Michael “Mike” Lukas
Running for school board in Charles County District 4
Email: votemikelukas@comcast.net
Website: votemikelukas.net/
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 3)?
64
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
Retired in 2021 after 38 years working for the Navy as an engineer, program manager and branch head.
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park. Graduate studies at Naval Postgraduate School and George Mason University.
Why are you running for the school board?
Opportunity. That's the answer I have given throughout my tenure as a board member: providing every child, regardless of social or economic background, the opportunity to succeed after graduating from Charles County Public Schools. I came from a childhood where I didn’t have a lot of resources or opportunity, and I’m keenly aware of the struggles many families have. Public education is the great equalizer, and I want to ensure that students and parents that commit to Charles County Public Schools are offered equitable opportunities so they can succeed. I represent all stakeholders in the system (teachers, parents, students and taxpayers) and hold myself accountable to them by maintaining high academic standards and fiscal accountability. I marched, lobbied and testified for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which is a transformational tool that will provide additional resources for students and families. That said, we (and other school systems) need to push back on items which don’t help students and introduce additional layers of administrative positions. I have fostered programs to help students achieve college credit and certifications in high demand areas. This will greatly reduce the financial burden on families and allow graduates to attend college locally and work and live in our county. My desire is that students can graduate from Charles County Public Schools and enter college or the workforce locally and grow roots to strengthen our community
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
As a former board member, I have the experience and leadership that is vital, given the level of experience on the board. No other candidate understands Maryland school policy and legislation better than myself. I served on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Association of Boards of Education, which advocates for the autonomy of local school boards. I have devoted thousands of hours to help our school system working closely with community leaders. I retired after 38 years working for the Navy as an engineer and branch head. I comprehend large budgets, think analytically and can align processes with goals. I pride myself on working with other people and as a branch head received the Command Diversity Award for my efforts in hiring. My wife is a former educator at Charles County Public Schools and currently teaches at the College of Southern Maryland, and our son is a Charles County Public Schools graduate. I am involved in numerous community organizations and desire to incorporate these nonprofits to help our school system continue to move in a positive direction. I have lived my entire life in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area and the past 30 years in Charles County, so I know the culture and the values of the people I represent.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
Discipline. We must improve overall student performance and this starts with discipline in the classroom. Students do not receive consequences for their actions, and this leads to disruptive classroom environments which take away learning for all students. Policies and the Code of Student Conduct must be followed regardless of how it portrays the school or school system. Ample resources have been allotted to help students deal with stress, but continued negative actions need real consequences.
Budget. The board must be proactive in questioning the benefit of programs and pushback against aspects of the Blueprint which are not helping students.
Superintendent. This board will most likely choose a new superintendent and I have valuable experience in this area. Choosing a superintendent is the most important function of the Board of Education.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
Lewis Hamilton. He’s a British Formula 1 driver who faced adversity as he rose through the ranks of racing. Now, he is one of the most decorated champions in the history of the sport. He is vocal with his support of marginalized groups and he has donated tens of millions of dollars to his Mission 44 foundation.
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.
I support the Blueprint. Your ZIP code or income should not define the quality of your education. The Blueprint has a dramatic impact on the services provided to Charles County students. Pre-K, including 3-year-old programs, will be available to more children. Quality pre-K is a game-changer for many parents and will prepare students for kindergarten. Increasing teacher pay and the additional stipends will help attract the best and motivated educators. It’s no secret that teacher pay lags behind many other professions that require a college degree. There is a teacher shortage across the country, and this will help with recruitment and retainment. The Blueprint provides for expanded Career and Technology Education programs which will provide certifications enabling high school graduates to enter the workforce at a higher salary. Students in concentrated areas of poverty will be part of a community school, which has a dedicated director to provide additional wrap-around services to students. English language learners will also receive additional resources to increase their proficiency. There are three categories of students that have historically been underserved and hence have not experienced the academic success of their peers. These are children in poverty, English language learners and special education students. Charles County Public Schools has experienced a significant increase in all of these students in the past 10 years. The Blueprint addresses this, but it will take time and funding to achieve meaningful results. We do need to push back on mandated positions that provide no added value to students
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?
This is primarily a parent problem. It is an issue in our school system. I am not a fan of “rewarding” students for coming to school. That’s their job!
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?
The system has established guidance under the Code of Student Conduct which I find acceptable. AI can be an asset but it’s never a substitute for a classroom teacher. Students must learn critical thinking to solve problems.
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?
No system has the resources it wants. Systems have the resources they can afford. People want schools to do everything because parents won’t (and sometimes can’t) deal with situations that affect a child’s learning. I have personal experience with trauma I experienced in middle school, and there were zero resources available. I believe our system does the best it can. As a board member, I allocated funding for additional school counselors and mental health professionals. There’s an online telehealth service and Charles County Public Schools has an excellent relationship with organizations across the county that can assist students and parents with mental health concerns
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?
I am not the “thought police.” Recent Maryland law speaks to school library books, and as an elected official, I uphold the law. Books must meet standards for school libraries as defined in the Code of Maryland Regulations. It also requires each school system to develop policy and procedures to review objections to materials in a school library media program. The board does not and should not review every library book prior to its placement but can review objections in accordance with the law. New textbooks (new textbooks are approved by the board) are submitted by the superintendent through a selection committee comprised of Charles County Public Schools staff, parents and/or students. The public is always given an opportunity to review and comment on new textbooks before the board votes. I encourage and support parental input.
