Get to Know the Bellevue Board of Education Candidates
Get to Know the Bellevue Board of Education Candidates
Early voter ballots began being mailed out from the Sarpy County Election Office on Monday, October 3rd. In order to help you get to know the candidates before you vote, we asked the six individuals running for the Bellevue Public Schools Board of Education three questions. Each candidate was asked the same questions and their answers are provided below. On the ballot, voters may select up to three candidates for school board. The three with the most votes will be elected to the board.
Aside from some minor formatting changes, the answers provided by each candidate are unedited and presented exactly as received.
Jump to a candidate:
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Maureen McNamara
Why are you running for the Board of Education?
My goal is to support the mission, vision, and strategic plan of the Bellevue Public Schools. It is vital that we keep in sight fiscal responsibility and sustainability, ensure that policies align with the functions of the school district, and expect and provide high-caliber opportunities and learning experiences for all.
What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
I was an educator in the Bellevue Public Schools for 35 years, beginning as an elementary teacher, elementary principal, and finally a director where I supervised a multitude of programs, both elementary and secondary. My education and experiences have provided a firm foundation to serve as an effective board member which begins with building relationships. My background will enable me to oversee what I view as two opportunities/challenges which must be emphasized.
First, the district is charged to remediate the social, emotional, and educational needs of students due to the recent challenges imposed upon the school environment. This will require a thorough study of data, anecdotal information, additional resources, programs and staff support.
In order to maximize the opportunities for students and staff, state and federal financial support is necessitated, thus my second point. Local property taxes have been sufficient to support public schools, however, state aid has not been sufficient to support the needs of the whole child or additional mandates.
In what school district or community activities/organizations have you been involved?
Elected offices held: Bellevue Public Schools Board of Education Vice President, Metro Area Board of Education Vice President, Bellevue Public Schools Foundation Vice President, Bellevue Woman’s Club Vice President
Husband Tim, Daughter Molly, Member at LifeSpring Church of Bellevue, Community volunteer, TeamMates mentor, Hobbies include playing the piano, gardening, swimming, reading, and community service.
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Phil Davidson
Why are you running for the Board of Education?
I am the Community Relations Coordinator for the City of Bellevue. I am very community minded and work hard to ensure that City of Bellevue residents are aware of what is going on in our community. As I work to cover and promote numerous events, it is obvious that a strong school district is essential to the growth and viability of the area that we call home. I feel that we have made great strides in the 6+ years that I have served on the School Board and I am running for another term to continue to support Dr. Rippe and his team of quality teachers and administrators in their efforts to further enhance the Bellevue Public School District.
There have obviously been a number of challenges over the last few years but there are also a number of opportunities that we will continue to work on capitalizing:
- We learned during the COVID pandemic how important it is to continue to ensure that we are meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of all students and team members.
- Teachers are the backbone of our strong school district and we need to continue to work hard to retain our great teachers while recruiting the next generation of talented educators as well.
- It is essential to continue to expand and enhance the curriculum and programs at the Frank Kumor Career Center so all students will have the opportunity to succeed in real life, after graduation, whether their future plans involve college or not. Mr. Kumor understood that college wasn’t for everyone and we are excited to see this program continue to grow in his honor.
- We need to continue to push for the grant funding dollars that are available at the federal and local level. The BPS has had great success in these efforts over the past few years and we need to continue to make these efforts a priority.
What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
My wife Trisha and I both graduated from High School in Bellevue and we have two sons that have graduated and benefitted from the education they received from the Bellevue Public School District. I graduated from Bellevue University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management and have been a resident of Bellevue for over 35 years. In the six plus years I have served on the Bellevue School Board, I feel that I have helped build relationships and brought a positive, common-sense approach to the school district. In a time where there are strong opinions and emotions on all sides on a variety of issues, I know it is important to not get caught up in the emotions of the moments and help make sound decisions that will help the district move forward. I believe strongly in the work that Dr. Rippe and Team BPS have done to get the district back on the right track before COVID-19. That positive and transparent leadership has continued during the unique and ever-changing times that COVID-19 created and I am excited for the future of the district.
In what school district or community activities/organizations have you been involved?
I believe in Bellevue and have been active in many community activities and organizations throughout the years. In addition to currently serving on the Bellevue School Board, I am also on the Board of Directors of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District. I have been the president of the Bellevue Community Foundation for the past three years and I am the co-chair of the committee that has brought the Bellevue Rocks! Riverfront Festival and the Olde Towne Christmas event to our city. I also serve as a liaison to the Light Up Bellevue Committee and work to promote their efforts to beautify Bellevue through lights. I have served as a volunteer coach for many different sports and organizations over the past few decades and was proud to serve on the Board of Directors for Bellevue Junior Sports Association for many years.
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Nina Wolford
Why are you running for the Board of Education?
Over the past 16 years, I have been fortunate to serve Bellevue Public Schools as a school board member. During this time, I have been a part of many decisions that have improved learning and support for our students and teachers. Over the past few years, I have helped our district pass the first bond issue in over 40 years. As a board member, I have helped monitor and support the use of these funds to improve district infrastructure, expand access to
technology for students and teachers, and improve safety and security in all buildings across the district. I want to ensure that we continue to be good stewards of the resources provided to us by our community taxpayers. Additionally, I want to support the district’s efforts to implement and execute the various strategies in our strategic plan. Over the past four years, we have made great strides to improve instructional practices and develop system-wide academic and
behavioral support for students and families. The development of the Frank Kumor Career Center continues to be a priority for me as we expand career opportunities for our students. Over the years, I have supported our teaching and support staff. The success of our students depends on retaining our current staff and attracting new teachers to the district. If re-elected, I will do my part to ensure that our teachers and support staff are fairly compensated and
supported. Finally, I want to help the district grow its connection to our parents and community. Parents are our partners. They send their children to us to be educated in the broad sense of the world. They trust us to teach their children to think, ask questions, write effectively, and explore ideas. I believe that a big part of our responsibility as educators is to make them independent learners who can become valuable members of our community and country. I hope to continue to serve as a member of the board of education and help the district meet its mission to be “Champions for Children.”
What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
I graduated college with an education degree and served many years as a teacher at Bellevue East and Bellevue West. As a teacher, I became keenly aware of district operations and processes needed to develop quality curriculum, instruction, and programs to support student learning. I have tried to be a supportive voice for the teachers in the district as I have served on the board. For example, I know the importance of limiting class sizes, so teachers have time to support students’ individual academic and social needs. I can relate to the stresses that our teachers are under, and I appreciate the work they have done throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Having served the past 16 years on the school board, I have been fortunate to learn more about all aspects of the district’s work, and I will use this experience to continue to help the district move forward. Five years ago I served on the district’s strategic planning committee
which helped the district develop our mission, vision, and belief statements. This committee also provided the district feedback in the development of our current plan. I have also been a member of the Nebraska Association of School Boards and served on their Board of Directors. I feel that I am well equipped to guide and support the work of the amazing teachers, staff, and administrators who serve our students and community.
In what school district or community activities/organizations have you been involved?
I have devoted many years to the district through my service on the school board. I am also a member of Bellevue Together. I am most proud of serving our community as a member of the Bellevue Public School Education Foundation. As a member, I have the opportunity to serve the district by helping the foundation meet its mission to support the students, teachers, and parents in a variety of ways.
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Christine Clerc
Why are you running for the Board of Education?
When my daughter started kindergarten last year, I was disappointed in the District’s lack of appropriate COVID-19 safety precautions since vaccines for children under 12 years were not yet available and the more contagious variants were on the rise—especially because they had done such a great job maintaining safe, in-person schooling the previous year. I regularly advocated for increased precautions in our schools to maintain a safe learning environment. However, the inaction of the Board and the Superintendent left me feeling that they could not adequately understand or support the needs of families/staff with young children or those that are medically vulnerable.
Attending the monthly school board meetings over the last year has inspired me to become more involved in serving our community in this way. I seek to increase the diversity of perspectives within the school board and to be an advocate for families/staff that may be struggling within our district.
My family has roots here and I’m invested in the present and future state of our community. I know that a quality education system is a major part of the foundation of a community and is important for the sustainability and growth of the city itself. I want to work together to strengthen Bellevue Public Schools and increase our standing among the metro area school districts.
What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
I’ve lived most of my life in Bellevue and am now raising my own family here, so I have a good sense of our local needs and culture. I currently have a 1st grader in the district. I also worked as a Physician Assistant in the city for 6 years prior to becoming a stay-at-home parent in more recent years.
I am committed to using my knowledge of child development and the problem-solving skills I gained as a healthcare professional to assist the District. As a PA I was trained to digest a lot of complex information and to collaborate with patients to develop workable solutions to various problems. I always seek to educate myself on topics of concern and will approach issues with an open mind and a willingness to listen and have difficult discussions in a respectful and productive way.
In what school district or community activities/organizations have you been involved?
Due to the pandemic and my responsibilities as a caregiver for our young children, I have been unable to be as active as I would’ve liked in our schools and community. I have attended and given public comment at the majority of the school board meetings within the last year. I was also involved with forming an online support community for parents and other concerned citizens in the Omaha metro area in 2021 regarding COVID-19 precautions in our schools.
As a family, we like to participate in the Bellevue Public Library virtual options for young readers. Most recently, I was able to volunteer for Bellevue Together’s Back to School Event to provide school supplies for deserving families. This coming year, I seek to be more active with our school PTA.
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Mary Moore Salem
Why are you running for the Board of Education?
I (Mary Moore Salem) am running for the Bellevue School Board for many reasons.
First, I received an email asking if I would be interested in running for office. I had never considered the possibility before. A School Board was something I could contribute to with my life experiences.
I was a teacher for 25+ years & have always loved education from grade school on. My mindset as an educator & lifelong learner is always present. I taught: P.E. K-6 in Council Bluffs public schools; primarily social studies & language arts for 7th & 8th grades at St. Mary’s in Bellevue; all subjects 7 – 12 including Life Skills at Cooper Village/a locked residential facility for boys in Omaha; & spent some time as a substitute teacher at OPS & Millard public schools. I’ve thrived with variety. I have experienced the ups & downs of being a teacher. My joys especially have been the students that I have worked with & gotten to know. I have had numerous conversations with parents on how best to serve their children. I keep on learning. Currently (From 1996 – present time) I am actively involved with young & older adults, many of whom are incarcerated, through an international program called Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP). We do workshops in prisons & the community. Focus is on conflict resolution skills, communication, building healthy relationships, etc. Right now I am facilitating every week at the Omaha Correctional Work Release Center. We learn from each other every week.
I started to research what was happening at Bellevue School Board meetings…other reasons i decided to run… I read minutes from past meetings & attended meetings. Past meetings did not show much if any discussion of topics. Mostly the Superintendent proposed items which were then approved by the Board with no discussion mentioned. I ask questions wherever I am, so this did not sit well with me. When I attended meetings, I was surprised & concerned with the animosity when the floor was open for people to speak on specific topics. These issues had been chosen by the speakers before. The topics concerned the use of masks, diversity, & the banning of books. When masks were no longer required, the rancor died down. I have been politically minded most of my life & especially so in the last couple of years. I have been concerned over the hostility I have seen in this country. I believe that I can help tone down the rhetoric when it shows up by listening & working to reach common ground & moving forward.
During those School Board meetings, I was hoping to see tremendous support for teachers considering all that they had been going through during the pandemic. I didn’t see that. That can be improved.
I was also hoping to see discussion on how to better help students “get back to normal”. I had been asking young people I met what they wished their school would do to help them…their answers were mostly “more access to mental health care.” There were anxieties over returning to regular classes after covid, a parent might have lost a job, looming divorces & other family stressors. Some were grieving the loss of a loved one during covid. Young people were also worried about relationships & the future. Many expressed insecurities & were trying to figure out how to deal with sadness as well as trying to figure out who they are & trying to gain a sense of belonging. As I sat & watched the School Board, my brain did what it usually does; it went to ideas/solutions. For the students – to investigate further what they wanted & needed, I would survey them hopefully through their school newspapers. I would also ask for their ideas on how to make their learning experiences more rewarding.
I would also survey teachers & all staff at BPS as to their wants, needs, concerns, & ideas. I understand that this has been done to a degree but has not been articulated to the public as far as I can tell. Parents too, from what I have gathered, want to be heard & consulted. The Superintendent responds to parents’ emails & calls. He responded to mine. Better & more communication can be done. This would help with transparency & better understanding amongst all parties. A young mother at the July meeting was concerned about Covid & masks. She was asking for a continuation of the past practice of letting parents at least be informed when there was an outbreak. She had already spoken with the Superintendent & was willing to take on the job herself free of charge. There was no answer for her. To me, that could be a win/win for all concerned. Parents could be informed & decide what precautions they might want to make for their own family. As far as “banning books” – a book club could be organized with discussion occurring. I’d be happy to run a pilot program on that. In AVP one of our guiding principles is “reach for common ground”. Another is “build community based on honest, respect & caring.” I have been involved with conflict resolution & non-violent communication for years. I also know of other facilitators that are currently helping to bridge the divides we see throughout the U.S. I believe in discussion groups & surveys. There are so many possibilities from different minds. We can find common ground & build a community of us.
Why run? I think I can make a difference through listening, discussing & engaging.
What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member? In what school district or community activities/organizations have you been involved?
My time at St. Mary’s School in Bellevue involved a microcosm of what BPS School Board does. As a member of their School Board, I helped handle budgets. We worked with pay schedules when it was discovered that there were discrepancies in teachers’ salaries. We came up with a transparent pay scale complete with pay corresponding to years served & extra classes taken. As a teacher I was on committees with other teachers, parents, & at times students when it came time to hire new teachers, choose books, write curriculum goals, & even hire a principal. As a junior high teacher I helped organize numerous fund raising activities from car washes to Valentine’s Day balloon & candy deliveries to traditional bake sales. I also got parents to help with dances & field trips. We had trips to a nursing home, had food drives & school supply drives for those in need. We sent cards to young people whose countries had much violence. I organized a special Career Day with numerous speakers. At one of my information gathering sessions before the primary, a Career Day was recommended. Within 10 minutes 6 people had come up with over a hundred occupations in which they believed they could deliver a speaker.
I believe in transparency & active communication. I offer to talk WITH any group large or small to discuss needs, wants, concerns, & ideas to continue to work to make BPS the best they can be.
While at Cooper Village I started a horse therapy program by talking with the people in charge of Omaha Home for Boys which owned the property where Cooper Village was located & also owned the nearby horses. It eventually developed into riding lessons through staff of Omaha Home for Boys. I also started a garden program. By contacting local businesses our tools, plants & seeds were all donated as well as tilling. By engaging students under my care, we had fund raisers that bought a TV & video player for our classroom. Each student could claim ownership of one of the many fishes in my 55 gallon aquarium & take it home upon release. Many items were damaged by outbursts at school, but that aquarium was never touched.
I would like to see an even more active role from the Bellevue community in our schools. I know the Bellevue Community Foundation does a lot for our schools. Individuals might want to do more. Again a survey could be helpful in identifying people that would contribute their time or money. As I was studying BPS, by mistake I went to the website of Bellevue Public Schools in the state of Washington. There I was amazed at the # of clubs & activities that their schools offered. Bellevue, Nebraska most likely has a wealth of people who could serve as “mentors” or club sponsors for photography, chess… whatever our students express an interest in. Background checks could be done through DHHS. Our education staff is overwhelmed. Community members could sponsor extras for students without putting more of a load on teachers.
Ideas to keep & recruit educational staff: The easiest & hardest is to pay teachers what they are worth. In recent months the Omaha World Herald has reported that millions of dollars have been given to Nebraska school districts through pandemic relief & money that was wrongly withheld due to inaccurate accounting. When asked if some of that money could be used to increase education salaries or hire more therapists, I was told that that money was already allocated to different projects way before the Omaha World Herald reported it. Couldn’t some “surplus” money have been used to increase salaries, or as financial bonuses for staff that go above & beyond, or paid training & a paid stipend to train others to be able to identify students “at risk” & might need mental health intervention.
Staff shortages make jobs harder. More ideas to keep & recruit staff…have “adopt” a teacher or bus driver or janitor or kitchen staff or school or specialty or grade & bring them lunch, send thank you cards, a gift certificate, something to show appreciation. This could be done by an individual, a bridge club, a business, a group of friends. On a snowy day volunteers could clear windshields of snow/ice; students could be involved in that as well. People have already voiced a willingness to do that last one.
Other community involvement has been taking care of elderly parents, learning how to survive cancer & surgeries & especially doing workshops with the Alternatives to Violence Project.
In closing I’d like to add my philosophy on what makes a student successful in life… to instill in each a love of learning by making it fun, experiential, & relevant; allow & encourage students to ask questions, to think critically, to dig deeper, & to be able to express themselves verbally & in writing; provide financial literacy education; expose students to careers early; to teach & model kindness.
Thank you. I hope I have earned your vote in November. If not, I will keep showing up at BPS School Board meetings & expressing the ideas I can gather from the community.
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Jim Moudry
Why are you running for the Board of Education?
I am a concerned citizen and grandparent. I am concerned about what our children are and are not being taught in our schools.
We must remove the distractions of destructive political agendas from our schools and return to the business of educating our children. For the 2020-2021 school year, Bellevue Public Schools ranked 129th out of 210 school districts in the State based on the standardized testing scores. We have to set high expectations and put the emphasis back on reading, writing, English, math, science, history, and civics. We need to raise a generation of civic-minded citizens with critical thinking skills so they can be productive and successful members of our community.
I will stand against the ongoing anti-American and anti-Christian bias infiltrating our school system. We must teach our children history without bias and engender respect for the United States Constitution, which upholds our values and freedoms. Instead of confusing our children regarding their gender and teaching them to judge one another based on the color of their skin, we need to teach our children that they are sons and daughters of God with a divine heritage and unlimited worth, and to treat each other accordingly.
Parents need to have transparency into curriculums, teaching materials and the contents of our school libraries. They need to have an input into what their children are being taught to ensure that their tax dollars are being spent wisely.
What particular experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
I grew up on a farm in MN. My father passed away when I was 13 years old, leaving my older brother and I to run the farm. I quickly learned the values of prayer, faith, hard work, responsibility, accountability, planning, and budgeting. Values that have served me well throughout my life.
I am a retired U.S. Air Force B-52 Aircraft Commander and Weapon Systems Acquisition Professional, a former adjunct instructor for the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, a former Bellevue City Councilman (2014-2018), and have been active in church leadership and teaching positions for over 40 years. All these have provided me experience working as a team, teaching adults and children, establishing and reviewing budgets, developing requirements and Requests for Proposal, evaluating proposals, and making source selections.
In what school district or community activities/organizations have you been involved?a
I am active in several community organizations to include Moms for Liberty, Children’s Health Defense, Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, Nebraska Freedom Coalition, Nebraskans Against Government Overreach, Protect Nebraska Children Coalition, Nebraskans Embracing Life, Life Runners, Nebraska Gun Owners Association, and Nebraskans for Founders’ Values.
