(9/27) Hello again to the Northern Frederick County community! As you read this article the most important Board of Education election is quickly approaching. Some of you may have already received your mail-in ballots, early in-person voting begins October 26th and November 3rd is right around the corner.

Thanks to the pandemic, we are facing a new reality in education. The effects on our educational system and the impact on our students will be felt for many years to come. In order to minimize these impacts it’s going to take leadership, cooperation and creativity from our Board of Education members, teachers, staff, parents, students and the entire community.

Almost immediately after being sworn in, new Board of Education members are going to be faced with some difficult decisions and a number of challenges that will need to be addressed.

The most pressing question will be whether we return to our brick and mortar schools for the 2nd semester and what will that look like, or will we still be teaching our students via Distance Learning? Our number one priority should be the health and safety of our students, staff and families but we must also take into account the impact of Distance Learning on the social, emotional and academic well-being of our students.

Even now some students have returned to the classroom in small groups. By December we will have learned a great deal from these interactions that we should be able to apply to our plans for returning all students to in-person learning.

In last month’s article I discussed a number of initiatives that were started or planned prior to the pandemic. Expanded mental health services, addressing racial, geographic and economic equity and improving access to our Career & Technology Center.

Regardless of when we return to the classroom, we should be working behind the scenes to ensure that when our students do return, they are returning to the best learning environment possible.

We’ve identified the "what", now we need to discuss ‘how’ we execute these important initiatives.

To execute these plans, our Board of Education will need to take a more active role in working with our local, state and federal representatives. Board members have to spend more time with these representatives finding new ways to fund valuable initiatives and encouraging future investment in Frederick County schools.

FCPS should also consider forming a non-profit Foundation that could take advantage of educational grants and solicit funding from our community partners. Many Maryland school districts, including Washington County Public Schools already take advantage of the investments a foundation can provide.

Additionally, we need to expand meaningful partnerships with local businesses and non-profits like the Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County, I Believe in Me, City Youth Matrix, Frederick County Housing Authority, Frederick Health, and Frederick County Mental Health Association. We need to collaborate and work directly with these organizations in order to develop a shared vision that will better all of our FCPS students.

We also need to begin negotiations on a new FCPS Teachers Agreement and address teacher’s compensation.

This is why this is the most important Frederick County Board of Education election ever.

My commitment, passion and experience will make me a valuable member of the Board of Education.

For over two decades I have been involved in mentoring and working for positive change in the lives of young people. I have served on the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County for five years, currently serving as Board Chair. I have spent 13 years volunteering as an Assistant Varsity Basketball coach at both Urbana and Oakdale High Schools. Professionally I have worked for a Fortune 100 company for 35 years and for the past 20 years I have owned and operated a small business in Middletown.

I have been engaged in the state of education in Frederick County for many years. I have attended dozens of Board of Education meetings and community forums. I have spoken publicly at Board meetings on a number of occasions and met privately with Board of Education members, Central Office staff, parents, students, community leaders, and teachers. I have also spent a number of days in Annapolis and on Capitol Hill advocating for youth and education.

A Greek philosopher once said, "A society grows great when men & women plant trees whose shade they know they will never enjoy."

Please vote Dean Rose for Board of Education and help me plant some trees!