|
I am a Captain at United Airlines, and have lived on the Coast since 1995. I have two children enrolled in the Cabrillo Unified School District. Over the past four years, I have been an active parent involved with local schools and kids. I have served the El Granada Elementary School PTA as both President and Parliamentarian.
My vision for CUSD schools is one that integrates them into the fabric of all segments of our community. First, I would work to restore public trust in the school board by inviting debate, and deliberating on all major issues in plain view of the public spotlight. Secondly, I would like to explore innovative mechanisms that would create new revenue streams from school facilities. Thirdly, I would attempt to work with private foundations, City and State governments in order to optimize assets that will promote and preserve our schools.
Re-center our public schools as focal points in our coastside community
Schools should be the jewels of the community. I would like to explore various avenues that would put the schools in the community spotlight. Possibly a monthly speakers bureau. More adult ed., night school., community college, softball, soccer tournaments, that will invite out-of-towners to come use our facilities. We can and must do more.
Get the middle school built NOW!
I am for building a new middle school NOW! There has been too lengthy of a delay in securing a modern new facility for our children. The debate over the new school site has caused a paralysis in addressing long term critical issues such as adequate funding.
I am a strong believer in common sense and pragmatism in dealing with complex issues. In order to solve a problem, variables must be eliminated in a logical step by step procedure. In light of the fact that the City Government, and the Wavecrest partners have ceased any litigation, and indeed have come to a resolution on the site plan, I intend to follow the momentum, and eliminate the few remaining variables. To stop the process, and create new variables and options would be irresponsible at best, and negligent at the worst. I support the Wavecrest middle school site.
Find and establish new sources of revenue for the classroom
I believe in all CUSD elementary schools having the financial ability to produce the same consistent product. Therefore I will be aware of, and work to distribute funding to any school that may lag behind others . In light of the budget cuts, many school’s parents have become resourceful in creating funding. It is imperative that no one school becomes superior based solely on the parent’s ability to raise money.
It saddens me that parent groups must work so diligently to provide resources that were at one time funded by the district. We must all work together to politically move our State and Federal lawmakers to provide for our children.
Openness between the CUSD Board and community
I would work to restore public trust in the school board by inviting debate, and deliberating on all major issues in plain view of the public spotlight.
Work with our teaching professionals to raise academic standards and results
Teachers are the fundamental strength of our schools. We have a veteran teaching staff that demonstrates it’s proficiency and care with our children annually. I have a deep regard for the teaching professionals and administrators at our schools. We must plan now, using cross community think tanks that will enlist the expertise of various agencies to help recruit, train, and retain excellent teachers and staff.
Conclusion
Our schools are at a crossroads. We need to affirm that our schools are an integral part of our community. I will do all I can to be an advocate that will make this vision a reality.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Because of John’s work travel schedule, he has asked that you be patient about his replies to questions on this forum because he may not always be able to check the Web and email. But he has agreed to answer questions posted on Coastsider.
I’m going to ask this question of all three candidates:
What experience do you have managing a budget?
What has your pre-election review of the CUSD budget told you about the school district?