Matthew Williams for Hickman Mills School Board

Even now, years later I still remember my first days as a high school student learning the school song:

Far above the distant landscape

Stands our Ruskin High

With its walls of strength and beauty

Lifted toward the sky.

Symbol of our aspirations

Thou wilt ever be

Guiding us through life to victory

Thou shall keep us free.

Dear old Ruskin

How we love thee

We will E’re be true

To our Colors high above thee

Gold and Royal Blue!

The words still easily fall from my lips due in no small part to the tradition of singing the song in full after every debate tournament with my then coach Gloria Henry. As we crossed 107th street, she would lead us through the song that lasted all the way until we pulled into the parking lot in front of the school. Great showings, trophies, awards, or frustrations, there we were, continuing that legacy of her students. There was a pride in it. When I reflect during big moments of my life since then I often think back to the real power in those lines. Thinking of myself soaring above the clouds of the difficulties I faced on the paths to my successes. Free.

Restoring the Legacy

Which is why I felt spiritual conviction as I faced, to date, the most difficult time in my life. Fortunately, most people don’t have multiple moments of facing their mortality. I was blessed to survive mine. But in the moment I prayed and found resolve, that if I made it I would give back where I was built up. So I began looking at the world around me and where, when I was well, I could lend my skills and talents. That was why I first started getting up to speed on my old school district. I’d had a great relationship with my former coach, and a few others among my other former teachers. What I found when I went looking through the news and online references was that there were a number of difficult circumstances affecting and effecting the district. And this was a time that my background in law might be useful.

School boards first and foremost are about policy direction. Ensure the students, faculty, staff, and community are on the same page in regards to how education is being handled. And that immediately drew my attention. How often had I really seen major pushes to include and engage with the community by the school district? How often had I heard about student’s accomplishments? What transparent steps had been taken to fight for the community’s help in getting things turned around? And what was the plan for the future now that federal policy was shifting? That final question led to finding out the financial situation and leadership situation that needed to be taken on from a new approach.

Make no mistake, I am glad to see the progress on the biggest issue affecting the district, it’s current status as provisionally accredited. Fixing that through test score improvement over the recent years is laudible to be sure. But how often is that talked about? How often does that reach beyond those who already are paying attention? That was a concern of mine. I was well aware of how important the approach to hiring teachers and setting up programs for better academic outcomes hinge on full accreditation.

Securing The Future

One of the issues that is less obvious about this is that provisional status causes “brain drain” among the student population. Losing bright young students who along with their parents leave in hopes of not damaging the potential for college or other academic pursuits is heartbreaking on both sides. As a district it never feels good to lose students that would normally stay. And I say that as one of the students who had the opportunity but stayed and enjoyed the promise of this district. A promise I want to bring to future generations.

So the question becomes, “how do you plan to accomplish this?” And you’re right for asking. The 2 phrases of my campaign slogan are the genesis point of my entire platform. We cannot be so beholden to the past that we are unable or unwilling to make the changes and use the new ideas that shape a better future. We cannot be so forward looking, that we throw away the things that actually work well from our past and benefit our present. That is were “Restoring the Legacy, Securing the Future” comes from. Acknowledging and applying the lessons and acomplishments of the past as a backbone for the new direction, perspectives, and approaches that create the promises of the future. The more detailed look at my Campaign Platform is available here. And the ability to help accomplish this by Getting Involved is available here. I look forward to you joining this movement for our students and our community.

– Matthew Elisha Williams