Important issues confronting the school board

By Douglas M. "Doug" Chapman

There are many issues that must concern all members of the Board of Trustees, both current and future, in addition to those mentioned above. They include:

• Increasing the instructional selections available to students and developing classes that will satisfy the needs of the business community in our area for more valuable employees. I am fully committed to this.

• Improving the effectiveness of the Board in sharing governance with the academic staff, the classified staff, and the students. Shared governance is vital to the smooth running of the campuses. I promise I will listen with an open mind to all sides of the issues in order to obtain a full understanding of the situation.

• Restoring a free exchange of ideas in fully open meetings, meeting the spirit as well as the letter of the Ralph M. Brown Act. I have had 15 years' experience in following the Brown Act requirements, which applies to all elected Boards.

• Improving the student counseling centers. Counseling is vital in helping the students correctly assess their strengths and direct their education. While the counseling centers are doing a fine job, there will always be room for improvement.

• Improving the morale of the students and staff at both the Saddleback and Irvine Valley campuses. The morale, especially at the Irvine Valley campus, has suffered because of the conflict on the Board of Trustees and the resultant problems. This situation must have a high priority with all members of the Board.

• Ending micromanaging of the District by members of the Board of Trustees. The Board must set policy; the day-to-day administration must be left to those best qualified to so manage the running of the colleges.