"Why are you running for the Coronado School Board?"

By Bruce P. Shepherd

This essay, posted in the Eagle on September 29th, describes Bruce Shepherd's reasons for running for, and the values that he will pursue in serving on, Coronado's school board.

I have served 8 years on the school board in Coronado, and I am proud of the strides we have made. Coronado's schools have risen to the top in San Diego County. We have a rich curriculum that teaches fundamental skills, promotes critical thinking, and seeks to nurture and address the unique needs and interests of students, including in the arts, technology and athletics. And along the way, our students have progressed to now test among the best in San Diego. High percentages go on successfully to college level educations, and in recent years our CHS graduates increasingly have been admitted to some of our country's finest universities and other institutions.

But we have more work to do. In particular, in these difficult economic times we need to maintain a laser focus on our financial condition. While State laws make us almost entirely dependent upon State funding to operate our schools, the State has cut Coronado's funding by over 20% over the past few years; with its own dire budgetary predicament, it is unlikely that the State will replenish these funds soon. To assure that the financial storms do not erode our schools, we thus need to maintain sound budgetary judgment, to keep an eye out both for ways to save expenses and for prudent revenue options, and to make the tough choices when necessary. And we need to think creatively, because while financial resiliency is critical, it is a hollow victory if achieved at the expense of educational quality.

I hope to be a part of a board that within the next 4 years shores up the district's financial position while also maintaining and even improving the quality of our schools. During my years on the board, I believe that I have demonstrated the experience and ability to analyze and wrestle with these issues, and to apply level-headed common sense to achieve good decisions for our district.

So if re-elected, my goals will be to work respectfully with the community to chart a course which: (i) promotes a culture that inspires utmost effort and performance by teachers, staff and students in all endeavors; (ii) instills students with strong writing, mathematical and 21st century skills; (iii) infuses into Coronado's curriculum, in an intelligent and efficient manner, our society's ever expanding technological tools; (iv) increases public awareness that we are operating schools that rival or exceed the best schools in San Diego, public or private; and (v) achieves all of the above while maintaining an ever protective eye on our District's financial condition.