Political Philosophy for Sara A. Myers

Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Folsom Cordova Unified School District

The Folsom Cordova Unified School District board needs leaders who can resolve a serious teacher morale problem and restore public confidence in its decisions.

Education has always been important to me--I eventually earned three master's degrees, including one in education administration, and spent 18 years as a teacher, administrator, staff development consultant, and college counselor.

I believe that attracting retaining excellent teachers is the key to achieving a quality education in our public schools. While new or improved classrooms are good to have, it is the teacher's expertise and enthusiasm that is essential. Along with increased pay for teachers, should come more accountability for student performance. Test scores are up, with most Folsom-area schools scoring well above grade level. However, the record in Rancho Cordova, which has ninety percent of the immigrants and the greater proportion of students from low income families, is an amazing achievement which must not be overlooked. Although test scores were lower, many students scored at grade level or just below. In my opinion the Newcomers School, smaller class sizes and dedicated teachers are making the difference. I want to make sure this positive trend is reinforced as these students advance to higher grades.

Learning is based on human interaction. Kids who are difficult to teach--who are high risk--need exceptional teachers. Teachers who want to be in that classroom. If we truly want results and excellence, we need to respect teachers and implement a salary schedule that is competivie with San Juan and Sacramento.

A facilities crisis in Folsom calls for creativity. I recommend grade reconfiguration to solve the capacity problem. This means a high school with grades 10-12, making the Riley St. campus an 8/9 school, putting 6/7th graders at the Blue Ravine Middle School, and having K-5 elementary schools. Grade reconfiguration will eliminate the need to build two elementary schools and one middle school. If the state bond issue doesn't pass, then portables be placed at the new high school to allow space for the tenth graders. Over time, developer fees will be able to fund permanent buildings. We need to wait on the stadium, pool, and performing arts center. measure. We must bring three grades to the new campus and end the divided campus arrangement.

The continuation school in Folsom should be moved to the Granite School and the administrators currently housed there should be relocated to the portables near the Administration Building.

During eight years on the Folsom City Council, I fought for public schools by proposing the full mitigation ordinance which increased the amount of fees developers paid for the impact of new development. I put a municipal bond (Measure J) on the ballot to raise $42 million for school construction in Folsom and walked precincts to inform voters why the bond was needed. No other city government in California did as much for local schools. I voted against zoning changes that would have promoted overcrowding in the schools. I ensured that funds from developer's fees came first, before new school building plans commenced.

As a firm advocate of sound financial management, I insisted on hiring an independent financial consultant to monitor the city's expenditures and revenues. In 1991, Folsom was in the red. The measures I fought for put the city on a sound financial footing, using cost control measures. Today, the school district finances are in the red as expenditures exceed revenue. There's a deficit of nearly one million dollars. The administrative overhead is too high. This is not due to principal and teacher salaries. Better fiscal management is needed and I have the experience and motivation to do the job.

Splitting the district is an issue that won't go away. A recent poll of Folsom voters showed that seventy percent wanted a Folsom school district. Rancho Cordova voters were not polled but community activists report there is reluctance to embrace the split, primarily for fear of being stuck with a debt burden. There were four studies on this subject. The last one was in March 1996 by School Services. The school district paid for this one, assuming that it would show that a split was not feasible. However, this study claimed that Rancho Cordova would receive $440 more per student if a separate Rancho Cordova district formed. This information was not released; therefore, most people in Rancho Cordova don't realize the financial advantage they would have. None of the studies spelled out clearly what would happen to the employees although the process is articulated in the education code. I think the subject of a split should be examined. Folsom and Rancho Cordova are two different communities with different program needs. A group of citizens from Folsom and Cordova have been meeting for two years to resolve differences on this issue. At present, they are calling for an independent study on the subject. I support the study. The superintendent has suggested a poll of both communities. That's a waste of taxpayers' dollars. Folsom has been polled and their position is fixed. What we need is factual information and community awareness of the facts instead of misinformation campaigns. Teachers must be involved in the discussion of split issues. Let's get this on the agenda of the board and analyze the pros and cons. I see definite advantages in having separate districts. Folsom Cordova is too big--more local control and less wrangling over who gets what would be one major improvement with a separate district. The teachers and principals at school sites should not be affected by any change given the state funding formula and the new law which allows teacher's contracts to remain in place after reorganization.