As a new Davis School District Board of Education member, Alisa Mercer hopes to be the bridge between the board and individuals and families to make sure they have access to everything available to them. Mercer was elected in November and took the Oath of Office at the Jan. 7 board meeting.

“I have three kids in the district,” said Mercer. “Twins who are juniors at Woods Cross and an eighth grader at South Davis Junior High. I’m really grateful to the teachers and education we’ve gotten in the Davis School District.”

Mercer has been involved in education for many years. “I was a volunteer, worked in the PTA, I was on the community council at South Davis and the community council at Woods Cross. I love community councils because you get to work together as parents and administrators to decide what’s best for our schools.”

When former board member Liz Mumford didn’t run again, Mercer threw her hat in the ring. “I’m grateful for Liz’s service,” she said. “People were asking me to run. I thought maybe I needed to show up, it was my job to show up on the school board.”

The race for the seat was a close one. “It was great to have a race where both candidates worked so hard,” said Mercer. “I knocked on a lot of doors. I got to hear some interesting perspectives. I knocked on their doors now they can knock on mine.”

Each student’s experience is so individual, she said. “I hope I can listen to families and students. It will make me better at the job. It’s like a new oven that’s all digital. It works differently and maybe no one asked what you wanted. We need to allow departments to tell us what they want to make sure we’re listening on the ground and looking into the school.”

Mercer’s background is working with nonprofits. “I worked as Director of Client Services and Volunteer Coordinator at the Bountiful Food Pantry for six years,” she said. “I interacted with businesses, etc. and oversaw the pantry packs (program). I also worked with Lorna (Koci) on the No Hunger Zone project and we opened the first in-school pantry.”

They were all predecessors to the Teen Center, Mercer said. “There is a lot of food insecurity in the district so we want to make sure they get what they need. You don’t realize how much that helps in the classrooms in general when those needs are met. I got to work with families and get to know them on a very personal level.”

Mercer said she speaks Spanish fluently. “I look forward to doing outreach to those who don’t think they have access to the board. Many are not familiar with it. I hope I’ll be able to use that resource (Spanish).”

Although she has a lot to learn, Mercer said she wants all students to feel safe and welcomed at the school and get a proper education without disruption. “That is very, very important to me.”

Being accessible is also important to her. “I’d like to have open hours outside of the board room,” Mercer said. “Maybe open hours at the library once a quarter or term. A public space where people can come and talk and not just at a board meeting.”

The board can’t necessarily solve everything but they can connect people to resources, she said. “I want to make sure families maximize their time while they’re in the Davis School District and reaching their full potential. I’ve learned from the parent’s side now I'll learn how it all plays out in the district." λ