Town Meetings are coming up in about a week, and in the Addison Central School District there are contested elections for three School Board seats. Your ballot will present a list of names for School Board seats, some familiar, some not. I bring to your attention the names of candidates who I believe will serve us admirably: Jess Venable-Novak and Ron Makleff. These candidates offer a fresh perspective, dedication and a commitment to collaborate with the other School Board members in meeting the challenges that our School District must address.

Jess Venable-Novak is a parent with two children in the district and so has a personal stake in the success of our district schools. Jess’ education includes a bachelor’s degree in justice and peace studies from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Jess has striven to understand the seven diverse communities within ACSD in order to serve us all with consideration and equity. Writes Jess, “I believe that the experiences of our students and staff should be considered the ‘north star’ to district decision making processes….”

Because Jess served as a member of the ACSD Action Team, Jess is a person we can depend on to represent all of us with equity, and who will avoid making assumptions about the needs of the students and our individual communities that are not based on Jess’s direct knowledge and experience. Jess writes that serving on the ACSD Action Team allowed learning “the real-life stuff that affects the everyday lives of students and families. I feel so privileged to have been a part of that group!” Serving on the ACSD School Board will not be easy, and the job cannot be taken on lightly. Jess has the spirit and energy to take this task on and do it exceptionally well. Look for Jess Venable-Novak on the ACSD ballot.

Ron Makleff, also the parent of a child in the district, has in his life demonstrated great courage in assuring that children have access to education. Ron is a lecturer in history at Middlebury College with a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. He has experience teaching middle school and high school students and has served as a substitute teacher in ACSD schools. He understands the value of the schools in each of the towns in our district and believes in greater collaboration between local community organizations and businesses to help meet the needs of our towns’ working families.

Ron will work to find the ways and means to reduce gaps in student achievement and smooth the integration of technology into classroom learning. As our schools face challenges emanating from state and federal powers, Ron will apply his experience and skills as a community activist to build solidarity between students, teachers, the ACSD Board and the people of the District to protect and strengthen public education in our towns. Remember the name of Ron Makleff when you read your ballot on Town Meeting Day.

Millard Cox

Ripton