Lisa Kerr is seeking reelection to the Buena Vista School Board, where she has also been serving as part of the facilities committee. Kerr said her motivation to continue serving stems from her belief in the power of public education and her commitment to ensuring that every child in the city has access to a safe and supportive learning environment.
“I am running because I believe in the power of public education,” she said. “Our children were educated in the BVCPS system and it was, and still is, amazing. I just want to give back so that every child has access to a safe, supportive, and high-quality learning environment.”
Kerr said the most pressing issue facing Buena Vista schools is maintaining educational equity with limited resources. “We are facing many challenges related to aging infrastructure and staffing shortages,” she said. “We need to prioritize student academic success and well-being while advocating for funding and support.”
As a member of the facilities committee, Kerr said addressing the aging Parry McCluer Middle School building remains one of the division’s most urgent concerns. “We need to find the best solution to this issue and a transparent plan for addressing urgent repairs and long-term upgrades,” she said. “The school division has been successful in securing money through VDOE safety and security grants for several years, and we’ve completed numerous safety projects as a result.”
Kerr said she is encouraged by the growing cooperation between the School Board and City Council. “I am very pleased to see members from our School Board and City Council working together to find the best solutions,” she said. “The facilities committee needs to engage the community and ensure our students and staff are safe for many years to come.”
On academic and attendance challenges, Kerr said the division has already made measurable progress. “Chronic absenteeism has greatly improved over the last year,” she said. “Learning loss is being addressed through summer school and extra tutoring.” She also highlighted the new Joe Wilson Workforce Center as a key resource for workforce readiness. “We are so fortunate to have that located right here in Buena Vista,” she said.
Kerr said she is proud of the division’s work to make salaries more competitive and retain teachers despite limited funding. “We’re still playing catch-up with teacher salaries,” she said. “I’m proud of the salary scale that has been put in place, and I think our staff does a great job trying to recruit and retain teachers.”
On student cell phone use and technology, Kerr said she supports clear, consistent policies that reduce distractions while allowing for emergency communication. “AI-related challenges will be ongoing,” she said, “but it’s our responsibility to educate students on responsible use and to support teachers as technology continues to evolve.”
For Kerr, maintaining open communication with the community is essential. “It takes a village,” she said. “I would encourage all parents, students and staff to be open with communication. As a School Board member, I will always listen. I am so proud of the Buena Vista village and BVCPS.”
LISA KERR
