Political Philosophy for Debra Sleigh

Candidate for
Board Member; Gold Trail Union School District

The Gold Trail School District has always supported a top quality education program for all of its students. This can be seen in the GPA averages reported back to Jim Shock by the high schools that Gold Trail feeds. In all but the Ponderosa eleventh grade last year, Gold Trail students at both Ponderosa and El Dorado had a higher GPA than the campus average.

The Gold Trail District has, within the last three years brought home honors for Sutter's Mill as a California Distinguised School and the CSBA Golden Bell Award for Glen Cain and the Fine Arts Program.

Each year, our after-school athletes do exceedingly well for a small school and the successful numbers of students that go off to honor bands, oral interpretation, GATE, Bus Safety poster, map and the Daughters of the American Revolution competitions is nothing short of amazing.

Our Gold Trail students have online access for Internet research and a library that is open everyday at lunchtime. If not in the library, they can participate in either Student Council meetings or lunch time sports activities.

If one looks at the current results of the 1998 Academic Assessment Report based on last Spring's SAT9 scores alone, Gold Trail is, in most cases, obtaining standardized test scores that exceed the state levels and, in most cases, exceed or equal scores at the county level. Spelling does appear to be an area for universal improvement.

As a Trustee, it is a personal goal of mine to focus on not only maintaining this level of excellence, but to team with the other Board members and parents to find ways to clearly move Gold Trail ahead. Computer technology is an area where I feel I can make a contribution. With new technology advancing to higher levels every six to twelve months, we must ensure that we can provide safe and secure access for our students while maintaining a strategy that is flexible/effective and will be able to grow within a limited budget.

One of the key and constant juggling points for a district as small as Gold Trail is the budget. Because of our rural setting, we are not in a highly populous part of the county and our revenues are limited by our attendance. It is a sobering fact to learn that our current enrollment is now at 657 students. We have not had an enrollment this low since 1995. If projected numbers hold true, Mr. Shock is reporting that we may take a loss of approximately $80,000 next year. In a district our size, with 84% of our budget going to salaries and benefits, and the remaining 16% for operational expenses, you as a voter will want to select board members who are rational, responsible, consistent, creative, well-versed in human resource interaction and in communications.

As a Trustee I will focus on the continued development of a well-rounded thematic program for our students which secures solid, fundamental learning. I will work with other board members, the superintendent, teachers and parents to look for innovative ways to supplement our programs and budget, support the importance of zero tolerance for drugs on our campuses, ensure a safe environment in which all of our students can thrive. I will support the continued implementation of technology and promote ways to improve communications between our district, schools, teachers and families.

At Gold Trail we have a road of accomplishment well laid behind us. I hope that as you go to the polls on November 3rd, you will select Trustees who can continue this success and challenge its limits into the next millenium by being involved and hands-on with the Gold Trail community.

Thank you.