Letter to the Editor: Mike Jacobs - experience matters

To the Editor:

Shoreline Schools play a critical role in the health of our city. As a product of this rich community myself, with children of my own having benefited from the public school experience, it is also important to understand and appreciate the equally critical role our school board plays in the health of our district.

Mike Jacobs is also a product of our community, having raised his four children with his wife Janelle, and partnering with our public schools, at all levels. He shouldered the heavy burden in his position on the school board during a time when the district faced some very serious financial troubles. He helped guide decision making and saw us through to the other side, with financial stability and hiring of wonderful Superintendents Walker and Miner. He has celebrated the building of two new state of the art high schools for our district, producing them on time and on budget, and is overseeing Parkwood and two new middle schools. He has worked hard on budgets in a climate where every penny spent in one area of need, takes it from another just as important area, and the need grows ever greater and the funds available do not. Decisions big and small matter and good decision making comes with experience and understanding of the task at hand.

Mike has volunteered in our community and in our classrooms. He has coached our kids and cared about their success on and off the field. He is a supporter the Shoreline Public Schools Foundation, The Arts Council, both SW and SC Booster organizations, and last year was honored as the Turbo Booster at Shorewood High school for his commitment above and beyond in support of student’s academics and activities. Most importantly, Mike has given selflessly to our schools with his constant and thoughtful approach to this non-partisan, volunteer position as a school board member. This position is not, and was never, intended to be stepping-stone for future political endeavors for Mike. In his quiet, and unassuming way, he has used his experience to help lay the stepping-stones for our students and THEIR futures. Experience matters.

Christie Quigley
Former President, Shoreline Public Schools Foundation