Age: 48
Family: Married with two daughters in college
Occupation: IT Manager for Cascade Timber Consulting
Education: 1977 Graduate of Sweet Home High School. 1980 Graduate of Lane Community College-AS in Forest Technology.
Prior Government Service: Current member of School Board; otherwise, none.
Why did you decide to run for the School Board?
“Our school system has helped prepare both me and my daughters for higher education and to be productive citizens for our community. I just want to give a little back in appreciation for what our school system has provided us. We have a great program here and I want to try and help maintain that.”
What are your three top priorities, the top issues concerning School District 55?
“School funding (enrollment), helping all students achieve, High School Skills Center.”
What can you do to address them?
“School funding: Not much locally. Salem appears to be helping with increased dollars for K-12 education, but enrollment decline could work against us. The Charter School is probably here to stay, so to some degree we have to compete with the Charter School for students by trying to provide the services the Charter School parents like.
“Helping all students achieve: There appears to be quite a few students who learn better through a ‘hands-on’ approach. The board has been looking into various ways to try and accomplish this. This probably will not be easy, but maybe we can make a start by bringing art, music and physical education back into the elementary schools.
“Skills Center: A continuation from last item. The board has been studying the idea of a skills center for the high school. This would especially help the ‘hands-on’ learners by providing many vocational classes. This would involve some kind of partnerships with other high schools in the county and/or LBCC, plus maybe some corporate sponsors.”
Lack of funding is consistently raised as a problem for public education. Is it a problem? If so what can be done about it?
“The only real problem may be if enrollment continues to decline. There is not a whole lot we can do since Salem controls the most of the revenue source.”
The School District has been asked to fund half of a police resource officer, but by election time, the question should be resolved for the 2007-08 school year. Do you support such a concept? Why? Are there other steps the district can take to minimize criminal and behavioral issues, keeping schools safe?
“I support the resource officer mainly based on historic problems during high school lunch breaks, although it sounds like it might be improving. The only other control option we have would be closing the high school completely. I sure would hate to see us have to resort to that.”
Last year, the School Board considered a proposal to implement a “school-based health clinic” at the high school, ultimately turning it down. Do you support such clinics?
“I do not support the school-based clinic. There is a county health clinic in town. I am sure in the beginning, the goals are good by meeting simple health needs. My concerns, as it was with many others, relates to family planning issues and parents being left out of the loop with their children’s health care.”
From a high school student: How receptive would you be to suggestions from students? Would you “blow them off because they’re teenagers,” or would you see them as resources who have a perspective that adults in the school system may not have? Many seniors are 18 years old and will be eligible to vote in this election.
“I would be very receptive. Our young adults have opinions and ideals that are just as valid as the rest of us. It is encouraging to see them get involved.”