Terry McElligott

In May, the citizens of Newberg and Dundee will have the opportunity to vote for three open school board positions.

Two years ago there were five positions on the ballot, and the citizens at that time voted for five individuals that advocated for financial accountability, high academic standards and school safety. That election helped start the rebuilding of Newberg school district, but the rebuilding is not complete.

The school board candidates voted into office at the end of May will be tasked in conducting a search and then hiring our next superintendent. The most important component of rebuilding the district will be made by this board when they select the top administrator to lead our schools. The Newberg school district will need:

A strong visionary capable of guiding a district’s mission and developing a strategic plan for its direction.
An instructional leader committed to improving academic outcomes for all students as well as an operational manager who understands the aspects of running a school district.
An administrator who will adhere to the law and board regulations, guaranteeing the purchases and expenditures are within the limits of the yearly budget.
A problem-solver able to identify and then address challenges that arise in a district no matter if they are academic, operational or financial.
An effective communicator in order to interact with the board, all district staff, students, parents and the wider community.
Three candidates, Aubrey Nichols, Celeste Jones, and Andy Byerley, possess the necessary skills for hiring a strong superintendent for schools and partnering with the community through this process. All three candidates work in professions that support students and learning, and all three are parents of current students attending Newberg schools.

In addition, all three recognize that strong schools build strong communities. Casting your vote for Aubrey, Celeste and Andy for the Newberg school board is a vote for rebuilding Newberg’s school community and a vital step as Newberg continues to move forward.

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Terry McElligott is a retired administrator and educator in the Newberg school district.