Dan's Priorities for the Mentor School District

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Optimal class sizes are essential to the success of both our students and our teachers. Key benefits of right sized classrooms include: 

• Individual Attention
• Student Engagement
• Behavior Management
• Collaboration & Communication
• Improved Outcomes

Quality education is the cornerstone of our work and I am committed to not only the best, but a variety of learning opportunities.  In addition to exceptional teaching of the State of Ohio Curriculum, it is important that we continue to support and improve: 

• Hands-on-Learning Opportunities
• Strong Special Education Services 
• Honors and AP Classes
• STEAM Integration
• Extracurricular Activities

Mentor Public Schools offer exceptional learning pathways and I am committed to maintaining and enhancing the strength of our offerings at all levels and supporting:

• Student Center Career Readiness Learning at all grade levels
• Comprehensive Career Technical Education with expansive & accessible opportunities
• Advanced Placement and College Credit Plus Courses
• Real World Learning integration

Students deserve to be safe and families need to trust that our schools are safe for our students. I am committed to: 

• Ensuring that the district follow through on the promise to to place an SRO at every building
• Maintaining a close and cooperative relationship with the Mentor and Mentor-on-the-Lake Police Departments and the Lake County Sheriff's Office
• Executing regular and thoughtful safety drills throughout our schools

Student behavior, including bullying, demands our attention. Careful and collaborative work is needed to  to create solutions, provide opportunities for individual improvement, and support those negatively impacted. I will focus on: 

• Accountability for actions
• Understanding causes & impacts
• Appropriate interventions
• Listening to students, families, & teachers

Transportation of our students is a significant responsibility. The District has made improving our bussing practices a priority, but work still needs to be done. I will champion: 

• Reviewing traffic patterns at each of our buildings to ensure safe & efficient drop off & pick up
• Complete the plan for the installment of GPS on all of our buses
• Use GPS data for accountability and to inform our bussing practices

The Mentor School District has a significant physical footprint. It is essential that we maintain the value of these assets.  I will encourage: 

• Continual Maintenance
• Regular Valuation Exercises
• Thoughtful investments in upkeep & impvovement

In recent years, the District has faced challenges that will continue to need our attention. I support  proactively and consistently monitor the cost and effectiveness of: 

• Transportation Assets & Schedules
• Space Usage
• Daily Schedules
• Administrative Costs

Mentor is a large school district with corresponding costs. We have to monitor, plan, and respond to our financial situation in ways that do not negatively impact the quality of education or our larger community.

• Maintain the highest level of integrity in our record keeping & reporting
• Continue to actively monitor our short term and long term financial situations
• Plan for possible changes in State & Federal Funding