Incumbent faces FCPS parent in District 1 school board race
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In the race for the District 1 Fayette County Public Schools board seat, incumbent Marilyn Clark faces Monica Mundy, a FCPS parent and member of the Fayette Equity Council Committee.
District 1 in west Fayette County pulls from areas roughly between Leestown and Harrodsburg roads.
Clark has held the District 1 seat since being appointed in January 2023. She won a one-year term last November, and she served as the first Black woman on the school board since integration. An economic inclusion manager at the University of Kentucky, Clark previously held roles at FCPS and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.
Mundy is an assistant extension agent at UK, and was previously an assistant professor of public health at Eastern Kentucky University.
The election takes place on Nov. 5, with polling locations open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Why did you decide to run for school board?
Clark said she decided to seek reelection because she feels she still has more work to do on the board.
“After a year and a half on the board, I do understand how important this work is,” Clark said. “There’s work ahead that I want to be a part of, so I am happy to put myself out there. It’s not easy to run for reelection, and I’m doing it because I think it’s critically important.”
Mundy, whose daughter was attending Rise STEM Academy for Girls, said she was inspired to run for school board after being involved with her daughter’s schools and parent teacher association.
Earlier this year, Mundy spoke out after Superintendent Demetrus Liggins announced he would not add a sixth-grade program to Rise STEM Academy for Girls as planned. The magnet school opened in 2020 and initially launched with grades kindergarten through second and a long-term plan to expand through eighth grade.
Days after Liggins announced the expansion would not happen, Mundy filed to run for school board.
“I started to quickly learn that some of the issues we were having were issues that other people were having at schools in the district, and it wasn’t just one issue,” Mundy said. “It was issues that we can address district-wide, and that was my motivation to run for school board.”
Why do you think you’re the best candidate to represent your district?
Clark said her experience on the board and work in the community makes her the best candidate.
“I think I understand the role of the school board,” Clark said. “I think that’s important. We are a governing body, so there is a separation between what we do and what the superintendent does.”
Mundy, who is also the parent of a 4-year-old, said she’s invested in Fayette County Schools and will continue to be as her children attend school. Mundy, who previously worked at Eastern Kentucky University and now works at the University of Kentucky as an assistant extension agent, has a Ph.D. of education sciences in health promotion. She said her experience working in public health can help her communicate with officials and those in Fayette County Schools.
“I’m going to be in this district for a long time,” Mundy said.
If elected, what will your top priorities be?
Clark said her top priorities are improving attendance and academic progress data, like graduation rates, as well as improving mental health supports and family engagement in the district. Another priority is ensuring that English language learners — students whose first language is not English — have access to resources and support.
“We have a very fast-growing Hispanic population, so I think that is an important issue for us, really taking a look at what’s happening in other schools and what their needs are,” Clark said.
Mundy said she plans to focus on improving academic achievement within the district, including KSA scores, increasing engagement and transparency across the district, and creating a plan for maintenance of FCPS schools and facilities.
“When it comes to facilities, I feel like District 1 has been left behind,” Mundy said. “None of our schools have had a major renovation. Since the new district facilities plan came into play, there have been some updates here and there, but no major renovations, and we have some schools that need it.”
Is there anything you want voters to know about you?
Clark said she wants voters to know that she is dedicated to working on the board, and continuing work she’s begun.
“I want all students to have a world-class education no matter their background,” Clark said. “Their success in these formative years sets the foundation for the rest of their lives. The decisions we make as a board are important.”
Munday said she is committed to working with the community and bringing her experience as a parent to the board.
“I say it lovingly: I’m not a politician. I’m a parent,” Mundy said. “I will be there, not just for our district, but for our community in every decision that I make, working as a team with our board, and I’ll always keep what’s most important at the forefront. That is ensuring that every student in this district has a free and just education.”
This story was originally published October 24, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
