Candidate's Statement

By David Fichtner

Although an incumbent, I'm running for change. The children deserve the best education in the country. Vote for me and I'll try to make our top priority academics, NOT new construction!

We send children to our schools with great genes; our schools should be the best in the nation. Our schools are VERY good, but not the best in the nation.

We've constructed new classrooms, a library, music room, staff meeting area, and computer lab. At the same time, we didn't have enough microscopes or scales for our science classes, no approved science textbooks for middle school, and an ineffective technology program. Our technology budget for next year could fund 6 to 8 new teachers; yet currently the majority of our graduates don't know how to do research on the Internet. Our students and community deserve great science, math, literacy, and technology programs.

Construction takes the attention of the school board. I believe your school board needs to be proactive in making our schools the best in the country, academically. This means a moratorium on new construction and school board focus on quality educational offerings.

If elected, I pledge to refocus the board's energy from construction to academic issues and to develop long-range plans for all our school sites. I also pledge to provide opportunities for you (parents, local businesses, retirees, etc.) to become involved in our educational offerings.