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Lisa Phelps (Virginia)
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Lisa Phelps is the Lee Hill District representative on the Spotsylvania County Public Schools school board in Virginia. Phelps won a first term in the by-district general election on November 7, 2017.
Biography
Phelps has served on the Spotsylvania County Citizens Budget Review Committee and the Special Education Advisory Committee for Spotsylvania County Public Schools. The 2017 election was her first time running for office.[1]
Elections
2017
Three of the seven seats on the Spotsylvania County Public Schools school board in Virginia were up for by-district general election on November 7, 2017. In his bid for re-election to the Battlefield District seat, incumbent Baron Braswell ran unopposed and won another term. Incumbent Erin Grampp defeated challenger April Gillespie for the Berkeley District seat. In the race for the Lee Hill District seat, Lisa Phelps defeated Kathryn “Kassie” Palmer, who was appointed to the formerly vacant seat on July 10, 2017.[2][3]
Results
| Spotsylvania County Public Schools, Lee Hill District General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Lisa Phelps |
56.17% | 2,695 |
| Kathryn Palmer Incumbent | 43.27% | 2,076 |
| Write-in votes | 0.56% | 27 |
| Total Votes | 4,798 | |
| Source: Virginia Department of Elections, "2017 November General," accessed November 21, 2017 | ||
Funding
Phelps reported $7,795.01 in contributions and $6,994.24 in expenditures to the Virginia Department of Elections, which left her campaign with $800.77 on hand in the election.[4]
Endorsements
Phelps was endorsed by the Spotsylvania Republican Committee.[5]
Campaign themes
2017
Candidate website
Phelps highlighted the following issues on her campaign website:
| “ | I chose to be the elected candidate for Spotsylvania County Public Schools Lee Hill District School Board position to have the backs of parents and kids in our community. I want to be your voice for Public Education at the district, county, state and federal level and advocate when it pertains safety, funding, and programs in Spotsylvania County Public Schools. We all have great ideas and things we want to see happen. The views and ideas that you share with other parents or around your dinner tables deserve to be heard.
Have you ever attended school meetings that dive into policies and the current reality of the school system? I have attended the County School budget workshop meetings where they are filled with passionate discussion but does anything get done? I want to make sure these key issues are focused on: School Safety
I commit to work tirelessly in tandem with the school board team, school administrators, school safety directors and (SRO’s) School Resource Officers to continue the hard-won, steadfast essential reviews and enhancements within the current crisis management plan in Spotsylvania County Public Schools, reassuring parents and kids feel secure and confident in their safety and well-being. When worry and concern are replaced with confidence and ease, teachers are free to teach and all students can focus on learning.
Communicate school safety and crisis issues via; a dedicated school safety webpage to include real-time communications. Real time Communication= Less confusion. Financial Responsibility
I consider the Spotsylvania County Public School Strategic plan to continue to be the clear road map to prepare Spotsylvania County Public Schools students for their future. The initiative from Spotsylvania County Public Schools administration and their in-depth follow through continues to remain transparent with increased simple to read accountability of expenses, tax revenues and money received. Teacher/Staff Pay & Benefits
Continually assess, review and work with the school board team and school administration to safeguard the amount of money teachers spend for classroom supplies while continuing to engage parents and the community who are seeking out ways to support our Spotsylvania County Public Schools. Develop 'Adopt-a-Spotsylvania Public School teacher project'. 'Education Market Associations research shows that teachers spend an average of $500 .00, (might be on the low end).' Did you know there is a 9.7 million-dollar benefits increase between FY13 and FY17 that includes Health Insurance, Pension benefits and anything else that is included in benefits for the school division? I will continue to advocate for Spotsylvania County Public Schools with ongoing communication throughout the year to the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors who have the governance to reduce or increase the amount of money that is allocated to Spotsylvania County Public Schools, for the opportunity to provide the requested funds to hire and retain quality teachers.
The pendulum has swung too far in the direction of data and stats and away from common sense and programs rooted in simple values. Currently there is over testing and unfunded mandates, with a lack of flexibility to the needs of the community and parent/caregiver and student involvement. As a member of the Spotsylvania County Public school board governance team I will advocate, lead and work with the superintendent and professional administration team that accomplishes the everyday tasks of the implementation of programs in our public schools. Fewer yet more meaningful testing that serves the students, that encourages creativity and flexibility, as we move towards an effective and efficient solutions based public school district. While we have disputes over the details we all share the common goal… educating all children.[6] |
” |
| —Lisa Phelps (2017)[7] | ||
Political philosophy
In a Ballotpedia questionnaire, Phelps said her political philosophy was to "Bring civility into politics." She also said, "Children are not Republicans nor Democrats."[1]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Lisa Phelps Spotsylvania County Public Schools school board. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted on Ballotpedia's biographical information submission form on June 26, 2017
- ↑ News Talk 1230, "Spotsy School Board Selects Palmer," accessed July 11, 2017
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Christina Johnson, Spotsylvania County Chief Deputy Registrar," June 14, 2017
- ↑ Virginia Department of Elections, "Campaign Finance Reports: Search Committees," accessed January 17, 2018
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Kathryn Gregorio," November 11, 2017
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Elect Phelps Lee Hill School District, "Priorities," accessed October 19, 2017
