news-record.com

The next 90 days will be busy ones for the three newly elected school board members.

Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green and board Chairman Alan Duncan welcomed Carlvena Foster, Sandra Alexander and Paul Daniels to the board Wednesday morning during a press conference along with re-elected board members Kris Cooke and Darlene Garrett.

Board member Amos Quick, also re-elected Tuesday, did not attend.

The three newcomers gave some insight into what their first three months on the board may look like during the meeting, with all saying they will build on work they were already involved in.

Daniels' plans are the most broad and lofty of those mentioned during the meeting. Daniels, who ran unopposed in District 5, campaigned on a reform platform, arguing for more parental involvement and student responsibility. He said he will spend the next 90 days working on building a base of support for redistricting to re-establish neighborhood schools.

"I think that kids should go to the school that they live closest to," Daniels said.

He also will work to bring a workshop to Guilford County that would discuss ways of improving parental involvement in the county's poorest schools. The board voted against a request to send a large group of parents to a similar workshop in Alabama last month, citing the high cost.

Alexander, who defeated High Point banker Michael McKinney for the At-Large seat, said she will make improving school climate and raising expectations her priorities in her first 90 days.

"I hope to begin to focus on those issues that directly involve the lives of our children," she said.

Foster said she will be visiting the schools of District 1 during her first 90 days. Foster ran unopposed but said she will not take that as unfettered support. She intends to build relationships between parents, students and teachers by taking a grassroots approach.

"I want to be able to see first-hand what goes on in the classroom," to see what's working and what isn't she said.

The new board members will be invited to attend the next regular school board meeting scheduled for Nov. 13 and will take office Dec. 2.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com.