To all the voters in the San Antonio School District

By Kathy M Weatherwax

As I am new to the area I would like to take this opprotunity to tell you all little about myself and my experiences in public school service.

My husband Bill and I have three daughter. Ginnie, Becki, and Heidi. I am a homemaker and work part-time at Spanish Peaks restaurant in King City.

I would very much like to serve as a member of the San Antonio Union School Board of Trustees. I feel that besides our love, a solid education is the most valuable thing we can give our children. I believe that I could help in this process at San Antonio School.

My experiences consist of eight years as a trustee on the Pope Valley Union Elementary School Board of Trustees. I was a board representative on the Fiscal Budget Advisory Committee for Pope Valley School. While on the board in Pope Valley I sat on numerous interview committees for the hiring of both certificated and classified employees. Prior to becoming a board trustee I was a member of the Pope Valley School Site Council, and served as secretary for two years.

After moving to Lockwood, I became a member of the San Antonio School Site Council and served as president for the 2000-2001 school year. I represented the School Site Council on the District Laison Committee, which was put into place to help the District with the interview process for the superintendent/principal position. Currently I sit on the Land Use Advisory Committee for the Lockwood/Bryson-Hesperia area, which is a county formed committee to help form the Monterey County General Plan.

Here are some things that I would like to see happen at San Antonio School:

More parental involvement in their children's education. I believe that when children have the full support of their parents in their education, they want to succeed and take more pride in their work. Parents need to be provided the opprotunity to learn how they can help their children succeed. How children retain information in different ways. Also how they can discipline in a positive way when a child is rebelling. Keynote speakers in these areas would be a great place to start.

I also think that it would be beneficial to the children to have San Antonio School's curriculum aligned with King City high school's college preparatory courses. The eighth graders need to be prepared to pass the Algebra 1 Exit Exam and the Honors English Writing Exam. It is my belief that whether a student is going to go to college, enter a trade school, or enter into the work force, they need to be provided with the highest level of education possible. Elementary school is not to soon to start.

By increasing parental involvement and stepping the curriculum up to prepare students for college prep. courses in High School,inevitably you will improve test scores.

On Election Day, I hope that you will all excersie your right to vote. Thank you for your time.