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Dreama Burns: Seeking first term
General Election 2007
BY CHARLES GARRATT • STAFF WRITER
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MILLBORO - School board chair Kaye May will face competition from Dreama Burns, another small business accountant, in the Millboro district this November.
Burns decided to run for the seat not because she thought she could do better than May, she said, but because she has different concerns.
"I never thought I would be doing this," she said.
Burns said she feels there is so much concern among parents regarding discipline in the schools and morale among the faculty that is not being addressed by the current board.
"It doesn't hurt to have new blood, fresh ideas, fresh new look," Burns said. But she also added the "grandfathers" of the board can be a valuable resource to new members, and she welcomes the education experience board member Barbara Waldeck has brought to the board.
Since making the decision to seek election, Burns says she has been reading minutes of past school board meetings, and has learned being a school board member is an "ungrateful position." She said she has gained a new respect for current board members.
Burns would like to see school board members and superintendent Dr. David Smith visit the schools more often and spend more time in classrooms.
If elected, she said she would be more involved in fact-finding and hands-on management.
She considers herself a good listener and tries to "weigh the issues" when making decisions. "There are two sides and you need to be able to compromise," she said. When the decisions are difficult, "you go with your heart."
Burns served on the school system calendar committee and worked as a substitute treacher. She also worked as an education paraprofessional in the special education department at Millboro Elementary School.
"Teachers aren't happy right now. There is a lot of turnover," Burns said. "We need to step back and look at the whole picture" regarding teacher retention, she added.
As for the budget process and details of the budget for the coming year, Burns admits she doesn't know much about either at this stage. She said she hears a lot of concerns from citizens about the school budget and how it is managed. She wouldn't go as far as saying the budget isn't well-managed because she hasn't dealt directly with it, she said.
"I think the administration has a problem with how they budget," said Burns. People have spoken with her about how the recent budget surplus was spent, she said. "It (the budget process) needs to be addressed."
As a school board member, what Burns would like to achieve most is to "have people feel more open to come to the board and to see more parental involvement."
About the candidate Dreama L. Burns
Age: 48
Lives near Millboro Springs with her husband C.W. and son William Lee.
Graduated from Bath County High School. Certified paraprofessional in education.
Bookkeeping, taxes, payroll for family business
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