Candidate for
Governing Board Member; El Dorado Union High School District; Full Term

I retired from the U.S. Coast Guard after a 27 year career. My years in the Coast Guard taught me how to work with a tight budget. While in the Coast Guard I was directly responsible for a $500,000,000 aircraft acquisition contract, and, later, as Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, I was in charge of a multi-million dollar budget and a staff of 175.

Today's students are the next "Great Generation," however, without the help of my generation, their potential will go unreached. My generation has a responsibility to equip the younger generation with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed as adults. Education is the primary means for reaching that goal. As a member of the Board of Trustees I will use my leadership and management skills to ensure our students receive the best possible education so they can full their promise as the next Great Generation.

It is essential that the Board of Trustees work WITH the teachers and support staff to create an environment that encourages learning, and rewards superior performance. That means the Board of Trustees, as the name suggests, must trust the expertise of those whose job it is to deliver the product to our children. There should be only one goal: providing the best education possible. That means that ALL parties: Board of Trustees, teachers and classified employees, have a responsibility to work together as a team, and when there are disagreements, to resolve them promptly and in an atmosphere of mutual respect. In-fighting between the Board of Trustees and teachers or classified employees is a distraction, and, frankly, the teachers and classified staff don't need any extra distractions. Their days should be focused on meeting the demands of thousands of students who are eager to learn, and who depend on us to help them learn. The Board of Trustees should facilitate that process, not bog it down.

The Board of Trustees should be planning for the future growth of this district. It should be working hard to manage scarce funds in the most responsible way . . . there is no excuse for "over spending" or fiscal mismanagement. In today's budget climate, we can't afford to waste a penny, much less several million dollars.

The Board of Trustees should let the Superintendent run the day-to-day operations of the district. District management staff neither want nor require the interference of a micro-managing Board of Trustees.