Maqsood explains why she’s running for HSE School Board

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I am Faiza Maqsood, and I believe in this community, which is why I am running to represent District 1 on the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board.

I want to authentically represent families, advocate for educators, and manage our resources to guarantee students the best educational experience available.

All three of my children graduated from HSE Schools. In classrooms and as student athletes (football, lacrosse, basketball, and track), they were challenged and supported by their educators and coaches. I owe a debt of gratitude to HSE for the hardworking, creative, and thoughtful people that my children have become – and I decided to run for school board to give back.

I attended school board meetings last year to learn more about HSE’s finances. As a business systems leader that works in revenue management for a large healthcare organization, I was curious to see how HSE managed its budget. Instead, I was taken aback by the blatant disrespect towards educators, the dismissal of parents’ concerns, and the ugly language used in those meetings. I gained no understanding of how financial decisions were being made.

HSE Schools were an extension of my family for 17 years. Those meetings did not reflect the community I call home.

I do not wear rose-tinted glasses; as a Muslim American with Pakistani heritage, I am not naive to the type of disrespect and intolerance that is sometimes accepted in our State. Earlier this year, our Lieutenant Governor announced his hatred for my faith practice on a national platform. Months later, an organization attempted to host an anti-immigrant rally in Fishers. In both instances, our highest-ranked elected officials offered only lukewarm responses. They did not state, explicitly, that we were all welcome here or reassure us that we were safe.

I understand the nuances and tensions of our community. Yet, this campaign has reminded me that at our core, we are caring, supportive, and understanding. Countless District 1 neighbors showed kindness to me while I was on the campaign trail. People offered us water on sunny days and encouraged my volunteers to put their safety first. I heard countless stories of phenomenal educators who changed the trajectory of peoples’ lives. I met veteran teachers who are considering leaving the profession because they are struggling to make ends meet.

After months of listening and learning in District 1, I see bridges waiting to be built.

My goals are simple. I want to establish a respectful culture from the highest level of school governance. I want to ensure that our students’ and families’ voices are valued in decisions impacting their day-to-day lives and future opportunities. I want to support teachers who show up for students every single day, despite salaries that have not kept up with the cost of living. I want to use my revenue management skills to ensure we maximize our budget to the benefit of staff and students.

To that end, I support the referendum, which would ensure that our district does not fall into a deficit, give our instructional staff well-deserved compensation, and be a step towards retaining our experienced educators.

I am grateful to our schools, this community, and God for the people my children have become. I believe every family in this community deserves to access similar opportunities, and I want to make sure that HSE will provide that for generations to come.

I would be honored to have your support on Nov. 3.

Faiza Maqsood
Fishers