Vote for Experienced Leadership...Vote David La Rue on NOV 2nd

By David C. La Rue

Questions frequently asked...

I am passionate about our children. Having served as a Trustee for 16 years, I have been directly involved in creating, providing, and growing the best programs possible for our children. These programs include: Math and Language Arts interventions, the Biotechnology Institute, the Endeavor Academy, Advanced Placement, and GATE.

How would I hope to achieve balance on the board?

Teamwork is inherent in Board responsibilities. To make a Board successful, members must honor the contributions of each individual. A belief in "synergy," where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, must be embraced by all Board members. I encourage synergy and teamwork by example and discussion.

How would I hope to improve relations between the board, the staff and the community?

The Board holds public meetings twice monthly (typically 2nd & 4th Thursday), and everyone is encouraged to attend and participate. Through open communication, transparent agendas, and approachable venues, I would hope Board members, staff, students and the public can freely discuss important issues and improve relations for everyone.

How do I plan to address to future budget cuts?

Budget cuts are a recurring and complex problem. They impact the district in various ways and must be addressed individually. I have addressed previous cuts by preparing for them years in advance. School funding is cyclic and at the mercy of state economic conditions. I have researched this over the last 20 years and have routinely updated the Board, Superintendent, and Chief Business Officer. Teachers and community activists have publically recognized me as the architect of a responsible fiscal policy that has addressed inefficiencies in our district, saved one-time money, promoted prudence, and developed innovative programs that generated new revenue.

What is my stance on the school-to-home bus routes?

Templeton's rural district warrants that we do what we can to promote full attendance of our resident children. I recognize the safest method of transporting our students is by district buses. However, the large and recurring budget cuts from the state, has threatened our ability to fully transport students. I am working on a new plan to re-address these needs. I recommended the Board bring back our afternoon shuttle, and develop a subscriber service to help support its continuation. I'm researching the regular home to school bus issue as we go to election, and hope to have a solution soon.

What DO I bring to the board?

I bring the experience of over 20 years in this school district, 16 as a Board Member. My contributions include strong fiscal and visionary leadership, a passion for our students and innovative education, and realistic solutions. I have a proven record of accomplishment of visionary educational leadership.

The primary issue is to build a strong team of Board members who share the same mission. This issue is fundamental to all aspects and actions performed by this body. Once this Board is in place, with members who are solely dedicated to serving the best interests of all the students, the second issue would be to thoughtfully and skillfully hire a superintendent. This superintendent's appointment is critical to setting the tone and morale for the staff, and the relationship with the Board. This superintendent needs to understand our students are the "Mission" of the district, and have the vision, leadership, and energy to address a complex system such as a district. The final issue is our comprehensive schools themselves: smaller class sizes, restoring staffing levels that allow us to continue to offer the most effective and well-rounded programs, that serve all our students, preparing them for productive futures.

I'm passionate about our children and schools, and I strongly believe each school year that the students in our district should achieve a full year of learning growth. My mission is to work with a board that believes in ensuring that all our students reach their highest potential at our schools.

A School Board Trustee is elected to represent the electorate in achieving the best interests of the students, work hard to build and maintain the finest educational programs, and to develop and retain the finest professional staff possible.

My leadership has helped create and grow award winning programs such as: Elementary intervention for Math and Language Arts, Advanced Placement, Biotechnology Institute, Endeavor Academy, Independent Study High School, Templeton Virtual High School, and GATE Programs.

With your support, I can continue to stretch our limited finances, creatively search for and source other revenues, and actively raise funds as I have done for the past 18 years. My background in business, financial consulting, and education have served invaluable in getting more for Templeton, and in maintaining our programs' high standards. My accomplishments in saving teaching and staff jobs, and my experience in understanding the complicated financing system are unequaled.