Jeanette Flaim
Running for school board in Calvert County District 3
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 5)?
61
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
Freestate Electrical service contracts and AR manager.
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
Bachelor’s degree in business management from University of Maryland University College.
Why are you running for the school board?
I am running because I care deeply about the students, teachers and staff of Calvert County Public Schools and will work hard to ensure that we invest in an education that equips every student for success in life. My family moved here 35 years ago because the school system was one of the best in Maryland. I am proud that my children graduated from our public schools with a great education, but the future for today’s students holds both new opportunities and new challenges that we must be prepared to meet. There has been much progress in recent years to expand opportunities for all students, and yet there are those that push back against progress with political agendas that are neither student-focused or sensible. Securing a great education for our students requires us to leave behind personal political agendas and work collaboratively to build and support educational opportunities and excellence for all students. I’m running because I have extensive experience as an engaged Calvert County Public Schools parent, professional expertise in negotiating and budget management and a firm belief that every student deserves an excellent education.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
For the reasons listed just above, I am a good candidate for the board. Additionally, my professional experience has provided me with essential skills for a Board of Education member. For the last 18 months, I have faithfully attended our Board of Education meetings and witnessed their discussions and votes on policies, construction, maintenance and contracts.
My career with Freestate Electrical, a union electrical company, provides me with an understanding of construction bids, terms, and the necessity of preventative maintenance and upkeep. As a contracts manager, I research clauses from a variety of sources, listen to the experts in the field and negotiate for fair contracts. As an AR manager I work with large sets of data examining discrepancies and resolving problems; this level of detail will be crucial when reviewing the budget. My children have attended the Calvert County Public Schools from pre-kindergarten to high school, including the Career and Technology Academy, and I know that an effective school system requires collaboration and cooperation from students, staff, teachers, administration, parents/guardians and the community.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
The most important issue facing our school board is funding. Without fully funding our educational system we are not able to reassure teachers and staff that their positions are secure, purchase laptops for all our students, support our sports, arts, theater, writing programs, mathletes, provide adequate maintenance for our schools, build new schools, and promote programs that will help our students successfully navigate the school system. My 29 years experience as a contracts and AR manager gives me the knowledge and expertise to examine the budget and promote how our administrators have been fiscally responsible and saved money by utilizing different programs for our school system. By using concrete examples of conscientious budgeting we can advocate for more funding from our community.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
I admire Sen. Chris Van Hollen. I appreciate that he started his political career as a state delegate and then state senator, so he knows the needs of all Marylanders before being elected to Congress and then the Senate. In all political arenas, Sen. Van Hollen has supported education and fully funding educational programs. My children went to a Title I elementary school, and because of the additional funding received, they had access to programs that benefited them at an early age.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, passed by the General Assembly in 2021, is a 10-year plan that includes increased education funding to support early childhood education, increased teacher starting pay, college/career-readiness standards for high school graduates, and expanded services to multilingual and impoverished families, among other goals. Please tell us your views on the Blueprint and how it will affect your school district.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future is an important document for the school systems and deserves universal support. Our teachers and support staff pay should be increased, Head Start programs will be crucial in laying the foundation of educational achievement, funds should follow the students who need additional help. Calvert County Public Schools has an amazing Career and Technology Academy, and our advanced placement and dual enrollment programs are well established. The issue with the Blueprint is that the State of Maryland and the federal government have not fully funded the program, and we need to increase our communication with our community to explain how an investment in schools through the Blueprint is beneficial to all our futures.
Some school districts nationwide are placing new limits on the use of cellphones in middle and high schools. What do you think should be the policy on student use of cellphones in your district, and why do you support that policy?
The Calvert County Public Schools have updated its Code of Conduct for the 2024-2025 school year where students may bring their phone/smartwatch, but the device must be powered completely off and remain in a non-visible, secure location with the exception of administratively approved classroom activities and lunchtime. I approve of this policy and have heard from many educators that the restriction on cellphones has resulted in significant improvements in the classrooms.
Are you satisfied with your school district's efforts to ensure the safety of its students? What, if anything, should be done to improve school safety in your district?
You always worry about the safety of your students, but I am confident that Mr. Larry Titus (the district’s supervisor of student services) continually works to improve school safety, and I would communicate with educators and students to hear their feedback. Calvert County Public Schools has at least one safety advocate and school resource officer at each middle school and high school, and I would ask for feedback from students, staff and teachers about the need for additional safety advocates. I would advocate for hiring additional counselors and mediators, as well as promoting more mental health programs, so students learn how to communicate and resolve issues before problems escalate.
Do you think there are circumstances when books should be removed from school libraries? If so, what kind of books should be removed, and who should make those decisions?
Calvert County Public Schools in 2021 received the American Association of School Librarians' National School Library of the Year Award. School librarians choose books for their school population, ensuring individual and diverse students' needs are met. The library program supports student choice in what they would like to read and reading for fun increases comprehension and critical thinking skills which translates into lifelong learning. If a parent/guardian would like a book to be reconsidered there is a formal process that is followed, and I support that.
Some school districts enact policies allowing transgender and gender nonconforming students to use their preferred pronouns while at the same time not informing those students' parents about that decision. What is your opinion of such policies?
There are federal laws and Maryland Department of Education guidelines that the Calvert County Public Schools must follow. Our administrators and educators work with each student on a case-by-case basis to fully understand their needs and concerns. Calvert County Public Schools administrators and educators work with care and diligence for the safety and well-being of each student.
