New CPS Board Members to be Sworn in April 9th

      By Roger McKinney -Columbia Daily Tribune

Susan Blackburn and Teresa Maledy on Monday will be sworn in as new members at the start of the Columbia Board of Education’s monthly meeting, the first new board members since 2014.

Board members will also choose a new president and vice president.

Blackburn and Maledy were the top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s election. Incumbent board President Darin Preis didn’t seek re-election and incumbent Christine King was defeated.

Blackburn and Maledy were asked Friday how they would make their voices heard on a seven-member board.

“I’m not so worried about having my voice heard,” Maledy said. “I’m more interested in learning the nuances of Columbia Public Schools. I’m not concerned with not being heard, I’m more concerned with working with a team.”

Blackburn said she’s ready to get to work on the issues she campaigned on.

“I feel strongly about improving student achievement and improving safety and security in our schools,” she said. “I know other board members share those concerns.”

Research shows early childhood education improves student achievement during a child’s school career. CPS has some pre-kindergarten options for children ages three and four. Early Head Start, through Central Missouri Community Action, is available to children from families with the lowest income, but even then, space is limited.

Maledy has seen the research as a board member with the Cradle to Career Alliance, a not-for-profit organization made up of government officials and business and community leaders focused on improving educational outcomes for local students.

“I think we need to collaborate with different partners in the community,” Maledy said. “I believe Central Missouri Community Action Early Head Start offers the best path forward. Grant Montessori School is another example of a great public-private partnership, though it’s for ages three to five.”

Blackburn praised the strength of Columbia Public Schools’ Title I preschool program, which provides services to low-income families, and other initiatives targeting children before kindergarten.

“We have a strong Parents as Teachers program,” Blackburn said. “We need to find ways to expand these programs for more opportunities to reach preschool-age children.”

Parents as Teachers is a program in which CPS “parent educators” visit the homes of families with young children to track the child’s development.

Board members don’t talk freely about contract negotiations with Columbia Missouri National Education, the teacher’s union, when they’re happening, but before those restrictions are in place, both Blackburn and Maledy said as board members, they will always listen to teachers.

“My whole campaign has been about advocating for better pay and working conditions for teachers,” said Blackburn, a former reading recovery teacher and district coordinator. “I think probably we’ll be able to hear all points of view.”

Maledy during the campaign said attracting and retaining good teachers should be a district priority.

“Compensation is one component of that,” she said. “There’s a really strong relationship between CPS and CMNEA. Our goals are aligned. We have a strong relationship and we need to look for ways to strengthen the relationship.”

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. at the CPS administration building, 1818 W. Worley St.