Lori Lepley
Running for school board in Allegany County
Email: lorilepley21502@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/VoteForLoriLepley/
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 3)?
47
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
I am a real estate appraiser and own Mountainside Appraisals.
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
Bachelor of Science in biology, University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Why are you running for the school board?
I was elected to the school board four years ago and I am running to continue the work that has been done.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
Most importantly, I have a vested interest in the quality of our school system. I am the mother of four school-aged children and one recent high school graduate.
After serving for almost four years, I now have an "insider" perspective of the school system and how it operates, which is very different than when you are on the outside looking in. I have also had the opportunity to build solid relationships with teachers, students, parents and other stakeholders.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
Although it is not a current issue, I think school funding will be one of the most important issues that the school board is going to face. There is a looming worry that is being felt statewide that it is going to decrease, and there are many districts that are currently experiencing budgeting issues.
Our district is in a good financial position. We've worked hard to be in this position, and I will continue the work to stay in this position.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
I feel the same way I did four years ago. I don't think that it is appropriate to actually "admire" any public leader. It is appropriate for them to do a good and honest job and put every possible effort into their position.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, passed by the General Assembly in 2021, is a 10-year plan that includes increased funding to support early childhood education, higher teacher starting pay, college/career-readiness standards for high school graduates, and expanded services to multilingual and impoverished families, among other goals. Since the Blueprint's implementation, test scores have increased modestly in many parts of the state, but some school officials complain about the costs and administrative burdens placed on them by the Blueprint. Please tell us your views on the Blueprint and how it is affecting your school district.
Cost and administrative burden is certainly an issue with Blueprint and that is a consideration as we roll it out.
For the most part, the Blueprint has had a positive impact on our schools. We have competitive teacher salaries, increasing early childhood education programs, early college opportunities for students and student workforce training and certification programs. We are a higher-poverty area, and community schools have been an incredible resource for many students and their families.
Chronic absenteeism has been a problem in many schools since the Covid-19 pandemic. How big of a problem is absenteeism in your school district, and what if anything can the Board of Education do about it?
Chronic absenteeism is a problem in our district and administration is working hard to combat it. Schools are providing different incentives for good attendance, which seems to be effective. School staff is going the extra mile to reach out and assist families; however, there is only so much the school system can do. It is up to parents and guardians to make sure their students are getting to school each day.
Are you satisfied with your school district's policy on AI use by students? If so, why? If not, what would you suggest to improve the AI policy?
We currently do not have a policy on AI use by students, but the board is actively working on it.
Youth mental health has been a growing concern for years now. Do you think your school district has the resources and personnel in place to deal with this issue adequately? If not, what would you suggest to improve the situation?
I believe our school district has the necessary resources and personnel in place to adequately deal with our students' mental health needs. This was a focus after COVID and we have maintained our resources to support students.
Do you think there are circumstances when books should be removed from school libraries? If so, what kind of books should be removed, and who should make those decisions?
Although this has not been an issue in our district, I could see where extreme circumstances could open the conversation.
