Questions and Answers from the Crockett Signal

By Jerrold "Jerry" Parsons

October 2008 Issue

As a proud John Swett graduate, concerned citizen, public servant, and someone who has family members in the schools, I want to serve on this School Board to ensure every child, including the members of my family, in the John Swett Unified School District (JSUSD) receives the best possible education and learning experience to compete in this highly competitive global economy. I also want to focus on the oversight in the of accounting of Measure "A" funds, to ensure tax payer money is not wasted and that skilled labor is used to ensure quality of workmanship.

What is your vision for our schools in the next couple of years?

To improve the district wide standardized test scores, known as the Academic Progress Index (API), achievement gaps in students who are struggling, finding new funding opportunities, retaining and attracting highly qualified employees, safer schools, and the school district implementing short and long term plans available to the public. Partnering with the employees, community leaders, Sheriff's department and every stakeholder of our diverse district, I am confident the JSUSD board and community, will support special projects and programs that will achieve these visions and goals.

In ten years?

A district that is performing well, has all the necessary resources it needs, and is overwhelmed by community support.

What do you see as the biggest problems currently facing the John Swett District, the students, staff and the board?

Funding, achievement gaps, resources, and collaboration of leadership. I am a leader who will be a strong advocate to ask the County for our fair share of tax dollars produced by community industry; for example, ConocoPhillips is expected to produce an additional million gallons of fuel per day when they finish with current refinery upgrades. It is my understanding, this will result in approximately twelve to thirteen million dollars in additional tax revenue per year for the County. What is the percentage the County is giving back to our School District and our communities? Praxair is repairing and or building new gas lines for Hydrogen throughout our community and will bring the County more tax dollars. How much of the tax revenue will JSUSD and or our communities receive?

What qualifications will you bring to the board to solve those problems?

I have extensive experience serving, problem solving, multi-billion dollar funding allocations, and leading on public boards with other staff, elected, and or appointed officials on various complex issues including allocation of funding priorities county wide. The boards I have recently served on are West Contra Costa Transit Authority "WestCAT," West Contra Costa Advisory Committee, and Contra Costa Transportation Authority with elected officials throughout Contra Costa County. I believe these experiences have given me the courage to ask hard questions, which I will use to fight for the children of our district by putting them first in priority when working to solve any problems in our district.

What are your feelings about the $20 million school bond up for vote in November?

I am a strong supporter of this much needed bond to improve the High School, which will house a new community library that both students and the general public will enjoy, a gymnasium that is much safer than our current facility, a new sports facility, just to name a few. I served on a facilities assessment committee that mirrors many concerns that were brought up by our committee and are being addressed in this bond. I have personally been advocating for Measure "A" the past few weeks obtaining key endorsements for the measure from both elected officials and community members (see my Measure "A" flyer on previous page on this website)

Why should voters select you to be on the John Swett Board?

The most important reason voters should consider selecting me, is I will always consider the children first when making my decisions and will commit the necessary time to be an informed and effective Board Member. For the past two years, I have been attending school board meetings and have spoken publicly and have asked questions on several issues, to ensure the children of our district were put first.

This 2008 election for JSUSD is your opportunity to choose who would best represent the interests of our kids and schools.

Support the students of this district by giving me your valued vote on November 4, 2008

Sincerely,

Jerrold "Jerry" Parsons http://www.electjerry.net jerryp1969@yahoo.com 510-799-5888 FAX