Reestablishing Trust

By Muril Clift

How I will work to reestablish trust between the citizens and the CCSD.

The recent 218 votes centered on a theme of mistrust of board actions, especially in the financial management area. The protesters questioned:
- The advisability of borrowing funds for improvement projects.
- The salary and benefits programs provided to district personnel.
- The lack of published monthly or quarterly accounting reports on both general and enterprise funds.

The CCSD Board countered with the belief that the protesters misunderstood the Board's actions, and that all the material requested by the protesters was readily visible and available. Currently, I see the issue to be not who is right, but more importantly, the need to reestablish a connection between all Cambrians and the Board. I also perceive that it is the Board's responsibility to lead in the effort toward reestablishing trust between all parties. This does not mean we must all agree on all points, which is highly unlikely. We should, however, honor each other's viewpoints by recognizing that they are sincere positions.

I believe trust can be re-established in the CCSD by:
- Providing clear and frequent financial reports.
- Clearly detailing the needs for any project, including its funding details.
- Issuing frequent progress reports on all projects.
- Establishing liaisons or advisory groups on large projects, and on continuing issues within the community. These include growth management, additional water sources, and personnel policies.