School Board members are charged with overseeing budgets that total millions of dollars, according to the National School Boards Association.
In addition, they must contend with issues such as student achievement, special education, technology within the schools and hiring and retaining quality teachers.
What makes you qualified to serve on the Howard County School Board?
Frank Aquino: “As a business lawyer and father of three HCPSS students, I have advocated for improvements to the HCPSS for many years. I bring a broad range of experience to the position.”
Larry Cohen: “I have worked in HCPSS for 28 years in many roles, [which showed me] how schools and central office function and [how] students [can] be successful. [I am a parent of] two HCPSS students.”
Allen Dyer: Public school parent. Teen driver safety coordinator for River Hill Boosters until 2005. Twenty-seven years business experience as a lawyer and computer consultant. Experienced education law attorney.”
Sandra French: “HCPSS ranked first in Maryland for 10 of my 12 years on the county?s School Board. I understand accountability and community concerns, and possess leadership skills to ensure [all students?] educational success.”
Ellen Flynn Giles: “Twenty-five years: Researcher, data analyst and technical editor. Twenty years: Countywide and system task forces and advisory committees ? budget, planning, policy and curriculum. Eight years: Chairwoman, Citizen?s Advisory Committee to BOE.”
Patricia Gordon: “I think my most cogent qualification is my experience. I?m the most senior member of the board. I?m finishing up my sixth year. I?m familiar with the schools and personnel.”
Joshua Kaufman: “I am the [School Board] chairman, and I have a successful record. I design, manage and evaluate multimillion-dollar federal grants and contracts, so I [know about the] need to manage for results.”
Roger Lerner: “Three kids who graduated from county schools; work on school issues like anti-bullying, underperforming students and budget review; and 27 years business and legal experience give me the foundation to serve.”
Donald Byrd Marston Jr.: “I have management experience working in the hospitality field with inventories, pricing, and profit and loss. My educational background includes experience in program planning and evaluation.”
Dr. Janet Siddiqui: “As a pediatrician, I have an expertise in child growth and development and counsel families. … I also have reviewed budgets for the county?s Department of Citizen Services. [Parent of] three HCPSS students.”
Peter Sola: “I am a Howard University professor and Department of Educational Administration and Policy chairman. As an administrator, [I] set goals. As a board member [I would] gather data … and make choices.”
Di Zou: “I recently came out of the Howard County school system … . I may not know all the [School Board?s decision-making] processes, but I know about consequences. I have new, fresh ideas about [solving] problems.” Marcelino Bedolla and Paul Aliprando did not respond.
At a glance
Today is the beginning of a series that features the opinions of Howard County School Board candidates on school issues that were determined by The Examiner. On Wednesday, the candidates will respond to bullying in Howard County schools.
