|Candidate_Dir: ca/rv/vote/rathbone_c |Contest_Dir: ca/rv/race/2450 |County_List: Riverside County, CA |Residential_County: Riverside |Office_Title: Governing Board Member; Hemet Unified School District; Trustee Area 3 |Preparer_Last_Name: Rathbone |Preparer_First_Name: Charles |Preparer_Email: rathbone@pe.net |Preparer_Email_OK: Y |Preparer_Phone: (909) 927-8228 |Preparer_Address: 42130 Thornton Ave |Preparer_City_State_Zip: Hemet, CA 92544 |Candidate_Last_Name: Rathbone |Candidate_First_Name: Charles |Candidate_Middle_Name: E. |Candidate_Familiar_Name: Chuck |Candidate_Name_Suffix: Jr. |Campaign_Street_Address: 42130 Thornton Ave |Campaign_City_State_Zip: Hemet, CA 92544 |Campaign_Phone: (909) 927-8228 |Occupation: Finance Director/Boardmember |Political_Party: Republican |Bio_Highlight_1: BA Degree Economics & Business Administration from University of Redlands |Bio_Highlight_2: HUSD School Board Trustee |Bio_Highlight_3: Director of Finance for Eastern Municipal Water District - 10 yrs |Bio_Highlight_4: 1971 Hemet High School Honor Graduate |Bio_Highlight_5: President of Hemet Unified School District's Facilities Corporation |Full_Biography: Hello, my name is Chuck Rathbone and I am re-running for the position of Hemet School Board Trustee. I have lived in the valley for 30 years, am married, and have a child attending a local public school. I graduated from Hemet High in 1971 as one of six honor graduates, and in 1975, I received my bachelor's degree from the University of Redlands in Economics and Business Administration. I am currently the Director of Finance for Eastern Municipal Water District. I coordinate and prepare their $93 million dollar operating budget, and my responsibilities include overseeing $250 million in security investments. I've participated in the issue of over $250 million in bonds, and understand and have utilized financing techniques that have helped the Hemet Unified School District make the most of their limited resources. |Political_Priority_1: Academics - Traditional Back-to-Basics Philosophy |Political_Priority_2: Financial - Conservative Fiscal Management |Political_Priority_3: Safety - Zero Tolerance for Violence, Drugs, and Alcohol |Political_Philosophy: I believe children should receive a high quality education. Parents, teachers, and school officials should be mutually committed to providing a quality education. A proper balance of several crucial ingredients are reflected in the statements below: *Basic courses required for a high quality education include Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar, Composition, History, Georgraphy, Science, and Mathematics. Students should be taught patriotism, the traditions of Western Culture, and principles of democracy; a government by the people. Social programs which add unjustifiable expense or that replace basic courses should not be included in the curriculum. *Computer literacy should play a supportive role in a high quality education. We live in a high-tech society and if schools fail to instruct students in the basics of technology, including computer competency, the schools fail to prepare students for the real world. I also acknowledge the danger of overdependence on technology. *Public schools are accountable to parents and the public at large to produce the highest academic results, ethical values, and moral behavior possible in their students. One of the first steps to accountability is setting high academic standards that schools, students, and educators must measure up to in order to objectively evaluate just how well those standards are (or are not) being met. *Discipline and character developmnet are essential to a quality education. School administration must take appropriate disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion of disruptive students, in order to maintain an educational environment free of drugs, alcohol, violence, or other harmful influences. Disruptive students must not be allowed to deprive their peers of a quality education. *Teachers are entrusted with the awesome responsibility of educating future generations of Americans. Teachers deserve the support and cooperation of parents. A safe school environment is essential to the dignity and effectiveness of teachers. Appropriate professional development, adequate classroom resources, and administrative support are all necessary for teachers to educate students to their full potential. *School board members should increase their understanding of the District's operating budget. Periodic reviews of performance to budget should be conducted with the administration and principals to ascertain areas that need attention or recognize exceptional achievement. Also, a review of sources and uses of funds needs to be conducted to ensure economic feasibility. *Parents, teachers, administrators, and school board members should work together in a spirit of cooperation to provide the best possible education for our students. This provision should include, but not be limited to, high measurable standards of academic achievement; an environment of respect, discipline, and acceptance; well maintained buildings; promotion of research-based education reforms coupled with the relevant teacher training; sufficient supplies; and leaders who set example of integrity, honesty, decency, and morality. |Featured_Endorsement_1: Senator Ray Haynes |Featured_Endorsement_2: Local Parents, Teachers, and Business People |Position_Paper_1_Title: Future Goals and Objectives |Position_Paper_1_Summary: I believe school boards hold the important responsibility of establishing policy and setting priorities, so board members should work to bring solid strategies to the table. |Position_Paper_1_Full_Text: *Develop student performance accountibility system *Evaluate/implement research-based academic programs *Increase classroom funding *Ensure budget priorities are implemented *Strive for technology equity at all school sites *End social promotion *Expand school maintenance staff *Coordinate academic programs with local colleges to reduce remedial courses *Seek to standardize what is taught district-wide *Strengthen campus supervision and resource officers to reduce truancies and improve safety *Enhance library resources to include more computer access |Position_Paper_2_Title: Issues I have Initiated or Supported |Position_Paper_2_Summary: The board's primary focus is to implement standards and programs that drive students to achieve their highest academic potential and create an accountibility system that keeps students on track. |Position_Paper_2_Full_Text: *High academic standards and expectations *Increase textbook purchases *Academic accoutability tools *Phonics-based reading instruction *"Back-to-Basics" concept *Financial responsibility and optimum management of resources *Character Education *Reduction of walking distance for students *Parents' rights and responsibilities *Class-size reduction *Zero tolerance for violence, drugs, and alcohol use *Increased campus supervision *Mandatory Pledge of Allegience *Expansion of vocational and fine arts programs |Position_Paper_3_Title: Vote for Financial Experience |Position_Paper_3_Summary: Your vote for Chuck Rathbone will ensure responsible financial decisions! |Position_Paper_3_Full_Text: Fiscal Recovery-- *My financial experience provided the District a different perspective when evaluating costs and managing resources which enabled HUSD to fulfill their Fiscal Recovery requirement. Nutrition Center-- *As president of HUSD's Facilities Corporation, I helped to secure low interest rate bonds that are being used to finance the Nutrition Center. Bond Restructuring-- *I used my financial background to help restructure the bond reserve which has provided additional interest income, thereby reducing future encroachments on HUSD's General Fund. Landscape Grant-- *I helped the District acquire a $25,000 Landscape Conservation Grant for WV High School. Utility Savings-- *I worked to reduce HUSD water rates at some schools by 18% which will generate an estimated $22,000 per year savings.