Vote Lippert for Oneida school board

Ten years ago I introduced myself to the voters in the Oneida City School District as a write-in candidate for the school board. Today, I again ask for your vote and to address, “What has changed in 10 years?” Almost everything, as life is always in flux.

While serving on the OCSD school board, I have kept up-todate on educational issues by attending many NYS School Board Institute workshops and presentations on school law, school curriculum and community concerns. I was pleased to have been one of 25 school board members from all of NYS to be invited to participate in a workshop presented by our then-commissioner John King to help NYS put some common sense into the Common Core curriculum.

This year, there is a new federal approach, ESSA— Every Student Succeeds Act. Education has always been data driven; but the scope of data collected has expanded to such a degree that schools have needed to hire additional data personnel to collect and summarize it. These data reports help definewhat needs to be accomplished in our schools.

It is an ongoing learning experience to be part of our school board. My teaching career spanned 34 years; 22 of whichwere happily spent at Oneida High School. Previously, my teaching years were spent in Spencerport, Brockport and at the NYS Correctional Facility in Albion. Those years taught me much; being a school board member has taught me a different dimension of our educational system.

During my tenure as a school board member, I have cast numerous votes onmany agenda items. Very few of those votes were the result of easy decision-making. Education is a serious and everchanging dynamic –back “awhile” there was a giant outcry when school boards decided to drop Greek fromits high school curriculum! It is the one privilege offered to all; it is the gateway to our children’s futures; we devote the first 18-plus years of a person’s life to it.. Each and every one of my votes have been and will be cast in the best educational interests of our students and our community.

One thing has not changed: I amstill the proud parent of two Oneida High School graduates: Dr. Andrew Lippert, Academic Executive Officer of the Department of Strategy, Leadership and Management at the US ArmyWar College, and Kristen Lippert-Martin, published author of Young Adult science-fiction novels.

The OCSD provides such a wonderful educational foundation for our students. Our amazing teachers and staff are devoted to giving your children the BEST. Please vote YES for the school budget. Thank you to those supporters who gave me their time and their signatures to be a candidate for the school board.