Kimberly E. Cowan-Keane, a Republican candidate for the Clayton County Board of Education, District 9, which is around the Rex community, is running against Democratic incumbent Benjamin Straker Sr.
Cowan-Keane graduated from Clayton County public schools, went to college and eventually returned as a teacher. Other business experiences let her gain skills in talent recruitment, process management, and budgeting. Cowan-Keane is running on her experience in the system and as someone who will question the status quo, saying, for instance, the students in her math class have shown outstanding improvements every year “despite the obstacles presented by seemingly uninformed district policy.”
Top issues that concern Cowan-Keane are controlling the budget, teacher recruitment and retention and expanding and improving some innovative education programs that prepare students for jobs.
She is calling for a closer eye on spending. “The District recently borrowed $40 million against the property taxes to be collected in 2018,” she said. She pointed out the board increased the millage rate to the maximum permitted, and there will be a vote for a local-option sales tax for schools coming up.
“We are seeing a lot of strategies for increasing revenues for the district, but are we being equally diligent in identifying ways to control spending?” she said.
She believes an internal audit would provide assurance, insight, and objectivity on governance, budgeting and performance.
She is also concerned about attracting and retaining teachers. “If we do not address the teacher shortage, we will only perpetuate the issue because we will continue to increase class sizes, resulting in lower performance and increased frustrations by all stakeholders,” she said.
“We must look at long-term solutions, like improving the climate within our schools and district, reducing demands that detract from educator focus on student learning, and promoting opportunities for the sharing of best practices to facilitate our teachers’ work. In efforts to elevate the rigor of teaching and learning throughout every classroom and every building, we need to reward high-performing teachers and provide real opportunities for improvement for those who are struggling with more systematic accountability measures.”
She would like to expand innovative programs, such as one that trains students as firefighters and paramedics but is offered at only two schools. Technology and flexible programming or transportation could make that available to more students. She would like to expand dual-enrollment classes and build better working relationships with technical colleges and trade and labor organizations for those who are not bound for four-year post secondary educations.
She said will work with the current board and, “As a newly elected board member, I would bring a fresh and informed educator’s perspective to the concerns identified.”
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