Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Chico Unified School District

My History and What I Believe: Since 1971 I have been in service to the Chico Unified School District.

• Academics: CUSD must always be about raising the academic standards of their courses so our students are well prepared for post secondary education, careers in fields with strong technology requirements such as engineering and the trades. Education builds choice.
• Athletics and Fine Arts: The athletic programs should not be cut. I applaud the many parent groups that raise funds to keep athletics strong in our schools. I will support returning a vibrant music program to the elementary schools and the expansion of music and chorus to all Jr. High Schools.
• Industrial Arts and Agriculture: I support "Small Learning Community" programs such as agriculture, construction and welding. Being a rural community makes support of these programs essential.
• Special Education: Support for our Special Education programs must be strong so more of our special needs children successfully meet the equivalency or graduation requirements of the district.
• Alternative Education: Chico Unified has one of the strongest mixes of continuing education programs in California. Fair View, CAL, the Young Parent Program and the Academy for Change deserve our continued support and praise.
• Programs: I believe it is crucial that special programs such as Academics Plus, Open Structure, GATE, Spanish Immersion, Academics Plus, Agriculture, Welding and Construction that have been created to meet the needs of students and the desires of parents, be supported and protected. Parental support for such programs is what makes successful students and mitigates the increasing loss of students to Charter Schools. The partnership between parents, students, staff and the community is what strengthens our public school system.

• Workforce preparedness: Graduating students workforce prepared gives more options in life to those needing to contribute financially to their higher education costs or who intend to go directly from graduation into the job market in the career field of their choice.
• Cultural Diversity: Celebrating cultural diversity strengthens our student's ability to successfully compete in an ever expanding global society. We are a culturally diverse community and our students all gain from that cultural mix.
• Committees: My first service to CUSD was as a member of the Early Childhood Education Implementation Committee at Chapman Elementary. I later served on the Strategic Planning , Graduate Attributes, Budget Development and Staffing Committee, the School Consolidation Committee in 2004, and the Site Council at Pleasant Valley High School.
• Employee: I have worked as a Parent Classroom Aide, Summer School Custodian, Summer School Clerk and Attendance Clerk at Pleasant Valley High School from 1973 until retirement in 2002
• Employee/Employer Relations As an employee and union representative I was involved in negotiating many contracts under Collective Bargaining. I believe in the balance of power in labor relations. There must be a mutual respect built between the parties for issues to be resolved without labor strife.