Candidate for
Member, Board of Trustees; Cabrillo Unified School District

My priorities include the following:

· For teachers, staff, parents, school administrators, businesspersons and the community-at-large to have a meaningful voice in what happens in our schools.

· For every child to be prepared for further training and a successful future.

· For every child to feel safe and secure in school.

· For taxpayer dollars to be spent judiciously and responsibly.

· For the school board to operate in a productive and positive manner.

I feel that I have many of the characteristics necessary to carry out the responsibilities of an effective school board member. These include:

· A conviction that public education is important.

· The ability to make tough decisions.

· Loyalty to the democratic process.

· Ability to accept the will of the majority.

· Courage and commitment.

· Professional respect for district staff.

· Ability to communicate well with others.

My highest priority is trust. Right or wrong, the public does not trust the current school board. Many teachers also question the decisions of the board. The first thing I would do is to incorporate more effective communication between the community and the Board to dissolve the current feeling of distrust. It is time to build bridges, not drive wedges. I will promote a partnership of educators, parents, and the business community to create better schools. I believe every school board member should make routine visits to all district schools and create opportunities for periodic community forums with teachers, parents, staff and community members attending. If communication improves and distrust dissolves, we can then work together to improve our facilities, teacher working conditions and most importantly, the education of our children.

I'm an honest person who has a passion for quality education for all students. I want to see our district excel and will do my best to make sure that happens. I plan to serve as a link to the educational process for the community so we all know what is going on in our schools.