Issues

Current student competency rates and test scores are unacceptable. No one is happy with the current state of our district students' academic performance, yet the current board continues full speed ahead. I will work to make academic excellence a priority again.

Despite our technologically advanced state, our society really is arrogant in its thinking. Time-tested educational strategies have given way to new methods and promises of increased performance, but the promised increase in academic achievement has not materialized, as evidenced in our floundering test scores and graduate competency rates. I'll work to cast aside over-promising but under-delivering methods and implement what has worked and served us well for decades.

There is no higher stakeholder in a child's education than his parents. Our educational leaders have lost their way on this subject. From my view, many members of the current board see parents as a nuisance to be tolerated rather than a respected partner to be esteemed. It's no wonder parents are frustrated and don't feel heard. I'll work to change the attitude and philosophy of the board so parents' input drives the decision-making.

The district doesn't have a revenue problem. Like many government entities, it has a spending problem. I'll work to lower costs on items paid to contractors and third-party suppliers, protecting teacher and classified employee salaries. These salaries are the one sacrosanct item in the budget, and the path to teacher morale and academic performance, saving taxpayers in the process.

In addition to three board seats up for election in November 2024 (have I mentioned my friends Mike Fuller and Paul Hively?), the district also has advanced a new bond proposal, Measure H-24, which will ask voters to approve a new bond in the amount of $143 million.

In 2016, our district voters approved a $170 million bond. As these bonds are paid over 30 years, we are now just barely over a quarter of the way through paying for the prior bond.

And now, after dealing with a historic bout of inflation (the likes of which we in our 50s & younger have never seen in our adult lives) the district is asking for additional funds.

The tone-deafness of bringing a $143 million bond -- while working families are struggling under increased housing costs, increased food costs, increased fuel costs -- is startling. 

Vote NO on Measure H-24. Our community cannot afford yet another bond.