Candidate for
Board Member; Escondido Union High School District

LOCAL CONTROL OF CURRICULUM

Jon Petersen will ensure that the curriculum reflects community values and standards. Jon will listen carefully to parents, community members, and teachers when making curricular decisions. We should encourage our schools to be innovative without going so far as to use our children to "experiment" with highly unorthodox approaches.

HIGH STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Jon Petersen will set high goals for our students and teachers. There is simply no excuse for underperforming schools. The schools must set standards-based curricula, and then encourage students to challenge themselves in rigorous courses. High expectations will raise test scores.

MAINTAIN SCHOOL FACILITIES

Escondido taxpayers have just finished investing millions in renovating our worn-out high schools. Jon Petersen will work for a long-range maintenance plan to protect that investment. It's financially irresponsible to wait until our schools become dilapidated before developing a plan to fix them. Our students deserve to learn in safe, state-of-the-art facilities. Furthermore, Jon will plan for Escondido's future housing needs. The school district needs to plan for a fourth comprehensive school site now to prevent severe overcrowding in five or six years.

FISCAL PRUDENCE

Jon Petersen believes that budgetary decisions should be predicated on one concept--expenditures should directly impact student learning. Interesting books, new teaching supplies, small classes, and good teachers are worth investing in. Expanding the school bureaucracy is a bad investment.

Cast Your Ballot for Jon Petersen!