This is the eighth story in an 11-part series featuring the candidates for City Commission and School Board. One story will be featured each day between Oct. 8 and Oct. 18.
Claire Harding
Candidate for School Board
Current job
I’m a volunteer, a mom and I have a part-time job at KU in a Ph.D. program as the graduate student assistant.
Current community involvement
I serve on the booster clubs at the middle school and the high school. I’m a member of the K-State Research and Extension Douglas County Extension Council Board. This is my fourth year on that Extension Council board. I volunteer in our school libraries. My kids are involved in Scouting program here in Eudora. I’m also a member of the Community Health Improvement Plan Steering Committee and that’s chaired by the Health Department in Douglas County.
Why are you running for election?
I’m running for re-election because I don’t think that the work that I’ve been able to do these last two years is done. I believe heartily that Eudora schools can be the best place to work and learn in our region and even in our state of Kansas. I’m committed and deeply engaged in that work, and I want to keep doing it.
The opening of Panasonic will have a big impact on the region. What steps do you think the school board should be taking right now to prepare for that?
I think that we’ve begun doing that work by being engaged. Our superintendent is engaged. We have a school board member who is in communication with the city, knowing what’s coming. Our superintendent talks to regional superintendents. We are actively communicating with the city to know what’s coming next. When big things happen, the school board will know because of that communication.
I think that we’ve already laid the groundwork by this bond work that we’re undertaking and sort of shoring up our foundation, infrastructure work, expanding classrooms in the high school. We’re really getting ready by building a high-class early childhood education center. That’s gonna be really critical for new families when they come. What are we offering our youngest students? I think it’s gonna be really important that we stay abreast of everything that’s happening by listening and doing our research.
How do you hope to improve the educational experience for students in the district?
I get to serve, and I love that I get to serve, on the Curriculum Coordinating Council. The Curriculum Coordinating Council is in charge of curriculum, instruction and assessments across the district. That team has district administrators, teachers from every building, parents and school board so that we’re really focused on all that happens in district classrooms.
Making sure that all of the work that’s being done meets the state standards and surpasses those standards so that our students really have the best opportunity to learn when they possibly can. The CCC is also invested in providing teachers and staff the resources that they need to give the students the best learning that they can in the classroom.
Nationwide, school districts have been struggling to hire and retain teachers. What role do you see for the school board in helping with that issue?
I think, for sure, we need to not ignore that it’s happening. We are very lucky in Eudora. We have incredible educators and incredible staff people, administrators supporting them. But we can’t forget that we need to take care of them.
When we support our teachers, that directly impacts our student learning and student success. We are so lucky in Eudora. We have the best people. We need to be really engaging with them to find out what they need. I know the human resources department is active in that. The board can also be committed to that.
Staff also play a critical role in keeping schools going: bus drivers, janitors, cafeteria workers, secretaries, etc. How do you think the school board can support and retain these employees?
I think the school board can do a good job of partnering with those people, involving them in the decision-making that we’re doing by following up on the surveys that we give them, by inviting them to the leadership committee. I know that they are, but really hearing what they have to say about their work environment and what their days look like. Providing a living wage is a great start, which we did for bus drivers just last month. We raised their pay. It’s about more than pay, though. Keeping them invested by involving them in the decision-making process.
I get to participate in a leadership program for district leaders. It’s the KSB Leadership for Tomorrow. I’m one of about 26 people from across the state: district leaders like superintendents and school board members. I get to travel around to different districts. I think we’ve made six of those trips.
I’ve been to Salina Public Schools and major, giant schools. Next month, we’re going to Augusta and Holcomb. It’s sort of a universal thing that school districts are talking about and district leaders are talking about, making sure that the people know that we care about them and keeping them here. In Eudora, we don’t have a vast shortage right now of those staff people, food service and school bus drivers, but that’s not the case across the state. We need to keep that in mind and do all the things we need to do to keep them here.
With the passing of the bond, there are a lot of changes coming to the schools, especially the high school. What do you think are the greatest needs in the district as it relates to infrastructure?
I’m glad that the bond could touch every building with the priorities. Absolutely, infrastructure is the first thing, to shore up our buildings now to prepare for, like I said, potentially expanding again in the future. Classroom space at the high school is where I think the impact will be felt first. Heating and the HVAC system and lighting and technology upgrades are things that people in the building will feel.
Expanded classrooms, a safe and secure entrance at the middle school are things that are visible to the community. The Early Childhood Education Center and the renovations we can do in our existing district building will be the next greatest impact that we can make by expanding our offerings to our youngest kids in the community so that families will get the best start that they can on our partnership with them on their students’ educational journey.
What would you like to see from the Legislature to provide better support for K-12 education?
We have got to expand special education funding. Meet the 92%, the judicial requirement. That is paramount. When the state funds our special education programs at the level that they are required to, statutorily required to, that frees up money to do all of the other things we want to do in our school buildings.
Eudora would feel the impact of thousands of dollars if we could have that SPED fund funded all the way to the requirement it’s supposed to be. I think that our legislators haven’t yet heard from everyone about the impact that it makes when they don’t do that. I know that I can do more, and I think that our community can, too.
What is the district’s greatest strength?
The district’s greatest strength is our people. In Eudora schools, I think everyone is focused on the same thing and that’s giving our students the best chance they can. Focusing on student achievement and student success for every student. We have passionate leaders. We have passionate educators and staff people all focused on the same thing.
Our people are deeply invested and deeply engaged in this work in a community that is fully supportive of what our school is doing. I was blown away and I was so proud to be a member of our community when we passed the bond with overwhelming support. I think that speaks volumes about what is possible for us.
What about the biggest challenges for the district?
I think the biggest challenge that we are facing right now is a bit of the unknown. We don’t know how much impact we’ll feel from Panasonic. It’s a real balance of moving ahead while also staying rooted, too. We’ve got a lot going on right now. Keeping our focus on the right now and balancing that with planning for the future. I think it’s exciting, and we’re gonna do well because we are engaged in the conversations and staying up-to-date on what’s happening, but it can be tough.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I am a consistent volunteer, and I say that that’s my second job and my first job is mom. My second job is volunteering, and school board is another way that I get to do that. I’m now engaged in policymaking and the work of being the best steward I can be for community support and tax dollars.
I think that my experience as a sub in every level of classroom, in all three buildings, has prepared me to see that side of what we’re doing in our schools. Being involved in fundraisers, concession stands is another way that I see what’s going on. Hanging out in the school libraries this year has let me provide support in a way that’s different than what I do around the school board table. But I think I’m well-suited to do both.
I really look forward to continuing the work.
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