News About The School Board Recount

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

Hello Friends and Supporters,

As you can imagine, there has been much discussion this week regarding going forward with a recount of the school board election, given the fact that after the provisional votes were counted, we were so close-- only 16 votes from an automatic recount. It has been amazing how everyone has pulled together and committed pledges to help cover the cost of a recount. The way you have stuck it out with me means more to me then I can express in words. I know that you are hoping that I can pull out this election and take a seat on the Lakewood Board of Education; however after considerable thought and research into the process, I have decided not to go forward with a recount and hope that you will understand and support my decision. The journey and process of campaigning, meeting my fellow citizens, and putting forward values that are important to you has been an incredible experience. I think that the most positive step I can take now is to continue this journey by continuing to advocate for our students and for the ideals that so many of us share as a member of the community.

The members of my campaign committee and I hope that you will join us as we continue our work toward helping parents have a larger voice in school district decisions. Now more than ever it is important that we remind our school board members that they are elected to be our representatives and that they have a duty to consider what we value for our children and community.

Although I will not be serving as a member of the current school board I am dedicated to the goals that I set forth in my campaign:

1. To finish Lakewood High School
2. To allow a committee of diverse citizens to provide oversight of school finances and of the current treasurer
3. To allow community access to our facilities by opening up the gym to basketball and to honor the promise of allowing access to the high school track
4. To increase dialogue with parents in a meaningful way so that our values are considered in all board decisions whenever possible
5. To explore alternative ways to elect Lakewood School Board members. Current school board members all live in Ward 2 and represent interests of a select part of our city. Alternative configurations may include adding members (we can have 7), setting term limits, and electing members from wards and at-large to increase the diversity of representation

The challenges facing our school district are great, as you can see from the above list; there is much work to do. Our kids, teachers, and volunteers are what make our school district great. We have so much to be proud of in this campaign. This is not the end. The campaign process laid the foundation for future work toward improving the transparency and accountability of our school board and treasurer.

Visit pagsuyoinforlakewoodschools.com to receive periodic updates and information about our schools that affects you and our community. I am open to your thoughts, questions, and ideas so feel free to email me, or call me, anytime.

The holiday season is almost upon us, and I for one, am looking forward to spend some extra time with family and friends. I hope that everyone enjoys the holiday season. Hopefully, I will see you around town or at school before then.

Thank you so much,

Kristine

[Jim O'Bryan]

Kristine

Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to run. It has to be bittersweet coming
so close to getting elected, but I appreciate your willingness to put the schools first instead
of going through the recount, and letting this board get busy hiring a new treasurer, and
finishing the high school which I am sure are on the top of their list too.

I for one, understand what you were willing to undertake and some of the BS I am sure
you had to go through running for office in this city.

I appreciate the fact that you ran an honest, but positive campaign for an office with the
schools, something you have always been very passionate about.

I do hope you stay active in the schools and in everything else you do like the Lakewood
Family Collaborative, and of course the Lakewood Observer.

Please also thank Art, and the kids for letting you take this shot.

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