League of Women Voters Candidate Forum - Opening Statement

By Scott Wooden

September 20, 2010 Del Mar Hills Academy

We need to restore the "3-R's" to the district - responsibility, relationships and respect. We must restore fiscal responsibility to the district budget and buy a district office without impact to the general fund. We must restore the relationships between the board, the superintendent, administrators and teachers. We must allow the professionals who we hired to do their jobs without micromanagement by the board. We must stop pitting parents against parents and schools against schools. We must restore respect to the board and not be afraid to make a decision. Everyone will not agree with every decision we make but they will accept it if they know we are doing what is best for the children and if we have their respect.

As I am in my 4th year of the YMCA Adventure program, I was on the beach last weekend with my daughter. There you hear a lot of Taylor Swift and Hannah Montana songs. I would like to close with a few words from one of them:

You tucked me in, turned out the light. Kept me safe and sound at night. Little girls depend on things like that. brushed my teeth and combed my hair had to drive me everywhere you were always there when I looked back You had to do it all alone Made a living make a home Must have been as hard as it could be And when I couldn't sleep at night Scared things wouldn't turn out right You would hold my hand and sing to me

Caterpillar in the tree How you wonder who you'll be Can't go far but you can always dream Wish you may and wish you might Don't you worry hold on tight I promise you there will come a day Butterfly fly away

Butterfly fly away. Our children will all someday turn into those butterflies and fly away. When they do we all desire that they had the best foundation they could get here in Del mar. As you listen tonight, think as to who understands the district, who will listen, but more importantly who has that vision and can make sound decisions to provide your children with that sound footing. Who can restore that responsibility, who can restore those relationships and who can restore that respect. Thank you.