Key Issues
Key Issues
Safety
Our children’s safety will always be Mrs. Durham’s top concern. From when children board the bus or walk to school in the morning until they lay their heads on the pillow at night.
As a school board member for the West District, Le'Candice will:
- Advocate for bus aides on every bus.
- Build community partnerships with the boots on the ground organizations such as the Buffalo F.A.T.H.E.R.S., Peacemakers, M.V.P. MAD DADS, and the many other great organizations that support our children.
- Promote bringing back D.A.R.E. programs and introducing overdose prevention.
- Advocate for more hiring of school security guards.
- Work with Erie County and the City of Buffalo to ensure all schools our lead pipe free and follow the COVID-19 protocols that are put in place, such as proper handwashing and ventilation installed in each school.
Key Issues
Education Equity
According to the National School Board, “public schools must provide equitable access and ensure that all students have the knowledge and skills to succeed as contributing members of a rapidly changing, global society, regardless of factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, English practicing, immigration status, or disability.”
As a school Board Member for the West District, Le'Candice will:
- Ensure Local, State, and Federal funding is distributed fairly and according to the needs of each school.
- Petition to have a high-level curriculum offered at all grade levels, including Pre-K.
- Fight to close the digital divide and guarantee all children have access to more affordable internet connectivity to broadband.
- Strategize to bridge the education gap for our most vulnerable students, including minorities and refugees, ensuring they make it to the secondary level and are prepared for the future.
Key Issues
Quality of Education
Who said you could not get a private school education at a public school? Quality education is the anchor that will keep children in the classroom.
As a school Board Member for the West District, Le'Candice will:
- Work with families to improve parental involvement by offering incentives. For example, you and your family would be entered into a raffle if the student receives perfect attendance or earns a specific grade point average.
- Host more social and educational events to create connections and relationships amongst community members, students, and parents.
- Collaborate with the Buffalo Teachers Federation to ensure we hire and attract the best and most qualified teachers for our students while offering an excellent benefits package and incentives for teachers who choose to live where they work.
- Advocate for smaller class sizes with a lower student-to-teacher ratio for more individualized attention.
- Petition for more academic opportunities such as A.P. Courses (Advanced Placement) and extracurricular activities such as a district-wide school band and Driver's Education.
- Promote bringing back neighborhood schools and separating them into elementary, middle, and high schools.
- Review current graduation requirements, ensuring they are standard across the district, and monitor compliance at each high school.
- Develop a college and workforce committee composed of local educational institutions and employers who can work with the district to identify gaps in student readiness and offer curriculum suggestions, internship opportunities, and apprenticeship opportunities.