Why I'm Running for a Seat on the School Board

By Lennie Schwartz

I have served the educational needs of our communities children for over 22 years. My knowledge and experience will help me to provide leadership and build a vision all can share in. The board must be responsive and listen to all constituents.

I believe that a school board must be responsive and receptive to parents, staff, students and the community at large, encouraging an open dialog. The board must take input from all groups and weigh all the facts before making a decision. A Board member is a trustee of the community that elects him or her. That Trustee must be accessible and willing to collaborate with all members of the community; that includes all District staff. Anyone that comes before the board has the right to be heard # not just to speak. A school board member must build public understanding, support and participation.

My efforts as a board member would center on serving all of the children in the community; one child is no more important than another. We are a diverse community and have to celebrate that diversity. Our schools are here to serve the educational needs of all the children. All stakeholders; parents, all district personnel Certificated, Classified, and Management, as well as students must be partners in this endeavor if we are to be successful.

A key issue for school boards is to create a long-term vision, mapping a course that provides the necessary opportunities students need to reach their full potential. The board is responsible for establishing and maintaining a structure that supports this vision, empowers the staff, and provides leadership. It is difficult to provide leadership and carry out a vision when a district lurches from crisis to crisis, like a ship without a rudder. With my background and knowledge of our district I can help to provide the necessary leadership to keep the district on an even keel. I strongly believe that we have tremendous teachers and staff working with our children. We must re-establish morale amongst all district employees, and work to return harmony throughout the district. Education takes place in the classroom and the board's efforts must focus on enhancing and enriching what goes on there.

In the next 5 to 10 years the district will be losing a significant amount of staff to retirement. We need to have a plan in place that will attract the best and the brightest to the Lake Tahoe Unified School District. Every community in California is competing for the same pool of available teachers and the shortage of qualified teachers grows daily.

By working together we can all share in the knowledge and satisfaction that we have provided for the educational needs of all children, and have built a district where students, parents, teachers, and staff feel they are welcome and that they belong. I ask for your support because IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE.