RICHARD
WIERZBA
EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION
Our great district is known for academic excellence, but, we’re not where we used to be. I think we can get back there if we shift our focus away from ideology and back to educating our kids. All our children, no matter their backgrounds, deserve a top notch education.
It’s so important for their futures.
ROCKWOOD SCHOOL BOARD
MEET RICH
I am a small business owner. Over the last 25 years, I have enjoyed success as it has grown to multi-city locations throughout this great country. I believe that my skills and experience in starting, growing and managing a small business will serve me well as a school board member. I often have to make decisions that affect many stakeholders, including employees; and I always take great care that all stakeholder needs are met. I will look out for the interests of all our students, teachers, and parents. Additionally, managing the financial aspects of my business gives me the experience needed to handle the fiduciary responsibilities of the board director position. As a father of 3 young boys in Rockwood schools, I also bring my perspective as a parent to the position. I have seen firsthand how school board decisions impact students and families. That will be top of mind when I vote on policies and programs for the district.
Academic Excellence
It's a priority for me and a lot of parents I talk to. In Rockwood, just 23.8% of the students that took the state’s most recent Algebra 2 test scored high enough to be called proficient or above. That’s down 69 points from five years ago.
Data source: Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
TRANSPARENCY
Most parents don’t know the academic stats on proficiency. I will make transparency a priority. In order to inform you, I will inform myself. I will ask questions so I am voting with knowledge and not a rubber stamp.
SAFETY & SECURITY
A police officer needs to be assigned to each building in Rockwood so they can quickly respond to all situations. Right now, our school buildings are sharing officers.
Our district has been straying from a focus on Academic Excellence.
As a Board of Education Director, I will work to turn that around.
We always hear that Rockwood is one of the best districts in the state, but, these proficiency charts show we’ve been in a general decline over the last decade. Fewer kids are proficient today in core subjects than 8 to 10 years ago. And, in some cases, even after a full year of being back to in-person learning, things got worse; not better. We dropped again in 2022.
CLICK EACH GRAPH TO ENLARGE AND VIEW STATUS OF OTHER GRADES AND SUBJECTS
23.8% scored proficient or above on Algebra II test.
50.3% of Biology I students scored proficient or above.
58.4% of 3rd grade English Language Arts students scored proficient or above.
Data source: Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
These proficiency percentages are sobering and should prompt all of us to ask questions and seek solutions. As a Board of Education Director, I will ask those questions and seek those solutions. I believe one possible answer is to have less political ideology in our schools. It puts too much on our teachers and is a distraction from our children’s education.
As a Board of Education Director, I will work to...
- Empower our children to believe in themselves and strive for academic success.
- Ensure that programs implemented in the district strengthen academic excellence.
- Promote safety and security.
- Prioritize transparency for all parents and taxpayers.
- Strengthen the partnership between, parents, taxpayers, and, the district.
MORE ABOUT RICH
I am the father of three boys: Liam (10), Beckham (7) & Colton (7), who all attend Rockwood schools. We have lived in Wildwood since 2012, when we moved to Rockwood so the boys could attend great schools, in a great district, with a great reputation. We still have great schools and great teachers. But, proficiency percentages are concerning. As parents and taxpayers, we should insist that those percentages go up. It's important for our children's futures, and to assure us that the district is spending our tax dollars wisely.
The Rockwood School District is a great district that is an integral part of our community. My goal is to ensure that it continues to be one of the best in the state and, academically, an attractive place to send our kids.
I appreciate your vote!
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