Campaign email: friendsoflindamurray@gmail.com.
Facebook: facebook.com/friendsofLindaMurray
Age: 68
Employment: Retired paraeducator in special education, current BOE member
Education: A.A., Hagerstown Community College
Why are you running for the school board?
I was appointed to the board in 2017 and elected in 2018. Since that time I have continued to visit schools and find out firsthand about the needs of our staff and students. WCPS has a wonderful new superintendent, Dr. David Sovine, and I am excited to begin working with him to build on past successes and also make improvements so that our school system becomes even better.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
I have many years of experience in education as a parent volunteer and a 26-year school employee. I understand the needs of the school system and the important role that a board member plays, advocating for their schools and employees. I take my role as a board member very seriously, having excellent attendance and a strong work ethic, which enables me to be effective at doing a good job.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
One person that I admire greatly is Gov. Larry Hogan. Governor Hogan works hard for the good of all citizens of Maryland. He doesn’t let partisan politics get in the way of advocating for the needs of his constituents. I have met the governor and his wife several times and they are very down-to-earth. This is the quality of someone who holds an office to help people and not for their own ego.
What is the most important issue facing your school board, and what would you do about it if elected?
We need to recruit, and especially retain, teachers and other staff. People are leaving for higher paying, less stressful jobs. I would advocate to increase funding to pay salaries that are in line with inflation. There is also a very high need for more mental health services to meet the growing needs of student behaviors. We need to come together as a community and find solutions to this mental health crisis.
How concerned are you about school safety, and what if anything should be done to improve it?
We always need to be vigilant when it comes to the safety of our students and staff. Washington County Public Schools has been very proactive in making our schools safe. We have built safety vestibules in all of our schools and only badged personnel are allowed access. Our school system makes it a practice to regularly review safety procedures in all schools.
Do you have any concerns about the way history is taught in your district’s schools, and if so, what are they?
I serve on the Curriculum and Instruction Committee for WCPS, therefore I don’t have any concerns. We review all new curriculum and materials. Some have been rejected because of sloppy or inaccurate content, but the majority of the material is excellent and moves forward.
Do you think there are circumstances when books should be removed from school libraries, and if so, what kind of books should be removed?
I believe in parental choice. It is not my place to tell a parent what their child should or should not read. Washington County Public Schools has a policy in place that any parent can flag a book if they do not want their child to have access to that book. That gives the parents choice for their child and does not restrict another child who may wish to read that book.
