Priorities

  • Michigan’s public schools are underfunded to the tune of over $5 billion a year, and state legislators have failed to address this compounding and widespread crisis. As a result, districts across the state are facing budget cuts, difficulties with teacher recruitment and retention, and the inability to provide the robust programming and classroom support every child deserves to thrive. While steady stewardship at the board level has thus far protected Ferndale from the most drastic versions of these cuts, the recent failure of the Oakland County Enhancement Millage, and reductions in funding at the State and Federal level are some of the most urgent crises we face as we look to continue providing a high quality education in the years ahead.

    That is why one of my top priorities is working alongside our local, state, and federal officials to advocate for full and fair funding of our K-12 schools across the state. This includes rejecting efforts to pit funding for higher education and roads against funding for our K-12 schools. This also means fighting to change state law to make it legal to use state funds for necessary repairs to aging buildings for things like HVAC and classroom modernization, lessening the burden on local taxpayers.

  • Tech Billionaires and their vendors are aggressively pushing the proliferation of tech tools and AI in our public school classrooms. While we must ensure that the education we provide our students equips them with the knowledge they need to succeed, it is imperative that this does not come at the expense of student privacy and critical thinking skills, and educator discretion in the classroom. 

    Big Tech should not get to dictate the rules - the community must have the ability to determine the future of technology use in our classrooms. This means clear guidelines set transparently and with community input at the state and local level, so we have a meaningful say in how these tools are used. This includes ensuring AI is never used in deciding things like grades, discipline, or other major decisions. 

    We need clear policies that provide strong guidelines for educators and students alike that protect student privacy, ensure our educators are equipped with the training they need to use this tech appropriately, and provide for continuous, rigorous oversight of the use of these technologies. 

    I will use my leadership on the board to fight for strong standards at the local and state level that provide the clear and consistent protections we need to protect our schools and communities.

  • Public schools are the foundation of a strong democratic society, so it is no accident that they have been some of the first institutions targeted under the Trump Administration. From dismantling the Department of Education and ending civil rights protections for our most vulnerable students, to decimating funding for critical programs including special education, to insidious attempts to divert public dollars to private school voucher schemes, we must be fighting every effort to undermine this precious public resource, I will continue to fight efforts to divert public dollars into private school vouchers and charter schemes, and stand up for the funding our students depend on.

    Voucher programs are sold as "choice," but they drain resources from neighborhood schools, subsidize families already in private school, and leave less for students with the greatest needs. Ferndale's public schools serve every child, from those needing special education, to immigrant and multilingual learners, to LGBTQ+ students, to low-income families without exception. That's why they need full public funding, not a shrinking share of it.

    As your school board member I will continue to oppose diverting public education funding to private vouchers, fight for Ferndale's fair share of special education and Title I funding, and protect our most vulnerable students from policy rollbacks. Public money should fund public schools. Full stop.

  • Every single student deserves a quality public education that serves their needs and provides them with the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Access to a free, appropriate public education isn't a favor the state extends to students with disabilities, it's a civil right, protected under federal law through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Public schools are the only institutions in the state with the obligation to provide this education to every student with special needs, and I take that responsibility seriously. When Michigan underfunds special education, it isn't just a budget shortfall. It's a failure to uphold that right for thousands of students, including students right here in Ferndale. Recent state funding changes help, but they're not full funding, just Michigan finally paying the allowance it always owed. 

    Beyond funding, there are changes that can be made at the district level to provide special education students and their families the support they need now, like parent advocates that can help navigate a confusing system.

    On the board I will continue to treat full special education funding as a civil rights issue and advocate for more investments in critical programs and support staff, and work with our Superintendent, parents, and students to continue improving how we administer programs in our district.

Public education is the cornerstone of a strong democracy and a vibrant community. Jessica is already taking on the issues facing our students, teachers, and families. Read about her priorities for Ferndale Schools:

  • Michigan’s public schools are underfunded to the tune of over $5 billion a year, and state legislators have failed to address this compounding and widespread crisis. As a result, districts across the state are facing budget cuts, difficulties with teacher recruitment and retention, and the inability to provide the robust programming and classroom support every child deserves to thrive. While steady stewardship at the board level has thus far protected Ferndale from the most drastic versions of these cuts, the recent failure of the Oakland County Enhancement Millage, and reductions in funding at the State and Federal level are some of the most urgent crises we face as we look to continue providing a high quality education in the years ahead.

    That is why one of my top priorities is working alongside our local, state, and federal officials to advocate for full and fair funding of our K-12 schools across the state. This includes rejecting efforts to pit funding for higher education and roads against funding for our K-12 schools. This also means fighting to change state law to make it legal to use state funds for necessary repairs to aging buildings for things like HVAC and classroom modernization, lessening the burden on local taxpayers.

  • Every single student deserves a quality public education that serves their needs and provides them with the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Access to a free, appropriate public education isn't a favor the state extends to students with disabilities, it's a civil right, protected under federal law through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Public schools are the only institutions in the state with the obligation to provide this education to every student with special needs, and I take that responsibility seriously. When Michigan underfunds special education, it isn't just a budget shortfall. It's a failure to uphold that right for thousands of students, including students right here in Ferndale. Recent state funding changes help, but they're not full funding, just Michigan finally paying the allowance it always owed. 

    Beyond funding, there are changes that can be made at the district level to provide special education students and their families the support they need now, like parent advocates that can help navigate a confusing system.

    On the board I will continue to treat full special education funding as a civil rights issue and advocate for more investments in critical programs and support staff, and work with our Superintendent, parents, and students to continue improving how we administer programs in our district.

  • Tech Billionaires and their vendors are aggressively pushing the proliferation of tech tools and AI in our public school classrooms. While we must ensure that the education we provide our students equips them with the knowledge they need to succeed, it is imperative that this does not come at the expense of student privacy and critical thinking skills, and educator discretion in the classroom. 

    Big Tech should not get to dictate the rules - the community must have the ability to determine the future of technology use in our classrooms. This means clear guidelines set transparently and with community input at the state and local level, so we have a meaningful say in how these tools are used. This includes ensuring AI is never used in deciding things like grades, discipline, or other major decisions. 

    We need clear policies that provide strong guidelines for educators and students alike that protect student privacy, ensure our educators are equipped with the training they need to use this tech appropriately, and provide for continuous, rigorous oversight of the use of these technologies. 

    I will use my leadership on the board to fight for strong standards at the local and state level that provide the clear and consistent protections we need to protect our schools and communities.

  • Public schools are the foundation of a strong democratic society, so it is no accident that they have been some of the first institutions targeted under the Trump Administration. From dismantling the Department of Education and ending civil rights protections for our most vulnerable students, to decimating funding for critical programs including special education, to insidious attempts to divert public dollars to private school voucher schemes, we must be fighting every effort to undermine this precious public resource, I will continue to fight efforts to divert public dollars into private school vouchers and charter schemes, and stand up for the funding our students depend on.

    Voucher programs are sold as "choice," but they drain resources from neighborhood schools, subsidize families already in private school, and leave less for students with the greatest needs. Ferndale's public schools serve every child, from those needing special education, to immigrant and multilingual learners, to LGBTQ+ students, to low-income families without exception. That's why they need full public funding, not a shrinking share of it.

    As your school board member I will continue to oppose diverting public education funding to private vouchers, fight for Ferndale's fair share of special education and Title I funding, and protect our most vulnerable students from policy rollbacks. Public money should fund public schools. Full stop.