Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Paso Robles Joint Unified School District

Philosophy

Chris Bausch, Candidate for Paso Robles School Board, 2012

In a difficult financial situation, I am a voice of reason. I have been in similar fiscal situations that now beset our Paso Robles Schools before and have emerged successful. Being a Trustee is difficult enough in the best of times but Paso Robles Schools have not been in a normal financial environment for several years now. Due to California's inability to solve its own financial crisis, it seems we will be here for years to come. For whatever reason, too little has been done in the past few years to adequately prepare us for today's budget crisis. Mistakes made now will result in unwanted consequences that could reverberate for years if not decades.

I will dedicate the time and resources to continue learning how best to serve for as long as I serve. In addition to my service over the years on several school site councils, the skills I have learned in assessing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats during my twenty-five plus years in business will prove to be highly beneficial in working with others to develop a strategic plan that must be tailor made to our times and situation then implemented now, not later, to avoid state takeover or worse.

I have considerable experience as an employer, consultant and volunteer working with boards of directors of businesses and with not for profit entities who were also in transition. Our School Board Trustees must provide the leadership to survive these difficult times. To do so, the Trustees must support and respect all Students, Parents, Teachers, Staff and Administrators. I believe it is best to encourage Students to learn, Parents to participate, Teachers to teach, and to allow Staff and Administrators to provide an environment that makes learning happen. Trustees are community representatives, policy makers, and employers. As a team, Trustees must avoid personal agendas in order to represent all students. Trustees adopt plans, collective bargaining agreements, and budgets that provide both vision and facilities. Trustees hold the ultimate responsibility for the district. I have the experience necessary to accomplish these tasks.

In my opinion, the key to our students' academic success is a well-rounded learning experience taught and shared by highly qualified, extremely dedicated teachers who act in their student's best interest. A successful education experience cannot be just about academics. However we make it possible, education must combine a diverse choice of experience ranging from athletics, visual and performing arts, vocational and career training and the opportunity to serve others. The challenge is how to give young minds the best environment for educational excellence in an era of dwindling funds and an educational system rooted in an outdated 19th century model. Collectively, we must do more to help good teachers apply their craft in the most effective way possible. Continuing to enhance the investments our district has already made into digitized learning, magnet schools, technical careers, and better marketing of our success to attract and keep students are some of the concepts already proven to increase revenue by increasing ADA.

We can accomplish this daunting task of rethinking how we educate in Paso Robles when times are lean and we can do so in a collegial and respectful manner. We must take that crucial first step in building the very best district in San Luis Obispo County. Not because we have more money or smaller classes or more extra-curricular activities. No, we will be the very best school district because all of us, our Students, Parents, Teachers, Staff and Administrators want this dream to come true. If we truly believe that being the best is possible, we will demand it of ourselves and hold each other accountable because we respect each other for what we bring to the table to increase Student Achievement, Career & College Readiness and Average Daily Attendance.

If you want to see Paso Robles Schools become the best schools in San Luis County, please vote for me, Chris Bausch. I have the experience.

Thank you. Sincerely,

Chris Bausch

Candidate for Paso Robles School Board, 2012

Your Voice of Reason