"Collectively, we are all responsible for our schools and now is the time to turn talk and empty rhetoric into immediate action."
-- Malik Evans

My Platform

Education is the cornerstone of our community’s success, and as a community, we must renew our commitment to our students, their dreams and aspirations. Our young people need to be able to meet the demands of the 21st century; it is only through education that they will be able to meet these demands. As a graduate of the City School District, as well as the University of Rochester, I consider myself to be an example of how this system can work. It is time for our leadership and our community to assemble and work in harmony to address the problems at hand. This is why I am running for the Rochester City School Board.

Let's face it: People will not move into an area where many of the schools are not performing at high levels. Education is the only way to bring a person out of poverty and into a state of prosperity. We must confront the problems of lagging attendance, academic underachievement, lack of parental involvement and societal problems that transfer into the classroom immediately. Equally important is the relationship between the district and our community at large. This relationship has to be solid as a rock, because in the end it is our students who suffer when there is a break down in communication and constant bickering and infighting. I never have and will not endorse the blame game; we must all take responsibility for the state of education in our community. We must also however hold parents, teachers, students and the district accountable.

We cannot be so angry that we give up hope, and we must not be so hopeless that we stop getting angry. There is no excuse for failure in a community with strong higher education institutions, major corporations and hundreds of churches. I believe that together we can accomplish the goals of reducing the drop out rate, increasing parental involvement and forging strategic partnerships between our schools, churches, community organizations, corporations and universities. The disconnect between community, school and home has to bridged. The schools that have succeeded have been able to close that critical gap. I believe that it will take leadership to correct the chronic problems that have plagued this district, but it will also take creative solutions to help solve these complex problems. My main focus will be on Kids, Finances and Community:

Kids

Ensure that every student exceeds all standards, by pushing after school tutoring, and mentoring programs accessible for all students. Students spend roughly 35 hours a week in the classroom; the 133 hours spent outside the classroom are important factors in determining success. Education must not stop at the school walls. Tutoring works, by providing individual attention. There are thousands in this community that can serve as strong mentors for our youth. I call this initiative Operation Education. Improving student achievement will be my top priority.
Every student in the district needs to be involved in Youth Development Programs. Schools must be connected with youth service organizations that have a successful track record. These organizations will be directly connected to the schools. The goal here is prevention not intervention. We must develop our youth by developing their talents.
Hold parents, teachers, students and administration accountable for student achievement.

Finances

Any time there is a financial crisis it disrupts learning. I will keep a close eye on the financial health of the district by holding the superintendent, and my fellow board members accountable. I will tap into the goodwill of our vast array of community resources encouraging them to examine the budget and recommend possible cost saving measures. The question must always be asked, where do we stand financially?
Create strong partnerships with our various levels of government to ensure that the district is receiving its fair share of dollars. This can only be done by forging strong partnerships and maintaining relationships built on mutual respect. The entire community must be advocates for our youth.

Community

Parents must be engaged on every level of this district. I will encourage parent participation in all of our schools. Parent participation must be stressed from the top. As a board member I will advocate for parental involvement.
Every single facet of this community must be engaged in the educational process I look forward to working with the administration, board, teachers, parents and student leaders in concert with our excellent universities and colleges, major corporations, churches and community youth advocacy organizations for it will indeed take all of our combined good will and best effort to create change and promote success for all of Rochester’s children. I will push forward an adopt a school program, in which all schools in the district will be adopted by a corporation, church, non- profit organization or university. This will facilitate strategic partnerships in which our community resources will be leveraged to help ensure the success of our individual schools.

I know that by working together we can create an environment where all children will be able to succeed. I hope to inspire the community to rise above the politics and mobilize an effective call to action to make each solution a practice and not a political promise.