School District Accomplishments and Future Plans.

By Jan Vickers

Commentary statement to re-elect Jan Vickers.

Your school district is financially strong. We have a balanced budget with a healthy reserve subjected to thorough outside audits. Our reserve includes money set aside to allow programs to continue if our basic aid funding declines in the future. With the majority of our funding coming from local property taxes we have in place a plan ahead to 2008 addressing the potential of a housing value decline. Meanwhile we are paying our teachers highly competitive salaries within Orange County.

In the last four years we have kept class size as a priority issue. The board has retained 20 to 1 in K-3rd grade in spite of reducing state funding. We have also lowered class sizes at Thurston and Laguna Beach High School by adding sections and new courses including AP foreign language.

In 2001 this community passed a school facilities bond with an 81% yes vote. The projects are complete at El Morro, Top of the World, Thurston and nearing completion at the High School. The priorities established by committees at each school site were honored and construction was completed on time and within budget. The four schools are wonderfully redone with additional new classrooms. Please drop by and arrange to see the schools. As part of our commitment to the bond the ICOC(Independent Citizens Oversight Committee) was formed and has been meeting monthly for several years to guarantee bond money was expended responsibly. We also established the Facilities Repair and Replacement Fund to set aside dollars every year for the expensive items needed in the future.

Four years ago I emphasized that we need to meet the needs of each child and what an enormous task that is as a child moves from Kindergarten through grade 12. There is much responsibility to assess that all the skills are mastered at each step preparing the graduated student for college, career and life as an independent adult. Our superintendent has had us focused on a Quest for Excellence master plan that is guiding us to becoming a Professional Learning Community with Individual Student Plans for each child. This Q4E plan has involved subcommittees lead by administrators with teachers, parents and community members as participants. I can assure you that the direction we are going will significantly change each child's education in this district. It is very exciting. I have been involved in academic depth, fitness and wellness and childhood capacity sub committees. As a board member I have been actively involved in curriculum council.

I have represented you well. I prepare for and attend our meetings. I am available to you by phone or in person as I am actively involved in our community as a parent and citizen. I study the issues in depth, asking questions and researching. I have been endorsed by the teacher's organizations, LABUFA and California Teachers Association,the classified staff, CSEA, and Bill Habermehl, Orange County Superintendent of Public Instruction. Thank you for your support and trust in re-electing me. Jan