Write a commentMy name is Jim MacKenzie and I am running for a third term on the Oswego City School District Board of Education because I believe a strong school system is essential for a strong community.
We have accomplished a lot during my time on the Board, and I am excited for the opportunity to continue working to make our district its best.
For those who do not know me, education has been my life. I grew up in the Niagara Falls area in a family of educators; I am a fourth-generation teacher. I moved to Oswego in 2004 when I began teaching biology at SUNY Oswego, and I have served as the Biological Sciences' chairperson since 2012. My wife and I have two children, and they have spent their entire K-12 education in our schools starting with Kingsford Park and then Oswego Middle School. Our son graduated from Oswego High School last year and our daughter is currently a sophomore there. It is with pride that we can say that our children have thrived in our schools. They have had top-notch teachers who prepared them well educationally. They have participated in a variety of extracurricular activities and sports, including the school's exemplary music and art programs, and with each experience we have been continually impressed by the knowledge, skills, and dedication of the teachers, coaches, counselors, and others in our schools. All these experiences have helped to shape our kids into the adults they are becoming, and we are so grateful for everything that our school district has done for them.
It is because of my belief in the importance and power of a strong educational system that I made a commitment to give back to our community and chose to become involved in the Board. I want our children, schools, and community to flourish. As the only educator currently on the Board, I think it is important to continue providing that perspective.
I was elected to the Board in 2020 and again in 2023, and I have been the Board President for the last two years. During my time on the Board, school safety and security have been a priority of mine. I supported increasing our partnership with the Oswego Police Department to add more School Resource Officers and voted to fund the purchase of weapons detectors at OMS and OHS. I advocated for free AP and dual enrollment classes at OHS and expanding extracurricular opportunities, particularly at OMS. I have promoted small class sizes and a focus on K-3 literacy. I will continue advocating for the resources to focus on mental health awareness and support. When redistricting was proposed in 2022, I recognized the misuse of the data used to justify repurposing Leighton and spoke out and voted against it. Through all these decisions, I am also a strong advocate for fiscal responsibility.
I would be honored to be re-elected to the OCSD Board of Education on May 20th. Should I have the privilege to serve our community in this way again, I vow to continue to advocate for the best interest of our students, our district, and our community.
