Families and community members deserve clear information about student progress and district performance. Too often, important data is difficult to access or presented in ways that mask real challenges. As your School Board member, I’ll advocate for transparency that builds trust and enables meaningful community engagement.
Understanding the Challenge
MMSD’s approach to transparency faces several obstacles:
- Data Accessibility: Important metrics about student achievement and program effectiveness are often difficult for families to find and understand.
- Budget Clarity: Complex financial reporting makes it challenging for community members to understand how resources are allocated.
- Decision Making Process: The rationale behind important policy decisions isn’t always clearly communicated.
- Reading Data: Information about reading proficiency is particularly critical, yet often buried within broader reporting.
My Approach
As your School Board member, I will:
- Implement User-Friendly Data Dashboards: Support the creation of easily accessible, understandable reports on key metrics, particularly reading proficiency.
- Require Regular Updates: Advocate for quarterly reporting on major initiatives, including referendum projects and literacy programs.
- Improve Budget Transparency: Present financial information in formats that clearly show spending priorities and program impacts.
- Establish Clear Metrics: Define specific, measurable outcomes for programs and initiatives, with regular progress reports.
- Expand Community Engagement: Support multiple channels for community input, with clear reporting on how feedback influences decisions.
Building Trust Through Honesty
True transparency means sharing both successes and challenges honestly. When 50% of our students aren’t reading at grade level, we need to acknowledge this reality clearly while showing our plan to address it. By making data accessible and decision-making visible, we create the conditions for meaningful community partnership in improving our schools.