Stacy Gray For Board Of Education

Today was AWESOME!  Today is what this has been about all along.  It was a day of refocus and campaigning.  I walked 2 neighborhoods from 9-5 and nothing beats knocking on a door, explaining your goals and hearing, “You have my vote!” That’s when you know why you take on something like this.  It was so refreshing to talk about education and academics today.  I love talking about learning, and today I got to do that throughout a massive development of families with school aged children.  Of course they wanted to know what I would do differently.  My response has always been consistent- I will bring a totally different perspective that is currently absent from the board- that of a parent and educator.  People told me how they have had bad experiences and good.  Some told me their emails aren’t returned, others said how wonderful the teachers are that their children have had.  What resonated the most is how involved and concerned they are about the future of their children’s education.  I was sad when one gentleman pointed to about 4 neighbors and told me that those people pulled their kids out of Deptford schools and put them in private schools.  I graduated from Deptford and am proud of the education I received.  I was well prepared for college and life after high school. The most shocking and upsetting story I heard today was with a man who told me that his girls won’t go to Deptford after 6th grade.  I assumed and asked if he was sending them to private school.  He said, “No, I’m going to put my house on the market and we’ll move!”  That is just unacceptable that someone is willing to not only leave our district, but our community!  That is why I am running and that will be my focus, where are we going wrong and why?  We are in dire need of refocus!  The current board has done a good job of holding the line on taxes.  I am a taxpayer too and I am grateful that the school district has had a zero increase especially with the reassessment.  However, I read their flyer and don’t see the focus on the academics.  It’s wonderful to save thousands of dollars in trash removal and energy costs but how does that also equate to better and more successful learning?  This election is so much more than signs and politics.  It is about our children and ensuring that our students can compete in a global society in mathematics, science and technology.  We need to move forward and graduate marketable young adults.  We need problem solvers and creative thinkers!  Our businessmen will continue to focus on the dollars and cents and I will focus on academics.  Together we will work to move this district forward and reap the successes of a school system that offers a solid foundation for our community and our future!  This is bigger than me and every other board member, this is about putting Deptford back on the map!  Today was AWESOME!  Can’t wait for tomorrow :)  3 more days!