By SHAYLA ESCUDERO/Lincoln Chronicle
Seven candidates are vying for four seats on the Lincoln County School District board up for election in the May 20 special election.
The school board plays a role in shaping policies, approving budgets and other decisions that impact students, staff, and teachers. The four open positions are zone 1, which represents the north area of the county; zone 3 which represents the west area; zone 4 which represents the east area; and zone 5 which represents the south area. The positions are for two years.
Although each seat represents a designated geographic area, voters can weigh in on every race.
In zone 1, Lincoln City councilor Mitch Parsons is being challenged by Lori Lashbrook, a precinct committee person. In zone 3, Newport police chief Jason Malloy is facing off with substitute teacher George Marazzo. In zone 4, long-time school board member Peter Vince of Toledo is running unopposed. Zone 5 has newcomers David Cowden and Holly Brandwen, both of Yachats, vying for the position after Senitila McKinley of Waldport opted not to run for re-election.
Lincoln Chronicle reached out to candidates in contested races. Here is what they had to say.
Zone 1
Mitch Parsons, who was appointed to the board in January, is facing Lori Lashbrook for the position that represents the north area of the county including Oceanlake Elementary, Taft Elementary, Taft 7-12 and Career Tech High School Charter schools.
Lashbrook could not be reached for an interview. Due to scheduling conflicts, Parsons answered questions through email.
Parsons wants voters to know he won’t just be a name on the ballot – you’ll see him at community events, volunteering, as well as making decisions on the board. He has been a Lincoln City councilor for over six years, held a board position on the Housing Authority of Lincoln County, volunteered with local nonprofits and was appointed to the board when Megan Cawley resigned.
Parsons says these roles have taught him how to work on budgets, listen to diverse viewpoints, and make thoughtful decisions.
Parsons is a parent of three children, with two kids currently in the district and said he is passionate about improving academic outcomes, supporting teachers and staff, and making communication more transparent between the board and the community.
“I believe in a school system that listens, adapts, and puts students first,” he said.
When faced with difficult decisions regarding a potential budget deficit, Parsons believes the top priority would be to preserve direct student services such as programs that support mental health and attendance. The board would have to take a “hard look” at administrative costs and programs that may no longer be sustainable or unable to deliver the intended results, he said. It’s important for the board to prioritize what benefits the students most and to involve the community in the process.
When it comes to issues schools have with attendance and test scores, Parsons believes the board plays a role in setting expectations, holding the superintendent accountable for student outcomes, and ensuring the district is investing in strategies that work. He believes in supporting data-driven approaches to improve attendance, providing resources for early interventions, and making sure the curriculum and teaching strategies are aligned with student needs.
Zone 3
Jason Malloy and George Marrazzo are vying for the zone 3 seat, representing the west area that includes Yaquina View Elementary, Sam Case Elementary, Newport Middle School, and Newport High schools.
Malloy sees his position as Newport’s police chief as providing transferable skills to a seat on the school board – both are a public service and require compromise. Malloy has been filling the vacant position of zone 3’s school board position since September after Mike Rawles resigned.
“I’ve worked in public service for 33 years, there’s lots of groups I’ve worked with and met with compromise,” Malloy said.
Malloy’s three children went to Lincoln County schools, and he has been involved in booster clubs and coaching. He is passionate about career and technical trade opportunities because not all students intend to go to college. He also believes community engagement is important and wants to strengthen the connection families have to the district and teachers. He is a strong supporter of superintendent Majalise Tolan and her approach to teacher accountability. He is aware of issues around declining enrollment and lower test performance in lower grades, and believes that some of those issues can be addressed at the board level by listening to what resources teachers need to ensure student success.
When it comes to making difficult decisions around the district’s budget, Malloy said he doesn’t believe there is one way to approach a deficit. He would approach any decisions regarding cuts by listening and having collaborative meetings. He believes extracurricular programs and high-quality curriculum are important for student success and should be priorities.
Marrazzo is a substitute teacher in the district, but also a massage therapist, tutor, the owner of a clothing brand, a coach, and an artist – and hoping to also add “school board member” to the list.
He sees the position as a way to get his foot in the door of politics.
While Marrazzo doesn’t have experience holding a government position, he believes the many jobs and volunteering opportunities that have put him in contact with different people and perspectives that would help inform his leadership. Being a substitute teacher does, too.
“I’ve seen the inside of the school system for the last five years and they’re doing a good job, but they could do better,” he said.
He believes in making sure teachers have the support they need to further student success. Despite a trend for declining enrollment, Marrazzo has seen large classroom sizes that make it more difficult for students to get the attention they need. He wants to advocate for smaller class sizes and has seen a rise in behavioral issues. He believes a liaison between students with behavioral issues and the principal’s office could help this issue. Marrazzo is an advocate for healthier, tastier school lunches and would like to see more raw ingredients rather than processed ingredients used, he added.
While he would want to look more closely into why there could be a school budget deficit, Marrazzo said his priority would be to preserve staff.
Zone 5
Holly Brandwen and David Cowden are running for the zone 5 seat which represents the south area which includes Crestview Heights Elementary and Waldport middle and high schools.
Brandwen is running for a position in the school district because she doesn’t want what is happening in other states to happen here – book bannings and the restriction of history instruction. Brandwen has worked several government jobs ranging from the Peace Corps to the Department of Labor. She has never held an elected position but now that she is retired wants to dedicate her time to public service.
“I think I’m open minded, and an asset because I want the children to succeed, I’m truthful and candid,” she said.
Brandwen is also running for a position on the Southwest Lincoln County Water District board and chose not to be in the voters’ pamphlet because she initially intended to run if the race wasn’t contested.
Brandwen wants to see more civics classes because she feels there needs to be a better understanding of how government processes work and is an advocate for teaching vocational and practical skills. When it comes to issues regarding declining enrollment and test performance, Brandwen believes it is the board’s duty to investigate the root causes of the issues to find solutions.
When making difficult decisions on what to keep and get rid of when there are budget deficits, Brandwen felt that curriculum must be protected.
Cowden has been studying for the role of school board member – he has gone to school board meetings, met with board members, looked up data on testing performance and read education books – but he knows he will still have more to learn should he be elected.
“I have the passion, the interest and the time,” Cowden said.
Cowden is a retired veteran and former professional musician who spends his free time playing music or volunteering for programs like Meals on Wheels. He doesn’t have experience being an elected official so, in the months leading up to the election, he’s researched the district’s issues.
He spoke to departing board member Senitila McKinley, looked into state and national test score trends and read about education in his spare time.
Cowden knows that attendance is suffering, partially due to housing and food insecurities and that kids may not be going to school because they may be moving from house to house and don’t have a sense of stability. He’s looked at data regarding testing performance and looked at national and statewide trends as on the local level.
He believes that classrooms have been “teaching to the test,” where the curriculum is focused on preparing students for standardized tests. He hopes to advocate for more broad learning that encourages critical thinking.
As a board member, he believes that declining enrollment and test scores should be looked at deeply to better understand solutions. When it comes to making difficult decisions regarding the budget, Cowden says he would need to learn more about the district’s budget and what is causing the deficit to make any decisions, but his immediate feelings would be to protect career and technical trade education and music programs.
- Shayla Escudero covers Lincoln County government, education, Newport, housing and social services for Lincoln Chronicle and can be reached at Shayla@LincolnChronicle.org
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