Lukas files for reelection in Charles school board race

Michael Lukas, the incumbent in the 2024 Charles County Board of Education at-large election, has filed for reelection.

Lukas said he seeks to create opportunities for scholars, a consistent goal since first being elected.

He wants to provide appropriate resources to all children and work with community partners to assist students in developing real-world skills they can use to live and work in Charles County.

He has worked to support the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan that increases pay for teachers, expands career and technology programs, provides expanded pre-K opportunities and increases funding in areas of poverty through community schools.

In a new term, Lukas said he would like to help implement a full-day of school for all pre-K students. To him, quality pre-K ensures that children have a strong foundation for school.

He said additional goals include continuing to increase parental and community involvement, continuing to address the learning loss due to COVID-19 and expanding the early college program so more students can graduate high school with a two-year college degree.

“We need to work holistically to support a child’s education,” Lukas said. “Public education needs to provide the building blocks for graduates to continue learning. Students that need more help need to have resources so they have an opportunity to succeed.”

Lukas said that as a veteran school board member he has the experience to know what works and what doesn’t work.

“As a board member, you need to understand that you are one of 10 people on the board, and you need to respect everyone’s mindset and decision-making process and work together as a team to implement policy that promotes positive student outcome,” Lukas said. “I retired after working 38 years for the Navy in the Defense Department. As a branch head and program manager, I learned skills that greatly benefited me in my role as a school board member.”

Lukas is one of five people seeking the only school board seat up for grabs this primary election in Charles. Other candidates are Christopher O. J. Alberts, Andre R. Griggs Jr., Pascale D. Small and Letonya Smalls. The top two vote getters in the non-partisan race will face off in November’s general election.