Response to FCAA regarding my candidacy

By James R. "Jim" McGowan

This is my response to the Folsom Cordova Administrators Association's request for autobiographical information and answers to their questions.

ANSWER-

· Bachelor of Music Degree. While studying music, I taught music to children as an Associate Instructor at California State University, Sacramento, in a program that offered music instruction outside the regular curriculum.

· Master of Science Degree in Business Administration

· Licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of California.

· I presently work for Sacramento Municipal Utility District in the Power Contracts and Fuels Department as an Energy Specialist (Natural Gas).

· My wife, Tracy, with our son, Conor, moved to our home in Folsom early in 1994. My wife's family on her father's side has resided in Folsom since 1948.

· Our son, Conor, is nine years old and attends Folsom Hills Elementary School

· Since moving here I have been active in a number of District related activities. I was active in the Measure O campaign as a proponent. I chaired the Transportation Taskforce Committee for the District. I chaired the Folsom and Cordova Taskforce for Education (FACT) Committee until my candidacy for School Board

· I am the Treasurer for our Cub Scout Pack 237

2) QUESTION- Why are you a candidate for this position and what are your goals if elected?

ANSWER-

When our son, Conor, was born, my wife and I pledged to ourselves that we would give him the best education we could provide. Since he began school, we have set aside time each evening to support him in his homework, special projects, or extra credit work outside the assigned curriculum. The benefits to Conor have exceeded our expectations.

I'm running for Folsom Cordova School Board for one simple reason….I want every child in this District to get the best education they can. I grew up without many of the advantages our son enjoys today. I know, firsthand, that a good, solid education can mean the difference between success and failure. The better the education we can give our children today, the more choices they will have in the future….and their prospects for a prosperous and rewarding life will be greatly enhanced.

This community has been good to me and my family. I believe that when one has enjoyed the blessings of a community, there is a responsibility to give something back. I've chosen to do this by working to improve the educational system in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District. I am committed to giving everything I can to make a difference in the lives of our children.

My goals, if elected, are: 1) To bring about effective solutions to the District's facilities needs. 2) Challenging students and enabling them to increase academic performance 3) Recruit and keep high performing teachers and administrative staff 4) Build ongoing partnerships with businesses, parents, teachers, and staff to assist in finding solutions to our District's needs. 5) Ensure the District remains financially strong 6) Leave the daily management of the District to an accountable and competent Superintendent and staff.

3) QUESTION- If you were faced with a budget that couldn't meet all the educational needs (facilities as well as instructional) of our students, how would you prioritize expenditures?

ANSWER-

My first priority would be to protect the "front lines" before anything else. By that I mean that I would rather see money going to the classroom in the form of good teachers, textbooks, and necessary support services. My focus would be to keep the "educational basics" in tact and then take a close look at the "extras" to see if they could be cut back or eliminated. No doubt, facilities are a big issue in Folsom and not an easy one to put on hold or to cut. The same stands for administrative staff and the services they provide. But if faced with dire circumstances whereby I had to make a choice, that is where my first priority would be.

My second priority would be to examine closely the programs or services that are supposed to be "self-supporting" that encroach on the General Fund to see if they could pare back expenses so as to eliminate the encroachment. I would keep any services that provide revenue to the District, such as food service or after-school care services.

Finally, I would insist that the all possible attempts have been made to ensure the District has done all it can to obtain all revenues it is entitled to from the State of California.

4) QUESTION- Describe the process you would follow as a school board member in making an informed decision?

ANSWER-

Assuming the matter is highly controversial, I would first ask the Superintendent to gather all relevant information and to give comments, advice, etc. Then, I would query representatives from the stakeholder groups within the District; i.e., teachers and administrative staff. Finally, I would ask for input from the parents of the community. If the matter was not of a controversial nature or simply procedural, I would rely on the Superintendent for information and advice. All of this, of course, would include the process of discussion and deliberation with fellow board members.

I am of the opinion that the Board needs to start getting out of the business of micromanaging the daily operations of the District, leaving those decisions to the Superintendent. A board should be providing policy direction and public oversight to a responsible and competent Superintendent. The Superintendent is responsible for recruiting and managing competent staff to provide professional advice in areas that are complex and require the attention of an expert on a full-time basis. It is not the business of a board member to try to be the "expert." In fact, I think it is asking for trouble. The Board is a group of individuals elected from the general public to act as representatives of the public in the governance of the District. The Board's job is to make decisions based on the best advice available from the "experts" employed by the District and others, ensuring that the public interest is being served.

5) QUESTION- In your opinion, should local citizens help pay for the financing of new school construction and the repair of older schools?

ANSWER-

If no other recourse is available, then the answer is yes. However, I think it is imperative that the District make sure that all possible avenues of public financing of District facilities needs by the State of California have been exhausted before approaching the local community. Everyone in this state pays taxes to pay for school facilities. We need to make sure our District is doing the very best job possible to ensure we are getting our fair share of that money. Only when all other revenue sources have been exhausted should the District consider turning to the local citizens for help. It is also important that the District is managing the resources it has in a prudent manner so that funds are not wasted or squandered irresponsibly.