My responses to BoE Candidate Questions from Moms for Liberty Carroll County Chapter

1. Please highlight what qualifications are most important for a BOE member and why.

Our Board of Education is charged to (1) oversee the Superintendent and senior staff, (2) ensure the school system’s compliance with applicable laws, (3) determine the appropriateness of curriculum and content taught to students, (4) manage the allocation and use of operating and capital budgets, and (5) work with elected officials and area business leaders to connect schools with our communities.

It is important that board members have a diverse set of skills to execute all these important duties. While a background in education is helpful, I believe it is a terrible idea to pack school boards with educators because few have expertise managing large organizations and budgets. In my opinion, ideal board members have extensive leadership experience, have relationships with external stakeholders (i.e., business leaders and elected officials so they can attract even more fiscal and educational support for students & staff), and have commitment to educating kids in an environment free of political and social agendas.

Finally, it is very important that board members be objective and consider the needs of all stakeholders – teachers, students, parents, and all taxpayers, including those who do not have children in the system. Board of Education members are elected by all taxpayers – not just teachers and parents – and they must ensure the school system is run efficiently. There must be a balanced approach to ensure schools are managed and operated in a way that is free of political and social agendas.

2. How many staff are employed in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion department? How is their success measured? What is the budget associated with this department?

After reviewing the entire budget, I was unable to discern the staffing and/or overall budget for DEI. It appears that about $75k to $100K is allocated across multiple categories for multi-cultural purposes. The budget didn’t clearly articulate the definition of multi-cultural and these funds may not necessarily be used for DEI instruction.

If elected to the board, I will ask the current Superintendent about the metrics she and the senior staff use to gauge success. I’d also like to discern whether these efforts are tied with mandates set forth by the federal, state, or county government. Moreover, it is important to determine if these efforts are tied to specific curriculum standards.

3. I hear a lot about the MSDE “Blueprint” for education. Can you highlight some key areas of this and how it will impact CCPS in the future?

Blueprint will have a significant impact on education in Carroll County. The state will increase funding for education statewide by $3.8 billion annually over the next ten years.

When the effort was developed in 2020, it was projected that counties would be required to provide a 50% match. The Blueprint initiative will very likely provide CCPS a lot more funds, but at the same time put a great deal of pressure on Carroll County Commissioners to find matching funds. The price tag will be enormous … and since voters approved the referendum, the mandates will be required by law.

There is currently a lot of unknowns on how funds will be dispersed to each county. The central theme of Blueprint is providing funds to low-income communities. If our next governor and the majority party in Annapolis use the Thornton & Kirwan Formulas as their guide, then I anticipate Carroll County will not benefit as much fiscally compared to other counties. Carroll County is considered a “wealthy” county compared to others. Let’s hope enough funds arrive to meet the many mandates. The five major categories of Blueprint include:

(1) Pre-Kindergarten Access

Targets 4-yr-olds and above whose families make 300% of the federal poverty level or less. Many area schools are already over-crowded … and we will need to consider the cost for educators, facilities, and bus transportation.

(2) High-Quality Teachers

Teachers paid $60k annually by 2030, plus another $7K when they achieve certification. This will create a huge cost for school districts. They’ll likely need to raise salaries for all employees across the board. In addition, the long-term pension costs will create an even bigger funding problem for counties across the state.

(3) College & Career Readiness

Students must be designated CCR in Math and English Language Arts by the end of 10th grade. Those that don’t will receive targeted interventions. Since credits will be required early, students may be unable to focus on elective credits in their Freshman and Sophomore years. I want to ensure students still have access to electives (i.e., arts, music, 4H / FFA, etc.) throughout their entire high school experience.

(4) Resources for At-Risk Students

Additional funding for areas of Maryland that attend schools with higher concentration of poverty. I believe that Carroll has just a few schools that meets Title I criteria. This segment of Blueprint (and associated funding) will likely benefit many other jurisdictions other than Carroll.

(5) Implementation & Accountability

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of Blueprint is a 7-person panel appointed by the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President. This group, likely outsiders and definitely not held accountable to Carroll voters, will have the power to withhold up to 25% of our funding, if they determine we don’t comply with their mandates. I’m concerned they’ll penalize Carroll if we ever push back on over-reaching demands and unfunded mandates.

4. We constantly hear that teacher’s salaries in CCPS are below that of surrounding counties. What is the reason for this and how can we truly tackle the issue, and should we? How does our rural tax base and teacher/student ratio impact salaries and is it fair to compare us to Howard or Montgomery Co?

Without question, the majority party in Annapolis has had the greatest impact on unfair pay for Carroll County teachers. The Kirwan Formula is incredibly unfair to Carroll. Eighty-eight percent of the current operating budget funds salaries, pensions, and other costs associated with employer group contracts. Just 12% of the budget accounts for everything else.

It is very irresponsible for my opponents to suggest they can deliver pay raises for our terrific teachers. There is nothing anyone can cut substantially in the remaining 12% of the operating budget. The County Commissioners already contribute about half of the county’s funds for education (including CCPS and Carroll Community College) – and this practice is on par with every other county in Maryland.

Other counties can pay their teachers more because they get substantially more state funding, they have a much larger tax base and population, and their residents and businesses are taxed very heavily. In contrast, Carroll County teachers enjoy smaller class sizes, much fewer classroom management and disciplinary issues, and a lower cost of living if they reside in Carroll. There are definite tradeoffs with teaching in Carroll compared to other counties. Unfortunately, there is very little the Board of Education can do to increase salaries without substantial cuts to what is currently funded by the remaining 12% of the budget. I am thankful that current BoE members have awarded annual bonuses to employees in the past to reward them for great work and offset the disparity in pay. Our teachers deserve so much more.

5. Are teachers overworked? How many hours per day does a teacher need to do his/her job well? What can be done to relieve some of the burden of overworked teachers?

As a former teacher, I can assure you that teachers do work a lot more than 40 hours per week. There are countless nights and weekends where teachers plan lessons, grade papers, and catch up on other administrative work. I will encourage the Superintendent to work with the educator association and teachers to discern how we can streamline processes, decrease onerous data-collection requirements, and somehow improve (and in some cases eliminate) unnecessary testing evolutions. We should rely upon testing and metrics to gauge success; however, we must look for balance.

6. Regarding private facilities such as bathrooms or locker rooms, should students have access according to their biological sex or gender identity? At what stage in the transition process, if at all, should a student be able to use the facility associated with the student's gender identity?

Unless there is federal or state law, I will always recommend a policy that students use designated facilities based upon their biological sex. If required by law, I will ask the Superintendent and staff to identify a plan of action for students undergoing reassignment or a change in gender identity.

7. Should a student’s parents be involved in the student’s gender transition plan? Are there any exceptions to this?

I will never, under any circumstances unless precluded by law, allow CCPS to withhold anything from parents. Schools should never replace parents – ever. If CCPS staff suspects children are under duress at home, then we should follow applicable federal, state, and local laws to report suspicious actions to law enforcement.

8. What plans do you have to advocate for special needs students in our schools? The Carroll County Special Olympics will not be sponsoring the spring student games anymore - what are your plans to ensure that this vital event continues?

As a parent of a special needs child, I will work closely with the Superintendent and staff to ensure we meet federal, state, and local laws with regards to special needs cases. We must ensure our teachers are provided with necessary services, including Special Educators and other staff, to help augment classroom learning. I will ask the staff about the Special Olympics issue. I wasn’t aware the event will no longer be sponsored by CCPS.

9. Do you support or oppose routine mental health screening for students? Why/why not?

I am unaware of any special mental health screening in Carroll County. My first question for the Superintendent will be whether the requirement is based upon federal or state mandates. I’d be very interested to learn what data is being collected, the recipient of any data, and the overall purpose.

10. Do you believe in the right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children? In what case, if any, should the school system supersede the rights of parents?

The fundamental purpose of local boards of education is to ensure schools prepare kids for the future. Schools should always reflect the values of local communities. We should ensure our kids understand, cherish, and somehow improve our county’s heritage and way of life. Schools should never supersede or replace parents – never. I will guarantee transparency and do everything I can to facilitate teacher-parent partnerships. The research is clear – kids achieve even better results academically when parents are involved in their education.

11. What organizations have you volunteered for in the past five years, and in what capacity?

I have extensive experience leading for- and non-profit organizations. I have a diverse set of skills I’ve acquired over the years, including corporate governance, strategic management, and fiscal management of very large budgets. The specific organizations I’ve been a member of include:

• Board of Directors; Tower Federal Credit Union; a 501(c)(1) non-profit

• President, Westview Park Community; a 501(c)(3) non-profit

• President, Coalition for Preservation of SW Baltimore County; a 501(c)(4) non-profit

• Treasurer, Crosby Crossing Swim Club; a 501(c)(7) non-profit

• Board of Directors; American Legion Post 109; a 501(c)(19) non-profit

• Member, Freedom District Lions Club; a 501(c)(3) non-profit

• Vice Chairman, Carroll County Veterans Advisory Council

I’d also like to highlight my undergraduate and post-graduate education & training.

• Associate of Arts (General Studies) degree; Catonsville Community College

• Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) degree; Excelsior College

• Master of Science (Management) degree; Troy State University

• Master of Science (Education) classes; Johns Hopkins University

• Doctorate (Management) all classes completed; University of Phoenix

Finally, I’d like to mention that I served proudly in our U.S. Navy for twenty years

• Ten years in the enlisted ranks as a Persian-Farsi linguist (language of Iran)

• Ten years as an officer, with several years at Fort Meade’s National Security Agency

• Earned Combat Action Ribbon and the Air Medal, accumulating over 700 flight hours

12. In what situation, if any, should masks be required for students?

Based upon the current information available, I do not support COVID-19 mask or vaccine mandates. Instead, I support choice for staff, students, and parents. I will always listen to and carefully consider the advice of healthcare professionals. I will always weigh the health benefits and adverse aspects of masking when reaching a decision.

I applaud the efforts of our current Board of Education to consider all the facts during the pandemic. Our Board of Education led the way to make masks and vaccines optional for other counties. I am so thankful they didn't force a solution, but instead allowed parents and staff to consult with their healthcare providers on COVID-19 issues.