Questionairre from DATA

By Alan J Van Nevel

Enclosed are my written responses to a questionairre presented by DATA

The school board needs new members who look to the future, are dedicated to the mission of a public school, are responsive to parents and teachers, and are able to begin to build up a relationship of trust and respect with teachers and staff members. The last point is a major consideration in deciding to run. The contentious contract negotiations have eroded trust and confidence on both sides over the past few years, and the school board will have to make great efforts to rebuild the trust and respect necessary for a high performing team. Short of new board members, I don't see the atmosphere of trust and respect between administration and teachers returning rapidly.

As to my qualifications, my education, training and job experience have begun to prepare me for service as a Sierra Sands Board Member. Having earned a PhD in physics, and teaching classes in college, I have developed a great appreciation for the job educators do, at all levels. As a physicist, much of the work one does can be reduced down to the idea of problem solving. One must gather and process all information available, and use that to deduce or develop the solution to the problem at hand. In the physical sciences, often there are clear solutions, or only one solution. The issues and problems presented to the school board unfortunately do not often admit a single clear cut solution, but the process remains the same, gather information from all possible sources, assess the information, and develop the best possible solution. Problem solving in this arena requires excellent communication skills, an open mind, and the best possible judgement. At NAWC-WD I am currently a branch head which requires supervision of a group of researchers, and a project lead requiring resource management, strategic planning and guidance, and project execution. All of these skills will come to play as a school board member.

2. If elected, what are your goals as a school board member?

A primary goal as a board member will be to build an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect between the administration and certificated and classified staff. I also hope to form a similar bond with parents and students. To do so will require clear and open channels of communication at all levels. Building clear communication channels, trust and respect is not something that will happen overnight. If elected, I will listen to all sides on any issue. I will ask questions to gain the knowledge and insight necessary to make the best decision possible . No student, parent, administrator or educator will leave a conversation feeling that I did not give them the time, attention and respect that they deserve.

A second goal will be to ensure the district continues on the best financial footing that is possible. The financial outlook for the state for the next year could be grim, and that will have an adverse effect on all school districts, not just Sierra Sands. It will be a challenge to operate the district in times of declining revenues, minimizing any impact on the educational services provided to the children of the district. Without achieving the first goal, the financial goals will become more difficult to achieve without the support of teachers and staff.

A third goal is to look at the hiring practices and teacher development programs currently in place. Ideally, we should recruit as many fully California credentialled teachers as possible, but a variety of factors (geographic location, salary package, overall teacher demand in CA) limit Sierra Sands in this regard. The district needs to provide more coordination for out of state teachers to earn their clear credential, and make it as painless as possible, to ensure we develop and retain quality teachers. I hope to work with both experienced teachers and new teachers to refine, extend and develop beginning teacher development and training programs. We need to take advantage of the experience and professionalism that currently resides in current teachers, and develop effective ways to pass that combined knowledge to new educators, to continue the tradition of excellence in teaching in Sierra Sands.

3. If elected, how will you continue to communicate with DATA and its members?

Clear and open channels of communication with students, parents, administrators, classified staff and teachers is a primary goal of mine. I welcome any and all means of communication. Any formal meeting practices currently in place will be continued. My phone number and email address will be made available to all, and I will make every attempt to acknowledge every call or email within 24 hours. I currently do review and occassionally particpate in the DATA discussion boards on the web, and I will continue this practice when possible. I hope to expand the community forum idea that has been used by board members in the past to focus on staff forums, allowing educators to voice ideas and concerns in an open forum. If feasible, I would like to visit at grade level meetings, staff meetings, faculty lounges to give as many DATA members personal, one on one access to myself, as a board member. These walkabouts should encourage open communication and discussion. I will explore with the superintendent and other board members the possibility of a monthly or bi-weekly Superintendent or Board Newsletter reviewing highlights or particular issues. The newsletter would be disseminated to all school sites, and if agreeable, posted on the DATA website as well as the SSUSD website.

4. Do you think all yearly state educational funds supplied to our district should be spent during that year to educate our children? Explain why?

5. During the election process and once elected, would you be willing to meet with representatives from DATA for open and frank discussions on significant issues including wages and working conditions?

I cannot stress enough my first goal as a board member: to build an atmosphere of trust and respect between the administration and educators, which requires clear and open channels of communication. As the spouse of a teacher, I will need to investigate and understand thoroughly any conflict of interest issues that may arise regarding discussion of wages and working conditions. If I understand correctly, at the very least I can participate in discussions and try to sway opinions and form consensus with other board members, and if certain conditions are met, I also can vote on such matters as well. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss such matters and will take part with an open mind, key questions, and a desire to understand the DATA view.

6. Would you feel comfortable with members of DATA calling you at home to discuss important educational issues?

At risk of sounding like a broken record (or to update technologically, a skipping CD), communication is a key element to rebuilding and regenerating an atmosphere of trust and respect. My phone number is 375 3409 and I will welcome phone calls at any reasonable hour, and ask for DATA members' patience if it happens to be dinner time, or my children's bath or story time all of which are important family times.

7. Why do you want this Association's recommendation?

I applaud DATA's choice to endorse candidates in the upcoming election, a departure from past years practices. I believe that DATA's recommendation will be beneficial to my campaign, and will strengthen my #1 priority, building an atmosphere of trust and respect between the administration and educators. Receiving DATA's recommendation would be a step toward building an effective working relationship.

8. If elected to the school board, would your children attend public school within the district? If so what school (s)?

Even if I am not elected, my daughter Hannah will continue attending Las Flores school, in Ms. Vaughn's kindergarten class. I am committed to supporting public education, and hope to make the district the best educational environment for my daughter, for my son Logan, age 19 months, and for all current and future students.

9. Are there any programs that you think are not receiving adequate funding?

All programs seem to experience some sort of financial shortfall. Extracurricular activities are hit the hardest, such as athletic or music programs. Special Education programs are chronically underfunded. Individual classroom budgets are miniscule, especially in light of a recent study (see Bakersfield Californian Aug 18) which found the average teacher spends approximately $600 out of their own pocket for extra classroom materials every year, while kindergarten teachers average nearly $1800 per year. Technology improvement programs are underfunded.

10. Do you feel that the school board members should enjoy the same benefit package that the SSUSD employees receive? Explain.

My position on this issue has not changed in the four years since I ran as a write in candidate in 1998. School board members should not receive the same benefit package as SSUSD employees. Being a board member is a time consuming position, but it is not a full time position. As an elected public servant, I liken it to being an amateur athletic coach. The coach is there for the love of the game, for the athletes; the board member is there to serve, for the love and joy of education, for the students. Four years ago, I called every school district listed in the local phone book, and asked what the local board members received in compensation for their service. All paid some sort of meeting stipend and mileage, but none offered health care benefits. I plan on repeating this informal survey. If elected, I will strive to eliminate this benefit. I will try to see that any dollars budgeted for my health care benefits as a board member make it into a classroom.

11. When the state gives our district a Cost of Living Adjustment, do you support wages being increased proportionately? Under what circumstances would you support a yearly wage increase to teachers of SSUSD?

I am in favor of passing Cost of Living Adjustments on to teachers as part of their overall benefit package. Ideally the majority of the COLA could be passed on as a wage increase, but increases in all expenses, especially health care costs, make it difficult to ensure a yearly wage increase from COLA's. If the overall compensation package costs can be contained, or alternative cost saving solutions can be found that would provide ongoing and long term reductions, I would wholeheartedly support a yearly wage increase. I would like to see the overall percentage of total revenue that is spent on salaries and benefits increased, even though it is a significant proportion of total revenues currently. Teachers deserve a fair compensation package, including both salary, health care, sick leave, retirement, and other benefits. Making the situation difficult are health care benefit costs which are increasing at a much higher rate. As a beneficiary of my wife's policy, I appreciate the value of the current health care benefit.