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Terry Goolsby of Upper Marlboro plans to adapt her professional career of helping businesses implement renewable energy sources to the school system if elected to the District 7 seat on the Prince George's County school board.

Goolsby, 55, said bringing renewable energy policies to the system could save money, decrease waste and educate students on 21st-century science.

Students can plant school gardens, raise crops for school lunches and compost the remains, all while documenting their studies, Goolsby said.

"Once you give kids the opportunity, you will see they get creative and come up with ideas on their own," she said.

On a system-wide level, schools should be finding ways to recycle and work with green businesses to educate and train students in sustainable vocations and career, such as engineering, she said.

Goolsby also hopes to work with individual schools to develop grants and build relationships with businesses and nonprofit organizations, she said.

Goolsby, a former attorney who has two children ages 14 and 11 enrolled in private school, said

she is not intensely familiar

with the policies of the school

system but believes she can work to get the system back on track academically by garnering parental support.

In private schools, parents are expected to volunteer, Goolsby said, adding that public schools should have the same expectation.

"Parents want to volunteer. ... They love it," she said, adding that she believes parental involvement will increase when schools become more welcoming.

Another priority for Goolsby is increasing school security to make sure the learning environment is safe and nurturing, she said. Goolsby suggested creating parenting classes to ensure proper behavior is taught at home.

Goolsby suggested a student behavior court, in which students decide proper discipline methods for other students.

Counselors should also play a bigger role in student discipline, Goolsby said.

"We need to find out what

students are angry about," she

said.

District 7 includes Morningside, Capitol Heights, Temple Hills and the northwestern section of Upper Marlboro.

Terry Goolsby

-Residence: Upper Marlboro

-Age: 55

-Time in county: 55 years

-Birthplace: Greenbelt

-Occupation: Self-employed renewable energy business developer

-Education: Bachelor's degree in history from the University of Maryland; juris doctorate, George Washington National Law Center

-Community associations: Member of the county's Citizens Complaint

Oversight Panel, member of county's Citizen's Police Academy

-Professional associations: None

-Family: Married with two children, ages 14 and 11

-E-mail: sowinenergy@

verizon.net

-Website: N/A