Candidate for
Board Member; Forestville Union School District

I believe in balance and moderation

My overarching political and educational philosophy is one of balance and moderation. Schools should be places where we keep our sights set on our ultimate goal--the academic success of each child. Schools and school boards are not the place to bring narrow personal agendas and ideas set-in-stone.

I believe in a strong parent--teacher--school partnership

I believe there must be a strong partnership between parents, teachers, and the School. Parents need to be accorded the respect and right to help shape an education that they believe meets the needs of their child. Teachers need to be respected as professional educators with unique insight into how each child can learn best and achieve the highest success. School administration, in the form of policies and procedures, cements the parent/teacher partnership with systems that make sure the overall needs of the child, parents, and teachers are met.

I believe in being careful with public money

I will work hard to be sure that each education dollar is spent to get the maximum return for the long-term benefit of the children being educated and the overall community. We must be careful to preserve the fiscal integrity of the District and not approve budgets that leave us little reserve for unexpected events.

I believe in open political processes

Schools are for children, but the benefits of education touch us all. It is important for the Forestville School Board to be more open with its decisions and better at listening to parents and the community on the direction we want our school to take. I will work hard to make it easier for the community to have a say in the management of our School.

I believe in kids

Every child has the ability to be successful. With parents, teachers, and the School all working together with respect, every child can meet the ultimate standard of success: "I have done my best. " As a School Board Member I will work hard to assure that our School is place where parents, teachers, and administration have the support to be nothing less than excellent.