Race to Watch: Gordon, Read Face-Off for Dexter School Board Trustee

While all eyes have been on the race between President Obama and Mitt Romney, locally the outcomes of several elections could change the makeup of boards and councils in Dexter.

One race to watch is the election for a part-time position on the Dexter Community Schools Board of Education.

Current incumbent Chris Gordon faces Dexter resident Barbara Read in the race.

Gordon was picked by the board to replace trustee Kim Covert in February. A former U.S. Navy pilot, Gordon said if elected, he will work closely with other members of the board to reduce the impact of revenue reductions in the classroom.

"Ours is a dynamic, growing district that deserves to be represented with high expectations and responsible stability during the myriad challenges we are facing. I use my perspectives as a parent and perennial school volunteer, my extensive leadership experience, and my steadfast commitment to the community to meet these challenges," Gordon said.

"I understand the role of a trustee is to see the big picture and to focus on policies and priorities rather than micromanaging the daily operations of the district. I work effectively with my Board of Education colleagues to minimize the impact of revenue reductions on the classroom and to promote the achievement of all students throughout their Dexter Community Schools experience."

Read, a parent and volunteer in the district, is campaigning on a platform of communication and transparency.

"Many parents have expressed their concern that they do not have a voice with the board of education. Dexter parents want to feel that their ideas and concerns are heard by the board. As a board of education trustee, I will be an advocate for the parents of Dexter to ensure their opinions are expressed and considered at all board meetings," she said.

"The school board has tough choices to make when considering among options, and parental input is vital. Our No. 1 priority for the district must be to provide a meaningful education for every student we serve. I will work to establish clear academic achievement standards to ensure that students graduating from Dexter Community Schools are prepared to succeed in adult life after high school in this challenging economy, whether their plans include college, vocational training, or some other path."

You can read more about Chris Gordon at http://www.gordon4dexterschools.org.

You can read more about Barbara Read at http://www.barbararead.org/