shane Conner are running for the two City of Lebanon seats; Dave Herr is running unopposed for the Perry Township seat. Michael Burtron and I have teamed up in this campaign--we believe we're the two most qualified candidates for the city seats.

Why should you vote for me? I'm prepared, and I'm passionate about education.

I've been interested in the school board for a long time. I have prepared by attending school board meetings regularly--I've attended 12-15 meetings in the last few years, and all of them since January. I've also met with principals in the LCSC to learn about their schools, talked with parents and teachers, and kept abreast of legislative developments that will affect the schools. My service to the schools as PTO president, classroom volunteer, and as a member of several school-related committees has given me a broad perspective on issues relating to the schools. I have the time and passion to commit to being an excellent board member, and that's the standard I'll set for myself.

While there's no "hot-button" issue in this school board election, there will be some serious challenges coming before the board in the next few years. The most difficult issues are sometimes the ones you don't see coming. I believe I have the judgment, temperament, and preparation to deal with these situations as they arise. And I will work with my colleagues to arrive at decisions that are best for students and the larger community. I hope you'll support me with your vote.

As always, feel free to contact me at the e-mail address on the right with questions, suggestions, or comments. Thank you for reading, and for your interest in the Lebanon schools.

Coming up like daffodils

It's 30 days until the May 6 election, and the first day yard signs are allowed in Lebanon. So my family and I drove around town today "planting" yellow and black yard signs. If you have one--thank you for your support! If you'd like one, e-mail me at the address to the right and I'll bring one over.

Remember, if you want to vote in the May 6 election, you must be registered by Monday, April 7. Call the Boone County Clerk's office at 482-3510 for more information. Absentee voting will be conducted April 7 - 28, and there is also voting at some satellite locations. Call the Clerk's office for details.

Enjoy the lovely spring days, when we're lucky enough to get one. Thank you for reading.

State of the schools

At last night's board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Bob Taylor gave his "State of the Corporation" talk, covering everything from enrollment numbers to programs under consideration. It's a good idea for any large organization to take stock once a year or so, and this kind of overview is probably helpful for Dr. Taylor himself, as well as the board and the larger community.

Dr. Taylor said they plan to make the Power Point presentation he used available on the corporation Web site, and I'll provide a link when they put it up there. But for now, here are a few highlights:

• No plans for a new high school. LHS is 50 years old this year, and there have been 4 renovations/additions during that time. Enrollment isn't growing fast enough to warrant plans for a new high school, but some crucial aging infrastructure at LHS will probably need to be addressed. Taylor mentioned plumbing, electrical, and technology needs. (I think I've heard discussion of the HVAC system as well.) There are studies underway to see what's needed and what it will cost.
• Two ISTEP tests next year. As the state moves to spring ISTEP testing, it will require two tests in the 2008-09 school year, one in fall and one in spring.
• Program audits. Taylor is having several components of the LCSC curriculum evaluated for their effectiveness. Last year the literacy program was audited, an audit of the programs for high ability students is underway right now, and next fall they will audit the math programs across the district. A tentative audit of special education programs is set for 2010.

There's plenty more, but it would make for a too-long post. Drop me an e-mail if you have questions or comments, and I'll post a link to the Power Point presentation once it's made available.

Addendum: Here's a link to the presentation Dr. Taylor gave at the school board meeting. Click on the hyperlink under "State of the Corporation: http://www.leb.k12.in.us/community.asp

Excellence ... Leadership ... Stewardship

Summing up a campaign in three words is difficult--especially for someone like me, who tends to use too many words rather than too few. But these are the three I have settled on, and here's why.

"Excellence" is about setting a high standard for everyone affiliated with the Lebanon schools. We need a school culture that encourages and rewards excellence from all students, all teachers, all administrators, all staff, in the classrooms, in athletics and in the arts. We can't measure every student using the same yardstick, but we can work toward having every student achieve to the very best of her or his ability. "Good enough" isn't the standard any of us wants to see in our workplaces, our government, or even our sports teams! Striving for excellence means refusing to settle for "good enough" schools. As a school board member, I'll do my best to fill that role with excellence as well.

"Leadership" means being part of a board that takes responsibility for the policy decisions of the LCSC. With an annual budget of $32 million and 450 employees, the school corporation has a huge impact on our community. As a school board member, being a leader means studying the impact of different forces on our schools (government initiatives, budget issues, educational programs, demographics) and carefully coming to decisions about how the school corporation can best respond. Leadership also means letting school personnel do their jobs. The board is a policy-making body, and board members must not micromanage the administrators and teachers in the district.

"Stewardship" may seem like an unlikely word to choose. I think of stewardship as our fundamental responsibility to leave the world a better place than we found it. As a board member, this means being a responsible, creative, prudent caretaker of our children, our personnel, our facilities and our budget. A good steward takes care of the present and plans for the future.

Thanks for reading. Please drop me an e-mail with any questions, comments, or suggestions. And don't forget to vote on May 6!