AACPS Mom Running For School Board Seeks Better Staffing, Restrooms In District 3

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Patch invited every candidate running for the Anne Arundel County Board of Education to complete a questionnaire on their campaign priorities. We are posting stories with their unedited, verbatim responses.

Get to know District 3 candidate Erica McFarland below.

Voters can check what district they live in at this link. Early voting runs from May 2 through May 9. The primary election is on May 14. The General Election is on Nov. 5. More information on voting locations, registration, mail-in ballots and dropbox ballots is posted here.

Name: Erica McFarland (Newcomer)

District: 3

Hometown: Indiana, Pennsylvania

Age On General Election Day: 45

Profession: Office manager

Campaign Website: www.ericamcfarland.com

Campaign Facebook: www.facebook.com/friendsofericamcfarland

1. What are your three biggest policy priorities?

More so than specific policy priorities, I would like to ensure that policies already in place and policies that come before the board are looked at with an equity lens. With each decision, I think about who benefits from the policy, how each student might be affected, and who might be left behind. We have a diverse set of learners and we need to be mindful of the needs and available resources of each student when considering a policy.

2. What is the biggest educational issue in Anne Arundel County?

Currently, the greatest need is staffing. We need to have enough mental health professionals, special education educators, nurses, food service workers, bus drivers, and all other positions that are critical to the needs in our schools. In order to do this, we need to offer competitive pay in today’s market and foster a positive work environment where our staff feels valued. Once we are fully staffed, many of the other issues, such as excellence in academics, and college and career readiness, become much easier to address.

3. What is the biggest educational issue in your district specifically?

In speaking with parents, one concern is that at the high schools and middle schools, restroom issues continue to be a problem. Every student should have access to a restroom that is close by and safe. There have been problems with bathrooms being inaccessible due to either being locked or students hanging out in them. I understand that sometimes we just don’t have the staff to monitor the restrooms but perhaps with the “Be Present” initiative, volunteers can help be a part of the solution in keeping our restrooms open and safe. I’m interested in exploring possibilities.

4. How will you address the teacher shortage?

I am very interested supporting a Grow Your Own Educator program. Programs like this attract prospective teachers in our own communities through partnerships between school districts, colleges, and community organizations. Besides providing wrap-around services and financial support, it encourages diversity in the workforce that reflects the diversity of the student population. We also need to prioritize making sure that our current staff has the tools they need to be successful. We should leverage all of our resources, including advocating in our county and state government, to ensure that we have affordable housing so that those who work in our community can also afford to live in our community.

5. How will you approach balancing the budget?

I value the tax dollars that help fund the education of our children. I believe it is the duty of the stewards of the money invested in our children to spend wisely and to provide a good return. While recognizing that there are many moving parts and important projects and initiatives to fund, I am budget-conscious and fiscally responsible.

6. How will the end of pandemic-era funding affect your budgetary decisions?

I appreciate the funding supplied throughout the pandemic that ensured our students had access to technological devices, free meals, and other supports. For instance, Chromebooks were issued to each student to make virtual learning an option. As that funding ends, the cost to continue equipping each student with a Chromebook, as well as maintaining and repairing them, is not sustainable. An alternative has already been put in motion to keep a classroom set and to issue Chromebooks to families who need one. Additionally, our county has stepped in to aid families in need with free Chromebooks. I hope cooperation between AACPS and other agencies continues so we can work together to serve our students and their families.

7. How will you approach school redistricting? If your district is part of this redistricting, what are some of your priorities?

Redistricting is a challenge. On one hand, we need to meet the growing population in our school district and ensure that we are utilizing our resources well and keeping class sizes manageable. On the other hand, there will always be someone who is disappointed by a move to another school. I feel for the students who have to change schools due to redistricting but I am confident that our staff will work to make the transition as smooth as possible for those affected.

8. If you are an incumbent, why do you deserve another term? If you are a challenger, why are you the best candidate?

I work well with others, even when there are disagreements. I have the ability to remain calm and respectful of others and aim to always come to a greater understanding of different points of view and how we can work together. I firmly believe that each person has something to lend to a collaborative group. What I can lend is my heart. This may sound impractical, as there are so many practical and intellectual decisions to be made by the board. But what I have found is that when I lead with my heart, the rest comes easily. In every decision, I will be thinking about the people it affects- who it will benefit and if it will leave anyone behind. I carry the heart of a teacher and the love of a parent.

9. How will you handle LGBTQ+ and racial issues brought before the school board?

According to their statement, “AACPS prohibits discrimination in its educational programs, and in employment, on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or disability.” Additionally, policies are set forth that aim to protect against biased behavior and offer protections for students. I stand by these policies and will ensure that they are being followed. Every person in our schools should feel safe, included and valued. Forms of discrimination still occur against our black and brown and LGBTQIA+ students and staff. I will do everything in my power to work towards ending discrimination in all forms and protecting our black and brown and LGBTQIA+ students and staff.

10. How will you handle book-banning issues brought before the school board?

I trust our educators and librarians to choose a wide range of age-appropriate books that reflect the diversity of our student population. Reading instills a love for learning, develops a creative imagination, challenges our mindset, supports us through tough times, and teaches us about the world around us. We are all unique in what speaks to us and we have the choice to read a book or leave it on the shelf, but we need to maintain diversity in book choices so that we all have access to the books that spark our interest.

11. Please tell us about yourself.

I am a wife and military mom to two graduates and two current students at Chesapeake High School. To truly know me and what I stand for, you must first know where my heart is. Love is what drives me to service of others, what calls me to stand up for what is right and what motivates my very nature. It’s who I am. As a parent, I expect that my child will learn their ABCs and 123s but I also expect that they will learn to share with one another, to treat each other with respect, to listen to each other, to keep an open mind, to become a good and decent human being. This is what guides me.

12. Is there anything else we should know?

Through countless field trips, scout camp outs, career day, working in the classroom, being a cheerleading parent, helping out with the CHS Robotics Team, and in my mentorship positions as an adult leader, I have consistently shown up for our children. I truly believe that they can make the world a better place. I want to support that. I want to be a part of that. Helping our children to rise to challenges, come up with creative solutions and watching them soar would make me so proud. I think we are headed to a better future, led by our children, guided by our teachers, and supported by our parents and community.