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Revitalize Rockwood

Rockwood School Board Candidate Questionnaire

Matt Doell

1. What is your educational background? (Degrees obtained, schools attended, etc.)

• Parkway West High School, 1981, Member of the National Honor

Society • University of Missouri, Rolla, 1985, Bachelor of Science Degree in

Electrical Engineering (BSEE) (Now called Missouri S&T) • University of Missouri, St. Louis, 2003, Master of Business

Administration (MBA) • I am a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Missouri and Kansas • I am a Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD). See

https://www.bicsi.org/single.aspx?l=2464,4192,4194 for more information. Note: Both the P.E. and the RCDD have annual continuing education requirements; so on-going education is perpetual.

2. Tell us about your involvement in the Rockwood School District.

I was elected to the Board of Education in 2011.

I have worked with the Boy Scouts for many years. As Den Leader, Pack Master, Troop Committee Member, Committee Chairman and currently: Unit Commissioner for Pack 322 at Geggie Elementary and Troop 322 at Eureka United Methodist Church.

My family and I are active members of the Eureka Band Patrons supporting the music program at Eureka HS.

Via my company, Sachs Electric, I have participated in the 4th grade Career Day at Kellison Elementary for the last few years.

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3. What other organizations are you involved with and what is your capacity with that organization?

I am the Governor of the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). I am a past President. As Governor, I represent our chapter to the national organization www.necanet.org .

I am Vice President of Sachs Electric Company headquartered in Fenton, MO. My division, Sachs Systems, designs, installs, and maintains communications systems for a variety of industrial and commercial customers.

In my roles at NECA and Sachs Electric, I am a member of the electrical labor-management committee and Chairman of the communications labor-management committee. These committees negotiate labor agreements for the electrical contracting industry for the eastern half of the state of Missouri as well as hear any grievances that may occur.

I have been the president of a home owners association’s Board of Directors.

4. How will you move the district forward in a positive direction?

When I was elected to the board in 2011, I tried to be very proactive about attending meetings within the district. I was vocal about trying to make it to any meeting that I was invited to and encouraged any group that wanted a board member present to ask. This is a practice I intend to continue. There is a real need to address our patrons’ questions about curriculum, common core, finances, even snow days, etc. Better communication is very important.

We are in the process of hiring a new superintendent. I believe we found a very good fit in Dr. Adams for this school year. The need for a strong community leader is apparent. I believe the new superintendent will need the help of experienced board members to be immediately successful in Rockwood. I will offer this new member of our district all the history, help and support that I can.

The tone in the district has improved this year. The board can help keep that environment of positive collaboration moving. I will strive to do just that.

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5. How will you ensure the new Superintendent is successful? How will you support him/her in their first year of work?

The new superintendent will, at first, need introductions. As an experienced board member, I am in a position to do that. As time progresses, the superintendent will need help understanding our community, why past choices were made, what we’ve encountered, and what we, as a community, expect. As a resource for the new person, I will offer an unbiased review of the topics he or she is likely to face. That did happen this year with Dr. Adams, with great success.

6. What qualities do you think are important to be a member of the Rockwood School Board? What makes you qualified to be a member of the Rockwood School Board?

I believe that board members should be advocates for our district. I believe that Rockwood is among the very best of districts and can cite a large amount of data to support that belief. I have served on many boards and committees. I always try to build consensus and find the solutions that work best for that organization. My successful background in engineering, business management, and positive labor relations provide a good fit to help our district continue to move in a positive direction. As a school board, we will continue to have to make difficult decisions regarding our financial limitations. Rockwood is not unique in this. Most organizations face the same limitations. Calm, careful reasoning is needed to find the best solutions and then to support the administration’s implementation of those solutions. I believe that board members should be honest and independent. They should make decisions based on what the truly believe to be best for our kids’ education without regard to strong negative voices. A positive outlook and strong work ethic are the keys to this. 7. Is there any other information you would like to share about yourself?

I feel I have been able to help the school board and administration weather the storm of the last couple of years. I believe we are in a better position now, and will continue with a new superintendent and new beginning. This is a time of great optimism. I have been privileged to serve for these last three years, and with your support, would be honored to continue doing all I can for our children.

Sincerely,

Matt Doell