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“Our board works as a team to work for the betterment of Buena Vista schools. I feel I have been a contributing member of the team. My experiences, past and present, have proven invaluable during my terms as a Buena Vista School Board member,” said Teressa Ellison, current chair of the Buena Vista School Board, who is running for reelection.
If elected to another term on the Board, Ellison would work to continue efforts on safety improvements and academic achievement for Buena Vista students.
“Safety improvements have been made through local efforts with law enforcement,” she said.
“I hope to continue working to improve our school division. Our schools are accredited. The School Board, administrative team, teachers, parents and students have worked hard to make academic achievements,” she said. “Providing a positive and safe learning environment that fosters teaching and learning is essential. We must continue to address all these challenges and more.”
Ellison also noted improvements in teacher and staff salaries in her time on the School Board, while acknowledging that the division will have to continue its work in this area to remain competitive.
“We have made some improvement with teacher and staff salaries. We hope to continue to hire and retain qualified and quality teachers,” she said. “One major way to address teacher recruitment and retention will be to improve teacher salaries. Our division needs to work to make salaries competitive.”
Funding will be a challenge, in this area and in others, Ellison said.
“Funding is always a major concern. We need improvements with facilities. Teacher recruitment and retention in this day of teacher shortage is a challenge. Working to maintain safe schools is essential,” she said, adding that, “We must work as a team to come up with viable solutions.”
Student mental health is another challenge, one that Ellison would like to see addressed through greater accessibility of programs for both students and staff and through increased outreach to both students and parents.
“Making programs and services and personnel available will help address mental health issues. We need to be aware of the needs of teachers as well,” she said. “Families need to feel comfortable informing the school about concerns they have with their children.”
Ellison said that teamwork will be critical for the division moving forward, and expressed faith in Buena Vista’s fighting spirit.
“Teamwork is important. We have a common goal - our children and the future of our city. Buena Vista has always had a fighting spirit. There is a resilience to overcome adversity and a persistence to succeed,” she said.
“When we have challenges, we work together. We share our successes and continue to look to the future.”
