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Lynn Edmonds
Are you an incumbent?
No
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
Yes
4. If elected, what are your plans for working with the Wake County Board of Commissioners to achieve our schools’ needs?
I look forward to working with our county commissioners to secure the resources our schools need. In absence of necessary funding from state lawmakers, it is our duty as school board members to advocate for the resources our educators and students need to be successful.
5. How do you plan to engage and build trust with parents, employers, and other stakeholders of your school district?
I plan to be visible in my school district by meeting with school staff, parents and community members. I will listen to any and all concerns and work to improve working conditions for all staff and improve student outcomes. To build trust, I will be responsive and sincere in my efforts to meet the district's needs.
6. What will you do to improve school safety in Wake County?
WCPSS is already responding to vulnerabilities exposed as a result of a 2019 safety audit. I will continue that work and rely on the district security department to guide us in current best practices. School safety must include a whole-child approach and include anti-bullying measures, restorative justice practices, and a focus on student well-being.
7. What are the growing trends in student needs, and how should the Wake County Public School System address them?
Our educators tell us children are in need of more social-emotional support than before the pandemic. Child suicide rates have increased. We need more helping professionals in our schools to address these issues: social workers, counselors, school psychologists and nurses. These professionals are qualified to support student well-being and provide external, community resources for families that need them. Some of our students need more academic support. WCPSS recently launched a new tutoring program to strengthen literacy skills. I support that new program and will work to expand it.
8. How do you propose the Wake County Public School System overcome its current labor shortage? Please give specific steps you wish to see taken.
We must advocate for adequate state funding, including full funding of the Leandro Comprehensive Plan. In the absence of that, I will work with our county commissioners to increase pay for all school staff: teachers, bus drivers, maintenance workers, instructional assistants, etc. In an effort to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers, I'd like to review our existing "Grow Your Own" program and work to make it more robust. This program is for high school students that are interested in teaching in WCPSS.
9. What should the school system focus on to ensure children are ready for the jobs of tomorrow?
I believe WCPSS is already doing outstanding work to ensure our students are ready for the jobs of tomorrow. We offer CTE in every high school. We have five Early College High Schools that partner with Wake Tech and other local higher education institutions. We have offerings like a Digital Learning Academy in one of our non-magnet high schools. I'm interested in expanding such offerings, including CTE.