Committee on Political Education Board Candidate Questions 2006

1. Why are you running for the Board of Education and why should we support your candidacy?

Education has always been an important part of my life. I was educated in the Huntington Beach school districts and graduated from Edison High School. My dad was an elementary school teacher and principal in the Westminster School District and I used to help him set up his classroom each year. I have always seen education as a vital part of life and I remember when I was in high school deciding to learn as much as I could. At OCC I decided to give as much back to schools as I could. Now, as a parent and a lifelong educator I believe there is no better time to be of support to the NMUSD. Three of my four children and many of their friends have graduated from NMUSD. My youngest son is currently enrolled at College Park Elementary School.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District will be faced with many challenges in the coming years due to fiscal and budgetary imbalances at the state level. We need to make sure that we can be flexible to address these challenges and remain fiscally strong. In addition, there is a responsibility to spend the Measure F money wisely with accountability to the stakeholders within the district focusing always on the best interest of our students. I have the qualifications and background to help our students to meet the rigorous challenges that will be placed before them as they enter the workforce.

With a new superintendent in place I am excited to help this district move forward. The Strategic Plan needs to be implemented and I will commit to help the vision of the NMUSD become reality. My background in curriculum development, school finance, human resources, policy development and strategic planning have allowed me to be ready to help NMUSD to face the challenges that are here at this time and in the future.

2. What are your qualifications for the position?

Besides the legal qualifications set forth by the Registrar of Voters, I have the preparation and skills necessary to participate in the governance of a school district:

I have served 16 years as a high school teacher in both public and private schools. I received my Professional Clear Teaching Credential and taught high school instrumental and vocal music. This has enabled me to understand the challenges faced by the teacher which include salaries and actual time needed to prepare and teach (band directors spend many hours of non compensated time), working within budgets with seemingly non responsive administrators, etc.

I was a college administrator in the private post secondary setting. This enabled me to see what the students actually learned in high school and what was needed and used in a college setting. As the President of Southern California International College, I learned how to attract and hire the best instructors, manage a multi-million dollar budget, and graduate prepared students.

I have been a 24 year volunteer at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa CA. At OCC, I have been President of the OCC Alumni and Friends Association, Member of the Foundation Board, Scholarship Committee Chair and Board Member, and OCC HonorÕs Night Master of Ceremonies for over 16 years. I am the only non-employee that is a club sponsor and advisor. I am active on the committee for Senior Day, held in the spring to attract NMUSD students to enroll at OCC.

As a parent of both NMUSD graduates and a current student I have actively been involved with my children. I have been a PTA President 3 times including this year at College Park Elementary. I have been Booster Club President for many clubs at Estancia High School. I have been Costa Mesa National Little League President and a Boy Scout leader.

My educational background includes: Graduate of Orange Coast College (Associate of Arts), University of Redlands (Bachelor of Science), National University (Master of Education).

All of these things plus a great desire to be of service help me to be qualified to serve as a Trustee for the NMUSD School Board. I can help expand the existing vision that will enable our students to be prepared to be successful members of society and lifelong learners.

3. What do you believe is the job of a trustee and what new ideas would you bring to the district?

Public oversight of local government is the foundation of American democracy. As a trustee I will be called upon by the community to uphold the Constitution, protect the public interest in our schools and ensure that a high quality education is provided for each student.

As a Trustee I will bring my unique skills, values and beliefs into play and work with a governance team to help determine what is best for our students. Mine is but one voice but it represents the area where I live and work. I will work openly with trust and integrity. I can keep confidential maters confidential and will always work within board policies and procedures.

I will work hard to help our students to be successful as they graduate. I will look for ways to help our students pass the exit exams as freshmen and use the rest of high school to focus on standards. There is a saying on the wall of the track field that says, "Setting the Standard HIGHER than Victory." Clearly, schools and the state see victory as passing standard tests as noted in the many newspaper articles and reports published by the state. The higher standard is to graduate students prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

We need to improve the Visual \Performing Arts in the District. We have Measure F funds and other one-time monies that should be allotted and spent while available.

We need an effective emergency plan that can tie us into the community. We need our students to be safe.

We need to look for more learning academies where we can teach to the interests of our students. This would be a privilege when a student passes the exit exam.

I look forward to being able to make NMUSD the model for others to follow.

4. Now that binding arbitration is the standard in public collective bargaining agreements, N-MFT sees the value of implementing binding arbitration. What are your views on binding arbitration?

A relationship of collaboration is always the best. The existing board seems to have developed a good working relationship over the years. I am known as a good listener and am slow to anger. Binding arbitration is a way to reach a conclusion without the additional costs connected with lawsuits. I hope in an ideal world that this process will never be needed.

5. Newport Mesa Federation of Teachers is committed to establishing and maintaining a strong working relationship with the board. What are your thoughts about this and what would you do to aid the process?

As a Trustee I would be committed to maintaining this relationship. I will be in the schools and classrooms from time to time and will always be available to listen. I would especially welcome the opportunity to hear the wishes and concerns of our teachers. After all, they are the ones that help us to produce the results that we, as a district, need.

6. Describe your views about interest-based collective bargaining.

Developing relationships of trust are important. From what I have learned concerning this process I can see how this would be a very effective process. When issues are free to be presented and contention is eliminated, real progress can be made. We will have the ability to reflect on these issues and agree to do the right thing together for the best interests of the students.

7. What are your funding priorities for the District budget?

1. Keeping the District fiscally strong.

2. Hire and train highly qualified teachers, principals and staff.

3. Technology, Performing Visual Arts and other programs beneficial to the student.

4. Look for ways to spend effectively the restricted money to be able to free up the non-restricted funds.

5. Gain control of the budget deficits such as Special Education and other student services.

8. What priorities would you have for any additional funds (i.e. Basic Aid premium, A.D.A., or C.O.L.A.) that might come to the District after the official budget has been passed?

After the official budget is passed there does not seem to be non-restricted money available. If extra money becomes available my priority would to support those who work with us. The precedent is set to provide these funds to teacher salaries and benefits. This sounds like the right thing to do.

9. What are your views on No Child Left Behind?

This seems to be a program that will be with us for a while. Basing performance on one test makes us jump through some hoops that are difficult. We should seek for ways for our students to continue to work to better their scores on the SAT 9. We need to seek a higher standard so our students see value and find teachers that can teach to the test and the standards effectively at the same time. Maybe we can work with our students so that we automatically accomplish state and federal standards because our standards are higher.

10. What are your views/priorities for Measure F funds?

Measure F funds were voted on by the community. We need to be accountable for these funds and according to the measure we need to establish a committee to make sure there is an "equitable and fair distribution." Usages of these funds are already written in the text of the measure F documents. We have been promised funds for Visual and Performing Arts and I will help to use these funds effectively.

11. Seven years ago, The Union and the District agreed to move teachers' salaries to the 75th percentile of the unified districts in the county. At this point we are still below the mean. What role do you think competitive salaries have in attracting and retaining high quality teachers? What priority would you have in making this commitment a reality?

When I make a commitment I stick with it. I would support this and hope to find the funds to make this a reality. NMUSD needs to be the employment goal for the best teachers and school leaders. This promise will surely be one way to potentially attract them.

12. What is your position on Charter Schools, particularly the proposed Orange County Academy?

I generally like the use of learning academies and charter schools. These need to be included in a district setting so that our students have the opportunity to focus on areas that are of interest to them specifically. Santa Ana and Huntington Beach have established Performing Arts academies that allow the student to develop further then the regular day allows. In NMUSD we have the Early College and Middle College High School programs that allow our student's to progress at their own pace. We should look for more opportunities to meet student's needs.

The Orange County Academy on the other hand, is not right for us. We would be using funds on this program that might or might not be for students in our district. From reading the report there is no real process to allow NMUSD students into the program. Besides those outside the district would run it. If we would proceed with Charter Schools we should look for the need and resources within our district. I think the board did the right thing.

13. What are the three areas you would target for improvement in the district?

1. Attract the best educators possible. This includes teachers, principals and staff. NMUSD needs to be a destination job, not one that is a transition to better paying district. We need to find ways to raise salaries and benefits. To attract the best educators we need be more competitive with our certificated compensation package.

2. We need to promote teacher excellence. I would find ways to help them effectively discipline allowing them to teach and inspire students. This would include more resources to use in the classroom as well as professional teacher training opportunities.

3. Improve accountability and communication with all stakeholders. As a Trustee I will promise to be accountable to the stakeholders and always look for ways to implement the Strategic Plan and communicate the district vision.

14. When you are furnished data (or information) from the district administration, how would you verify the accuracy of that information?

The basic way is to ask questions. When there is a concern or doubt I would ask for all the necessary information. I am sure that there are other boards that have had similar concerns. I will be diligent with the process until I am comfortable with the data. My own research will allow me to finally reach a comfortable decision for my Trustee Area.

15. What would you do to improve and maintain employee morale and working conditions?

Talk to everyone,

Listen to concerns and opinions,

Review,

Support when possible,

Relay to board if appropriate,

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate!

I promise to be in the schools and available to the employee. When all concerned are happy they will be more productive and the students win.

16. What accomplishments are you most proud of in your professional life and personal life?

As a teacher I have written and received money from every grant request I have written. There are sources of alternative money if we seek. I am proud to be a member of this community for over 25 years and to have been able to raise my family here. I am excited to see the many students that I have had the privilege to teach become professionals and valued citizens. It is their accomplishments that mean the most to me.

I am married for 25 years to a wonderful wife, Laura who works in the NMUSD district. Together we are the parents of 4 children that have benefited from their education received in this district. I continue to be active in my church and at OCC. I look forward to my continued service in the PTA and other local organizations.

17. What else do you want to tell us about you?

All children can learn. I believe that we need to focus on what helps our students be successful. Abraham Lincoln said that if he had 6 hours to cut down a tree he would spend the first 4 hours sharpening the axe. We are faced with many challenges and we need to spend the time with doing the things necessary to make our axe strong. I know that all my preparation has allowed me to be ready to serve as a Trustee for NMUSD Board. I am committed to be the best I can and to work together as a board to help our students be successful. My word is my bond and I seek for your support as I move forward in this process. I believe the vision contained in the Strategic Plan- Our Shared Vision. Every Child ... Every Day.

Thank you for your consideration.