Background & Q and A

By Bret Heinemann

I have been a substitute teacher in Shandon and Atascadero.

I've also completed continuing education courses in 2004-2006 in education through the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education and through the University of San Diego online courses which include their three courses for their character education certificate. As a Christian character and values are important to me.

1. What community organizations, groups, or individuals support/endorse your campaign?

I am funding my campaign. This does two things. First, it allows me to concentrate on the issues, goals and needs of education instead of others who may have agendas of their own. Secondly, it encourages me to keep expenditures under control.

2.. What do you see as the strengths of AUSD? The number one strengths are all of the employees and students. That is, the school district is only as good as those who make it up.

3. What do you see as the challenges facing AUSD? The budget since it's hard to concentrate on education with financial uncertainties. This is not all the school districts fault, because the State of California and our national government have worse budget problems.

It would be wise for AUSD to develop additional sources of income at the local level which would benefit both itself and the community.

The good news is character education is always free, because we can't purchase or reward people to have good values like honesty, integrity, perseverance, and trust. Neither does C. E. require us to do anything except thing about how we do everything else.

4. Based on your responses to questions 2 and 3, what are the major goals you wish to accomplish as a member of the Board of Trustees?

Yes, it would be nice to see the financial health of the Atascadero Unified School District improve, but as important it would be great if all of the employees and students would continue to develop moral intelligence to maintain life long healthy conscience.

It's been said that when it comes down to it the one thing in life that is truly ours is our values and that if we sell those out then what do we have left?

The school district in conjunction with the communities of Atascadero, Carrisa Plains, Creston and Santa Margarita could someday with enough volunteers conduct a value survey to determine what are the 3 common core values of the area. This would let us all focus on what we have in common instead of differences.

The city of Atascadero is in the process of completing a master plan for pedestrian and bicycle routes in the city.

Measures E, F and G on the ballot [ertain only to the City of Atascadero and will not be seen by voters in the school district outside the city limits. These measures do not affect the school district.

What the voters are being asked to approve or not to approve in measure E is to whether Atascadero should create an entirely separate office a mayor and if so how long the term of office should be.

current mayors in Atascadero serve for one year terms. The councilmembers rotate the mayor's position taking turns to chair the city meetings.

A "Yes" vote will do away with the rotational plan and replace it with a separate elected office. It will also do away with one of the five elected councilmembers positions.

A "No" vote will retain the current five elected councilmember positions with one of them serving as mayor.

Measure F

A "Yes" vote here sets the term of office for the mayor at two years.

A "No" vote rejects the idea.

Measure G

A "Yes" vote sets the term of office for the mayor at four years. A "No" vote rejects the idea.

Measure I-10

This is for everyone in the Atascadero Unified School District. It's purpose is to authorize the scchool district to issue bonds primarily for maintainance and repair of facilities. The bond cost to be repaid by a property tas assessment of up to 59 dollars per $100,000 of assessed value that will be added to their property tax bill. If not approved by the voters, then when the old bond expires in June of 2011, then the additional assessment will drop.

A "Yes" vote approves the bond issue and the proposed assessed.