The candidate responds to questions about personnel, the current school board campaign, and district finances.
Do you anticipate the district holding a special meeting to discuss the resignation of Dr. Brand?
- No, I do not. Our legal counsel has advised us not to do so. As with any subject, the public is entitled to speak to the Board during the Open Communication portion of a regularly scheduled board meeting. It is my personal belief that all employees of the district are entitled to privacy as it relates to personnel matters. I take my role as a Governing Board Member very seriously and want to respect the rights of all employees.
Does the Board evaluate the Superintendent?
- Just as we expect our managers to properly evaluate their staff, we also evaluate the one employee in which we are responsible, the Superintendent. We started the process in December 2005 and concluded it in July 2006.
Can the Superintendent evaluations be released?
- It is our practice not to release employee personnel information. Our legal counsel has indicated that such information can only be released if the employee authorizes such release or a court requires the district to do so. This would be true for all employees of the district.
Are you concerned about having the teachers' union support you?
- I am very proud to have our teachers support my efforts. I respect our staff, both classified and certificated, for the dedication they give to our students. It is my personal belief that they also respect me for the 16 years of time, energy, and support that I have given as a parent as well as the past 8 years as a Governing Board Member.
Are you concerned about what people will say about the financial contribution they give to your campaign?
- Elections are very expensive and I welcome the support of anyone who shares my vision for the District's children. Four of the five sitting Board Members have received endorsements and campaign contributions from our local San Marcos Educators' Association. I do not feel any of us have ever given this a thought when making decisions as a Board. While I do not know what financial contribution they will make this election, I do know that in the past they have contributed approximately $1000.00 to the candidates they endorse. I never have, and never will, allow contributions to affect how I make my decisions.
Why are you not endorsed by the Republican Party?
- I did not seek the endorsement of my Party in this election. I believe it is in the best interest of the students we are educating to keep School Boards non-partisan. I believe we should make decisions based upon what is best for students and not what our particular Party says we should do.
What do you think should be done to preserve the fiscal soundness of the district?
- We have one of the safest reserves in the County. In addition to our required reserves and needed restricted accounts, we have approximately $10 million in our unappropriated fund balance. We have only deficit spent once in the last six years. I think we need to continue to look at ways to increase our revenues so that our reserves don't diminish. One way is through our new Grants position and another would be to increase student attendance. We also need to examine our expenditures. In March 2006 the Board, on a 5 + 0 vote, opened negotiations with both unions even though we had a closed contract for another year. Through teamwork and collaboration we hope to be able to come to a respectful and peaceful conclusion. We also recently asked for the Insurance Committee to be reinstated so that we can work to curb the rising costs.
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