Last night, I attended a powerful listening session hosted by State Rep. Shelia Stubbs and State Sen. Kelda Roys about school and community safety. In the wake of the December tragedy at Abundant Life Christian School, our community came together to share stories, propose solutions, and commit to creating safer schools for all our children. As a Madison dad on a mission and candidate for School Board, I was deeply moved by what I heard.
The Heart of the Matter
Parents shared heart-wrenching stories about children struggling with mental health challenges and feeling isolated. Students spoke eloquently about their fears and hopes. One high school student’s words particularly struck me: “We spend too much time talking about preventing violence instead of sustaining safety.” They’re right – we need to focus on building environments where safety comes from connection, community, and belonging.
A Path Forward
As both a former high school science teacher and current engineer, I approach these challenges with both heart and data. My platform focuses on three key areas:
- Belonging
- Creating schools where every student feels they belong
- Ensuring every child has no-cost healthy breakfast to start their day
- Prioritizing mental health resources for students, families, and staff
- Addressing the root causes of isolation and disconnection
- Trust Teachers
- Supporting teachers as trusted professionals
- Examining and increasing teacher compensation
- Reducing administrative burdens to give teachers more time with students
- Offering innovative professional development and teaching pathways
- Results
- Making data-driven decisions about what works
- Providing clear milestones and accountability measures
- Delivering quarterly public reports on school spending and resources
- Creating user-friendly access to financial information
Real Solutions, Real Impact
Last night’s community dialogue highlighted several immediate needs:
- Strengthening mental health support and reducing stigma
- Improving security measures while maintaining welcoming environments
- Building stronger community engagement
- Supporting programs that ensure no student feels left out
- Creating clear communication channels between schools and families
The data supports these priorities: We know that students with strong connections to school have 90% attendance rates. We also know that 15% of Madison kids face food insecurity, and we have a $66.4 million special education funding gap that affects every student.
Moving Forward Together
As one community member wisely noted using the analogy of a canary in a coal mine – our current challenges are warning signs that demand both immediate action and systemic change. We need practical security measures, but we also need to address the deeper issues affecting our school communities.
My commitment is simple: Every student deserves to feel safe, supported, and capable of achieving their full potential. Every teacher deserves the resources and respect to make that possible. And every parent deserves to know their child is in good hands.
This isn’t just about policy – it’s about building the kind of community where every student has what my high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Rumppe, gave me: an adult who believes deeply in their potential and supports them along their journey.
Join Us in Building Schools Where Every Kid Belongs
Your voice matters in this conversation. Together, we can create schools where safety comes from connection, community, and care. Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about community meetings and opportunities to get involved in building safer schools for all our children.
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