On May 4, we will select our neighborhood’s representative to the Dallas school board. Three candidates are running for the District Two trustee position, hoping to replace Lakewood resident and board President Sandy Kress, who is not seeking re-election.
The candidates are Lakewood residents Roxan Staff and Deborah Bonar and North Dallas resident Pam Meyercord.
District Two includes Lakewood and portions of East and North Dallas.
The Advocate asked each candidate to tell us in 100 words or less why we should vote for them. We told the candidates we would publish their comments unedited.
Here’s what our candidates have to say about why they would like to represent us on the school board.
Roxan Staff
“I am seeking your vote for Dallas School Board on Saturday, May 4th. I can make a difference and improve the quality of public education in Dallas. I have the training, background, and commitment to do the job. I am a former teacher. My daughter attends Woodrow. My husband and I own a business. I have worked in our communities to improve our quality of life for over two decades. For Dallas to be strong, we must have strong neighborhoods. To have strong neighborhoods, we must have strong neighborhood schools. I will work tirelessly for our children and our schools.”
Deborah Bonar
“How Dallas’ students fair in the future, depends on how Dallas’ educators, administrators, and lay persons unite today. Those who choose not to participate in the search for improvements in our schools will be unwitting supporters of its decline. I enter this race as one who chooses to be a participant. We need to encourage more involvement within the business community, create more incentives for grassroots volunteerism, and augment higher education’s current participation. We all need to be held accountable for providing Dallas’ students with a quality education. My accountability would be to help implement these solutions if elected.”
Pam Meyercord
“Nineteen years of active participation in civic and educational groups, concentrating on children and education, prepared me for the job of Trustee better than I knew. In the Coalition for North Texas Children, Young Audiences of Dallas, or the Woman’s Council, as well as all the positions I have held in local and city-wide PTAs, I developed experience and a business-like attitude toward the budget process, personnel issues, setting policy, long-term planning, dealing with the media, and working with the Legislature. It will take hard work, good faith, and respect for others to succeed in this job.”
