Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Fire agencies respond to likely human-caused grass fires today, Sunday ... Group files paperwork for $13.50 minimum wage ballot measure ... New printer will get RCC students thinking in three dimensions ... Fire agencies respond to likely human-caused grass fires today, Sunday ... Group files paperwork for $13.50 minimum wage ballot measure ... New printer will get RCC students thinking in three dimensions ... MEDFORD ELECTION Medford School Board, Position 6: Curt Ankerberg vs. Janet Lightheart Comment By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 27, 2015 at 5:40 PM Updated Apr 27, 2015 at 5:47 PM By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 27, 2015 at 5:40 PM Updated Apr 27, 2015 at 5:47 PM » Social News If at first he doesn't succeed, Curt Ankerberg tries, tries and tries again. Since May 2009, the perennial candidate and certified public accountant has run three times for the Medford School Board, twice for the Medford City Council and once for Jackson County Commissioner. And this May, he faces off in the district elections against Hoover Elementary School PTO officer and mother of six Janet Lightheart for one of four seats on the Medford School Board. Ron Andersen, who currently holds that seat, Position 6, is retiring after a four-year term and has endorsed Lightheart as his successor. “Her ability to work well with a diverse group of people is one of her many strengths,” Andersen said Thursday. The Medford Education Association and local education advocacy group Stand for Children also endorsed her. Two of Lightheart’s children graduated from North Medford High School, two attend the high school and two attend Hoover Elementary School, where Lightheart serves as PTO treasurer. Lightheart said she is excited about the direction of the district under new Superintendent Brian Shumate, particularly his plans for a pathways program and the Medford Prep Program, but would like to see families and the rest of the community more engaged in the goings-on of each school. “I've seen over the last 10 years the struggles within the district, culminating with the strike,” she said. “But with the new superintendent, it’s a pivotal time, and it’s also an exciting time.” Lightheart has been attending school board meetings off and on for the last two years and consistently for about the last three months. She said she was glad to see that the district is reinstituting parent-teacher conferences but would also like to see it offer town hall meetings to invite more community participation. She says she's especially passionate about bettering the English Language Learner program, expanding the music offerings at the elementary level and buckling down on bullies. A missionary’s daughter, Lightheart graduated from Colegio Bolivar, a high school in Santiago de Cali, Columbia, and later earned her bachelor’s degree in medical technology from Oregon Health and Science University. She worked as a lab assistant and later a medical technologist or clinical laboratory scientist at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland, but quit after her husband joined the Air Force. Since settling in the Rogue Valley 11 years ago, she’s served as a substitute coach at America’s Best Kids, a North Medford High School and Hoover Elementary site council member, a piano teacher and a school volunteer. Last year, she started the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Southern Oregon University, but is taking this year off to focus on her campaign and, if elected, her school board responsibilities. Ankerberg earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration/accounting from California State University in Los Angeles, has held CPA licenses in Oregon, Washington and California — only his Oregon license is current — and worked in the field for about 30 years. In the voters’ pamphlet, he faults Lightheart for her short professional career and lack of business, financial, management and human resources experience. Ankerberg is critical of the district’s academic performance and graduation rate and blames the Rogue Valley’s high unemployment and poverty rates on its failing educational system. “Those who claim the Medford School District is in ‘wonderful shape’ are either misguided or dishonest,” he said in his bio before promising to increase instructional time, reduce classroom sizes, eliminate Common Core curriculum from the district and put a stop to the squandering of district resources. Ankerberg volunteered as a math tutor at McLoughlin Middle School for about a year several years ago but is not currently on the Medford School District's list of volunteers, district officials said. Ankerberg did not respond to an email Thursday or phone calls Thursday and Friday from the Mail Tribune. Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt . By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 27, 2015 at 5:40 PM Updated Apr 27, 2015 at 5:47 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501