Jenifer Clifton, Candidate For Parkway School Board

Biographical Information:

Name, Age, Address: Jenifer Clifton,1456 Westbrooke Meadows LaneManchester, MO 63021

Occupation: Purchasing Agent

Education: B.S. Agribusiness

Family Spouse/Children & their schools: Husband – William “Bill” Children – Briana & William “Liam”

Years Lived In The Parkway School District: 11

Brief Background:

I am a graduate of Parkway South. I earned my B.S. from Southeast Missouri State University and have established a career in purchasing and supply management working for companies including AT&T andSigma-Aldrich. I am an active member of my parish, attending and volunteering on church retreats as well asother events. I earned a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and have enjoyed practicing and sharingmy art with others by teaching.

Reasons For Running:

I want the opportunity to enhance accessibility to and the transparency of our school board by boldly representing my community. I bring years of professional experience which has taught me how to achieve maximum results through careful and efficient management of resources which I will use to ensure our boardacts in a fiscally responsible manner. I believe that our children deserve the best education possible and, as amember of the school board, I will work to ensure our educators have the resources necessary to make this happen.

• What qualifies you to be a Parkway School Board member?

As a mother of two young children who will be entering Parkway Schools in coming years and a Parkway alumna myself, I have a vested interest in seeing that Parkway Schools offer our children the best possible educational opportunity. With my years of experience in procurement and materials management I understand how to achieve maximum results through careful and efficient management of resources.

• Do you feel Parkway Schools are as reasonably safe as they can be in the wake of the Newtown school shooting? Yes What is the most important thing you would like tosee the district do moving forward with regard to school safety?

I would like to see our district strive to ensure my children are as safe at school as they are at home. We should give careful consideration to all reasonable and fiscally responsible options to determine what we can do toachieve such a level of security.

• Identify the most significant area where you disagreed with the majority decision made by the Board of Education over the past two years and tell us why?

I don't mind having and expressing a dissenting opinion when a situation calls for such, but what has been done is done. I prefer to not focus on the past but look forward to the change I can affect as a representative of our community in future decision making opportunities.

• Is there a program or area of the school district budget that should be more closely scrutinized when it comes to evaluating possible budget cuts in future years?

Certainly there are always opportunities to reduce costs and increase
efficiencies. As I am not yet intimately familiar with all lines of the current budget for Parkway School District, I would not suggest I could name specific items that could or should be eliminated or reduced at this time. Any significant changes to the district’s budget should be given thorough review and consideration bythe School Board in public meetings.

• Do you support the merger of continuing education classes and programs with the Rockwood School district?

Yes

• What is your process for establishing priorities when it comes to budget cuts which could impact student instruction?

We need to carefully consider budget cuts which could impact student instruction being certain to ensure our schools have the resources for teachers to be effective instructors and for students to have the tools necessaryto succeed.

• What do you desire to change in Parkway?

I would like to continue to improve the transparency and accountability of the Parkway School District by being an accessible member of the board.