Candidacy Statement

By Carole J S Dawson

In my view, what the MPUSD board needs is to be shaken up - and shaken up now.

The board's critical educational goal has been overshadowed by an erosion of trust between the MPUSD board and the people it serves, as evidenced by local news reports. Five of seven members of the current board are educators. There should be different viewpoints represented on the school board. I am an engineer, not an educator. I bring a new perspective to the board that is analytical, reasonable and practical. I went to public schools for my K-12 education and received degrees in Civil Engineering from California State University Sacramento and Philosophy from University of California at Santa Barbara. A long-time Monterey resident, I have written successful grant applications for more than $9 million in funding for public works and other projects.

In my view, what the MPUSD board needs is to be shaken up - and shaken up now. The new board must select a new Superintendent who has proven that he or she can do what needs to be done to turn our district around. I will help bring back credibility to the board by welcoming community involvement in board decisions. The public must feel comfortable attending and speaking at board meetings and the board must listen and act accordingly. All stakeholders must be involved in the selection of the new superintendent: parents, teachers and members of the community. The superintendent must be beyond reproach and must be held accountable to the board and the community. All board members must work together for the good of the district as a whole.

I served on a committee which studied and made recommendations on the disposition/use of elementary schools and assured that neighborhood concerns were included in the final recommendations. I have been active on the boards of the California Society of Professional Engineers, the Alliance of Monterey Area Preservationists, the League of Women Voters, and have served as neighborhood association President.

I am retired from the City of Seaside Public Works Department. Before that, I spent eight years with the Engineering Department of the City of Monterey. I have been a resident of Monterey for more than 25 years and live with my husband in an historic home in Monterey.