Get to know the Blaine School Board candidates

Blaine School Board, director position 5

Mike Dodd

Q: What inspired you to run for school board again?

A: When I first ran for school board, it had a lot to do with giving back to the school community, and that has remained one of my primary reasons for being a board member since then. Having grown up in Blaine, our family was always involved in community and school activities and I am interested in continuing that service to the school community.

Q: What makes you the right person for the position?

A: I enjoy working with the people on the board, administrators and staff to provide students with the best educational opportunities available, while staying within the financial resources and the procedures required under state law.

I am a lifelong resident, attending Blaine schools and operating a business in Blaine for many years, which gives me knowledge of the area. This helps me listen to others and gather information before making decisions. It has been my pleasure to have been involved in making the school community one to be proud of, from facilities to staff, with the goal of doing what’s best for kids.

Q: What are your priorities if elected?

A: My first priority is to keep the school district operating in the best way, doing all we can as to what’s best for kids, given the structure and guidelines that have to be followed. Also, it is important that we keep the campus safe, friendly and a caring community, as we provide staff with the materials and equipment to help students succeed in the classroom.

Q: What do you think the school district does well and what could it do better?

A: Blaine school district works extremely hard at being a good community partner, working with our constituents to provide facilities, not only for school use, but also for community use, such as the Performing Arts Center, gyms, and athletic fields. The caring and dedicated staff works to provide a quality education to all of the students in the district. The district administration and staff are always looking for ways to improve and inspire student learning and productivity in the classroom.

Laura McKinney

Q: What inspired you to run for school board?

A: I am passionate about preparing our young people for the best possible future. My husband Jim and I have five children. Their future is extremely important to us.

We lived in many places while Jim served in the US Army. We experienced many different school systems and teaching philosophies. Since returning to Blaine three years ago, I have become involved in our schools – interacting with the principals and volunteering on the district fiscal committee.

Before returning to Blaine, I was part of an education transformation initiative for South Carolina. The initiative, TransformSC, has supported successful new approaches to education working with educators, policy makers and businesses. I want to share my experiences and bring a new perspective to the district. As a community, we need to work together to prepare our students for their future.

Q: What makes you the right person for the position?

A: I have served as a US diplomat, the executive director for an economic development organization (the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness) and I currently work as the northwest government affairs and public relations director for Alcoa. I serve as a board member for the Whatcom Business Alliance (WBA) and am the co-chair of the WBA Youth Engagement Initiative.

I am also a parent, with children in Blaine elementary, middle and high schools this year. I have a vested interest in making sure our schools are helping each student reach their potential. I want to build a bridge between parents, businesses and our community to help our students achieve success.

Q: What are your priorities if elected?

A: I want to ensure our students graduate career-, college- and citizenship-ready and advocate for efficient and effective use of resources and connect our community to our schools. I would like for us to be leaders in thinking outside the box to address individual student needs. We live in exciting times with access to new technologies and new approaches to learning. I want to make sure that we are taking advantage of all available resources.

Q: What do you think the school district does well and what could it do better?

A: The district works hard to serve our students. They are a dedicated and caring group of professionals, but have a difficult job balancing student needs with local, state and federal requirements.

Education can and should be relevant and engaging for our students. If we put student needs first and focus on developing each student to reach their potential, we can continue to improve our schools and our community.