KATIE’s PRIORITIES

The Lakewood City School District needs a new strategic plan that embodies who we are today and where we want to go in the future - not one with a sole fixation on building consolidation and past enrollment declines. There are radical politicians at both the state and federal level trying to dismantle public education in favor of charter and private schools - now, more than ever, a clear strategic plan will help us navigate these headwinds and preserve this sacred institution. Make no mistake - this fight starts at home, in our own back yards.

  • The Board of Education and Lakewood City Schools Administration should view our city as vibrant, desirable and filled with opportunities for growth rather than a district in perpetual decline.

  • The district has been following a consolidation strategy for twenty years; this has brought us to the point where it’s trying to consolidate brand new buildings. These are generational investments, not in use for a full decade, which taxpayers have only begun to pay for.

  • Lakewood needs a board that has the backbone to publicly discuss difficult matters so the community knows what they’re voting for, and to hold administrators accountable when they fall short of expectations.

  • All strategic decisions should be based on sound, objective and factual data, and informed by the entire community - not a hand picked, select few.

As a lifelong resident and Lakewood City Schools graduate, I believe in this community. I do not believe Lakewood needs to conform to an ex-urban, consolidated model for our schools. Our neighborhood school model is just one of the many things that makes Lakewood a great place to live, and is something we should go to great lengths to protect.