Douglas, Fleurima vie for District 13 school board seat

Sean Douglas is being opposed by Bernadin Fleurima for his seat on the District 13 Board of Education, which carries a three-year term.

Sean Douglas

Appointed to the District 13 Board of Education in October to fill a vacancy, Dr. Sean Douglas said he wants to continue serving his community. He is being challenged for a three-year term by Bernadin Fleurima.

Since he joined the board, Douglas has completed his doctoral studies. He is a school social worker and is particularly interested in strengthening the character education program in the schools. He has experience in gang prevention and social skills training. Someone can be a straight-A student, he said, but they still need effective social skills to be successful.

Douglas said he wants students to be able to express themselves without fighting, and to learn empathy. He also wants teachers to be properly trained, and know how to separate children from their behavior. The adults in the school need to be a model for children, he said, and give the same respect they command.

Students need to develop good writing skills, Douglas said. From an early age, he said that children should be learning proper grammar and writing techniques.

He also wants to ensure that the district is offering more than just the basics. District 13 offers students a complete education, Douglas said, and he wants to see that continue. He loves the music program, and also wants to make sure that the science and social studies curriculums remain strong.

Colleges look for students who are well-rounded and participate in activities outside of the classroom. He wants to ensure that children have these opportunities, even at the elementary school level.

Douglas said he understands these opportunities come with a price, and wants to make sure that what’s being done for children isn’t costing the taxpayers more than they can afford. Finding that balance between the needs of the students and the needs of the taxpayers is going to take a lot of thoughtful discussion, he said.

He said he brings to the board experience in the education field and the knowledge of school law. Douglas says he takes very seriously the role of a board trustee and there are no excuses for failure. “We’re put there to do a job,” he said, “and that job needs to be done correctly.”

First elected: Appointed October 2010