I Think it's time for a change.

By John Nemes

I run on a platform of change. I will be proactive not reactive when it comes to forming policy for our school district. I encourage debate. I encourage citizen groups to help the district find ways to save our schools. I will encourage our district leadership to teach our teachers about the district budget. Teachers need to know first hand how and what money is being spent.

The following is a list of topics I would like our school district to explore:

Looking at the projections from our district office, L.T.U.S.D. will continue to face declining enrollment for the next 10 years. I believe we should develop a 5 and 10 year plan that will assist the school district in meeting the needs of our community of learners. I would support looking into the possibility of moving our 6th grade students back to the elementary school sites, moving the 7th and 8th grade students to the high school and leasing or selling the property that houses the South Tahoe Middle School.

Additionally:

• Bring back respect for academics

• Crack down on discipline. Students who don't follow rules should be suspended.

• Assess the evaluation procedures for teachers and administrators. Sadly our school administrators haven't taught in years or kept up with curriculum changes.

• Is it cost effective to pay administrators when school is not in session? I would look into shortening the number of days worked to that of teachers. Teachers work 185 days a year.The following is an example of days worked by management personnel. High School princpal 222 days,principal middle school 210 days, assistant principal/high school 210 days, elementary principal 205 days, director of facilities 260 day.

• Consider rotating school principals back into the classroom as teachers every three years.

• Consider using school principals once a week as substitutes to better identify with the students and evaluate the curriculum

• Eliminate the Director of Facilities position.

• Combine the office of Assistant superintendent with the Director of Human Resources.

• Eliminate fundraisers such as walkathons that provide more benefit to schools with affluent parents. Public education should be free. We need to cut the non essentials from the budget to provide services to are students that are paid for from the district budget such as transportation.

• Look into outsourcing: transportation, cafeteria, maintenance,nurses,psychologists,business office etc.

• Look into paying substitutes more if they have a teaching credential and or have taken in-service from our district.

• Teacher salaries need to keep up with the cost of living allowances provided by the State of California.

• End the "me too" clause in negotiations with employee groups within the the district.