Two challengers are running against Roanoke Rapids Graded School District Board of Trustees incumbents Valencia Davis, Henry Ford, and Mike Salanik. The challengers are Carlton Ansley and David Pericak.

Today, Pericak shares his views.

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As I embark on my journey to serve on the RRGSD School Board, I, David Pericak, want to share a bit about my background and the three key pillars that will guide my vision for our district. 

With the campaign slogan, "Our School, Our Future," I invite you to join me on this path to building a brighter tomorrow for our children, employees, and the entire community.

I graduated from the University at Buffalo with a degree in mechanical engineering, after which, in 2006 I relocated to Roanoke Rapids. 

Over the years, I've worked in various leadership positions, including manufacturing engineer, process engineer, quality manager, and operations manager. 

My commitment to education led me to return to school to earn my Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Intelligence.

What truly ties me to this community is my experience of the past 17 years. 

I've had the privilege to meet new friends and build a family right here. 

Two of my children have graduated from RRHS, with one set to graduate this year and another experiencing all that Chaloner Middle School has to offer. 

These family experiences, coupled with my work background and education, have prepared me to walk down the path of becoming a school board member.

The three key pillars that guide my vision for our district are: Educating Children, Promoting a Positive Work Environment, and Providing an Engaging Experience for our Community.

Educating Children:

Our children are not only the future of our community but the cornerstone of our society. 

I am passionately committed to providing them with the best educational opportunities. 

This includes nurturing their talents and ensuring their success through both classroom and extracurricular experiences. 

Our students deserve nothing but excellence, and I intend to advocate for their growth and development.

Promoting a Positive Work Environment:

I've witnessed the dedication of our RRGSD employees, who form the backbone of our school district. 

I am determined to create a supportive and positive work environment where every RRGSD employee has the opportunity to thrive. 

My background in leadership positions, ranging from process engineering to manufacturing operations management, equips me to understand and problem-solve the needs of our school district employees.

Engaging Experience for Our Community:

Education isn't just limited to the classroom; it also involves our entire community. 

From my personal experiences, I've learned how important it is to make education engaging and accessible for everyone. 

Whether you're a parent of a student, part of a local non-profit, or involved in a community business, we can all help create a better future for our students. 

Let's all work together to make education a positive experience for every community member. This means supporting students with their schoolwork and activities, providing them with growth opportunities, and encouraging partnerships between non-profit organizations and local businesses that benefit everyone. 

This way, we can create a situation where everyone wins. 

It not only helps students but also teaches them the value of giving back and supports community services offered by nonprofits and businesses.

At the heart of my campaign slogan, "Our School, Our Future," is the idea of an effective school board. 

I firmly believe that for our pillars to stand strong, we must challenge the RRGSD School Board to excel in key areas that can help us achieve our goals:

1. Transparency: We promise to keep things clear and open. You'll always know what's happening at our board meetings, the choices we make, and the rules we follow.
2. Vision, Goals, and Unity: We want to work together as one team. Our goal is to make sure every student gets a great education. Our plan will be based on what our community needs, so we all agree on what to do next.
3. Effective Governance: We'll make sure our board runs smoothly. Everyone will know their job, and we'll work efficiently to get things done.
4. Accountability: We'll be good role models. We promise to be responsible for our decisions and how we spend money. We'll use facts to make choices that help students improve in school.
5. Ethical Leadership: We'll always do the right thing. Our main focus is on what's best for our students and our community.
6. Fiscal Responsibility: We'll be careful with our money. We'll use it wisely so that it helps students learn and grow.
7. Professional Development: All RRGSD employees and board members will stay updated on new ways to help students and how to do our jobs even better.
8. Community Engagement: We want to hear from you. Parents, teachers, students, and everyone in our community should be a part of our decisions. We'll make sure our choices match what our community wants and needs.
9. Advocacy: We'll speak up for our school district. We'll ask for more money and support from local leaders to help our students succeed.
10. Collaboration: We'll work together with our school leaders, like our superintendent. Good communication and teamwork will help us make our ideas and plans a reality.

Advocacy for students and RRGSD employees is my main concern as I walk down this path toward being an RRGSD School Board member.  

N.C. teacher salaries are ranked 36th in the nation for average salary and 46th for average starting salary (McClellan, 2023).  

With these numbers, attracting and retaining talented educators in our district can become a challenge.  

Advocating for continued salary increases on behalf of teachers and all school employees is important to the success of our students, district, and community.  

This focus on local salaries will help continue the tremendous growth seen in the 2022-23 school year as our school district has exited low-performing district status — Congratulations students and staff on your excellent work!

These pillars and practices are at the core of my campaign, reflecting my commitment to our students, our employees, and our community. 

Together, we can continue building a school district we can all be proud of.