The Start of the Journey

Friends, neighbors, fellow parents and residents of the Howard-Suamico School District - our Community:

I encourage you to join me in my journey to run for the Howard-Suamico School Board. I've spent roughly 25 years as a Database Engineer & Administrator, which is to say I provide the foundation upon which computer systems are reliable and predictable.

Interestingly enough, that concept applies to almost everything. We want our School District to be built upon a solid foundation and for it to be reliable and predictable. We want our children to be learning with their teachers and peers in-person, unless there is compelling data that indicates otherwise.

As an example, you may recall when the quarantine policy was adjusted in October. What I did in that case was analyze the efficacy of the policy in September, finding that just 4.5% of our children sent home subsequently tested positive, many with mild to no symptoms. For the children that were healthy all along, the quarantines amounted to roughly 25,000 hours of in-person learning lost in a single month.

The result of that policy adjustment was - absent symptoms - parents can choose whether to send their children to school. Parents need to be made aware of this data in order to make an informed decision. That takes considerable stress off both the district and the parents, especially our working parents.

The close contact quarantine policy is just one case where data analysis and transparency can help parents make informed decisions. We all want our children in a healthy classroom environment!

I look forward to this journey with you. Don't hesitate to reach out to me!