Candidate for
Trustee; North Orange County Community College District; Trustee Area 3

I have the time, the background knowledge, and the commitment necessary to be accessible, well-informed and an effective Board member. I am not an incumbent and have never served in an elected position. However, my entire life has been about volunteer service for the public good and particularly around education.

TIME. Our lives can become so hectic that we find ourselves overcommitted and unable to truly fulfill our obligations and enjoy doing so. The overriding factor is always insufficient time. I chose not to run for public office until reaching retirement and having the luxury of time to be accessible to students, faculty, staff and the community. The gift of time will enable me to research and study the issues in depth and to meet with the various stakeholders to hear their viewpoints.

BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE. After high school, I volunteered for the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. Upon discharge, I enrolled in Santa Ana College where I was recently inducted into its Hall of Fame. My teaching career started in La Habra. Concurrently, my wife graduated from Fullerton Community College and became a resource teacher with the Fullerton Elementary School District. Our roots run deep in the area. My education experience and understanding of the issues encompasses K-16 where I've served as principal, deputy superintendent and adjunct professor. Most recently, I represented Orange County school districts on the State's Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Council which advises the State Department and State School Board of Education. Schools across the State have benefitted from the changes in which our counsel was acted upon including returning to phonics-based reading programs, emphasizing writing skills development, using classroom assessment strategies, and promoting vocational education programs, among others. I also served as the county representative on the Preschool-16 Council.

COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION. My parents only had an elementary school education as is the case with many parents today. From them, I learned how a lack of formal education limits our options in life. This valuable lesson, put me on the road to embrace education as the key to self-actualization and development and to give back to a country that has given me much. At every opportunity, I promote education among our youth, with parents and the greater community. Once they hear my own story, they realize the message I share is real and so are their possibilities.

THE ISSUES. Every institution can benefit from self-renewal and fresh perspectives, no matter how effective it may be. That principle is the foundation for term-limits which exist even among volunteer organizations for its officers. My priorities as a newly-elected Trustee, are founded on clear evidence of areas that need to be addressed more fully and which I can help remedy.

For example, the Community College District suffers from an achievement gap that is leaving some students behind. That is an area with dire consequences for all of us, if left unattended, yet one that is drawing only limited attention from within the NOCCCD. In June, Los Amigos of Orange County hosted a public hearing at Fullerton College on "Access and Equity in Community Colleges" as a public service. We need to help all students achieve their educational goals making it possible to graduate in two years and move forward with their lives. Closing classes to them, large class sizes, limited class offerings, and tuition increases are not value-added practices that serve our community well.

I am also concerned with the outlandish amount of construction change orders which appear on the Board Agendas. A high quantity of change orders often reflects poor planning and calls for further scrutiny and closer supervision. While I realize these funds are specially marked and set aside for their intended purpose, fiscal responsibility must be evident in all cases and not limited to the general fund.

Thirdly, transparency is a vital and critical component of our lives and certainly as we conduct public business. Transparency can be improved in numerous ways including promoting discussion at Board meetings on Agenda Action Items; regular written communication to all employee groups and the community to apprise them of important matters and to engage them; and attaining a comfort-level in meeting with community groups whose interest lies in helping improve educational services and outcomes.

I am ready, willing and able to expand my level of service to the community in an area that is close to my heart and part of my being; education. As a proven educational leader and community volunteer who knows the value of education in changing lives and transforming communities, I am prepared to be a part of a team with that kind of focus. On November 2, I appreciate your vote for Dr. Ruben Barron. Finally, as a voter, you have a voice as to who represents you, rather than selections through appointments.