Michael Sperry for DSD Board of Education

Campaign Summary

2010-10-20T22:42:00.002-06:00

The General Election is here and early voting has started. Here’s a summary of my positions and qualifications.

I am a PARENT of school-aged children. I believe that the school board needs a parent representative. Who knows better than parents what is and what is not working in the classroom? The educational system should maintain a FOCUS ON THE CLASSROOM and how to provide the best educational opportunities. Parents are the best resource to keep this focus. The school community councils and PTAs provide excellent parental representation that should be utilized.

I am a COMMUNICATOR who will gladly accept constructive suggestions and respond to communications received. The public education system belongs to the public. Ideas for improvement should be studied and implemented where possible. Feedback should be provided.

I am willing to INNOVATE for the benefit of the schools. The world is changing. Technological advances are constantly before us. Technology can be integrated with classroom teaching to enhance the educational experience. The curriculum needs to be technically current to provide the necessary skills to be part of an ever-changing world. I do not have emotional ties to any position, program or building in the district. I am a mechanical engineer by trade and understand many of the uses of technology that could be applied to education and what skills are necessary to enter technical fields.

I will be a REPRESENTATIVE of the people who elect me. I am familiar with the schools within the boundary of the precinct. I will encourage input from the residents and ensure that their voice is heard. I will ensure that taxpayer funds are spent in a wise and efficient manner. Limited funds should be directed to the classroom and not to administration, travel costs or buildings that are beyond simple and functional.

This campaign has been a great learning experience for me. I have met many great people. I believe that I would be a great representative on the school board. I would provide a different point of view and a fresh voice. I appreciate the support I have received during the campaign. I would appreciate your vote this election.

Getting Involved

2010-10-10T20:27:00.002-06:00

Each of us has an investment in the public education system. Whether you have children or grandchildren being educated in the public schools or as a taxpaying member of the community, involvement in the public schools will help enhance our investment. There are many ways to be involved in the educational system.

School Community Councils are an excellent way to be involved in the local-school decision-making process. Each school is required by Utah law to have a Community Council that includes administration, teachers and parents. The Community Council develops the school improvement plan, school LAND Trust Program and child access routing plan. The Community Council also assists in staff development and the overall direction of each school. The parent members of the community council are elected by their fellow parents and serve two-year terms. My wife serves on the Bluff Ridge Community Council and this has been a wonderful opportunity to be involved with our local school. Community Council meetings are open to the public. I would suggest that all parents be involved in their school through their Community Council.

The PTA is another excellent way to be involved in your local school. Each local PTA chapter works with the school to provide support where required. This support can be through fund-raisers, student rewards and activities, or academic support. Every parent can be part of the local PTA and help their school achieve success.

The school board can and should utilize these existing organizations to foster school involvement at the district level. If elected to the school board, I plan on using parent representatives from the Community Councils and PTA as a community focus group. I would meet with this group at least twice a year to discuss the issues facing the district. Budgeting, scheduling, buildings and academic programs are a few of the items I can envision being discussed. This group would help me stay focused on the issues important to the community and help me be a better representative on the board.

Lastly, everyone can participate in the local school by being involved. Know your local school board representative and communicate with them. Attend a school board meeting. Vote in the school board elections. Volunteer at your neighborhood school. Involvement in the public schools will help ensure we have a quality education system that meets the needs of our students.

Thoughts from Summer

2010-09-12T21:30:00.001-06:00

Labor Day has passed, the kids are back in school and summer has quickly gone by. I have not posted since the Primary election, but I have been keeping involved with the happenings in the school district. Here are my thoughts on a few of these subjects.

I believe it is a mistake to remove the building scheduling from each individual school to the centralized district. I rarely believe that consolidation in the district office is a good move and that the district will require more personnel for this function.

I would not have voted for the Centerville CDA agreement. I realize that the additional construction will provide additional tax dollars, even if a percentage of the dollars are bypassed for 15 years. The yearly and overall amounts will be comparatively small. My issue is that this is a very-targeted tax break. I believe in lower taxes for everyone, not just one group that is building something new. Business at existing theaters could be damaged and the government helped subsidize the competition. Other projects throughout the county have been constructed without asking the District for tax breaks. I believe the district should have said “no”.

I also would not have voted for the property tax increases that were passed. The transportation levy and capital levy were raised, the later a substantial amount. The capital levy is used for building construction and maintenance. I believe that there are many ways that the buildings in the district can be simplified and building costs lowered. The district received less money from the state for the capital budget this year and felt like the money was still required, thus the tax increase. I believe that the projects in the pipeline should have been re-prioritized and cut back to meet existing funds. I believe the new Endeavor Elementary School is an example of bad spending. The school is constructed around an astronomy theme, which increased the cost of the building. The district noted some of the features in the building that helped the building to be constructed at a lower cost than the previous elementary school. If the astronomy aspect had been removed, the building would have been less expensive. And how much of the savings was a result of the current decline in the construction industry?

The voted and board leeways were proposed to be raised by a small amount, but were removed by the Board prior to the truth in taxation hearing. I have supported this increase as it would be small, will eventually be required to retain matching state funds, and would be used in the general fund to benefit the classroom. I believe that classroom size is an issue in our schools that needs to be addressed. I also believe, as I said in an earlier post, that there are inefficiencies that can be corrected within the existing budget to allow a larger percentage of the budget to be used directly in the classroom.

I plan to add regular posts to the site between now and election day. I thank everyone for their support and encouragement. Please e-mail me if you have a topic that you would like me to discuss.

Thanks for Your Votes

2010-06-22T22:50:00.003-06:00

The results of the election have been tabulated and I received enough votes to advance to the General Election in November. Thanks to everybody for your vote and your support.

It's Time to Vote

2010-06-08T08:29:00.003-06:00

There is a primary election for the Davis School District Board of Education in Precinct 6 in which there are three candidates to choose from. The two candidates who receive the most votes will advance to the general election in November. Every registered voter regardless of party affiliation is eligible to vote in the primary election for school board candidates. I would appreciate your support and vote.

EARLY VOTING is available Tuesday, June 8 through Friday, June 18. The polls will be open at various times at the Davis Central Library in Layton and the Syracuse Community Center during these days. The County Courthouse in Farmington or the Library in Bountiful are also available if more convenient. Here is a link to the voting schedule from the County Clerk’s office.

The PRIMARY ELECTION will be on Tuesday, June 22. The polls open at 7:00 am and close at 8:00 pm. You can find your voting location at the state voter information website (link), or here is a summary of that information.

All Syracuse will be voting at the Syracuse Community Center.
All Clearfield and HAFB will be voting at the Clearfield City Center.
Layton districts LA10, LA11, LA12 and LA16 will be voting at Northridge High School.
Layton district LA03 will be voting at Layton Christian Academy.

Please vote. It is through the vote that we as citizens hold our elected officials responsible and ensure that the government that we have is the government that we want. Remember to bring your ID (a newer requirement) with you to vote. Again, I would appreciate your support and vote on June 22nd.

Community Meetings

2010-06-08T08:26:00.000-06:00

I will be available for those who would like to meet with me and discuss my candidacy and positions or the educational system. I have set aside the following times and locations.

Friday, June 10
6:00 - 6:50 Bicentennial Park–931 E 600 S, Clearfield, by the Library
7:00 - 7:50 Legacy Park–2300 S 1000 W, Syracuse

I am always willing to meet with or communicate with anyone to discuss these topics. Please e-mail me. I look forward to meeting with you.

My Other Half

2010-05-30T22:12:00.001-06:00

Before you can really know me, you need to know a little about my wife, Jana. Jana grew up in the small Idaho town of Buhl, located to the southeast of Twin Falls. Jana is the fifth of six children to Jay and Eve Cole. Her parents own and operate a dry cleaning business. After high school, Jana attended Ricks College in Rexburg, ID where she majored in Home Economics Education. After obtaining her associates degree, she served an LDS mission to Porto Alegre, Brazil (with a stopover in Tennessee to wait for her visa). Upon return from her mission, she moved to Utah and lived with her aunt and uncle in east Layton while attending Weber State. It was during this time that we met. Our courtship was out of the ordinary since I had started construction on a house (the same one we live in today) because I had obtained employment and was tired of paying rent. She became my biggest cheerleader and my best friend. We were married shortly after and have since been blessed with five wonderful children.

Jana is a very outgoing, service-oriented and friendly person. There is rarely a time that she doesn’t remember a face or a name. I am constantly asking her for help with who people are, especially those we may not have seen for a while. Jana is always willing to serve our community. She volunteers at the elementary school and is a member of the Community Council. I would guess that she has read with almost every student in that school at some point in time. She currently serves as the Young Women’s president in our LDS ward and has a great love for the youth of our community.

Jana is also a fantastic mother. She reads with our children often and ensures they are doing their daily reading. There is no educational opportunity that we stress as more important than the ability to read--it is the key to whatever career or lifestyle you may choose. Jana helps our children with their schoolwork and teaches them about the importance of work, family and the home. As our oldest daughter is now eleven, she has started on the subject of growing up (which is going to be interesting). Jana helped me decide that a position on the school board would be an important opportunity to serve our community and children and that I should become a candidate for the election. She supports me completely in this effort and I am happy to have her standing by my side in this adventure and in everything that I do.

Length of Service

2010-05-24T20:58:00.001-06:00

There has been some discussion lately regarding the length of service of some of our elected representatives. Some have served for longer than they originally pledged. Some have viewed their election as an entitlement once they gained office. If elected, I will serve for one term and evaluate how effective I have been as your representative on the Board of Education. I would also consider my family situation. If I am elected to a second term, that term would complete my service—two terms maximum.

I view the opportunity to represent my community on the board of education as service. It would not be my social outlet, my pastime or my sense of self-worth. I believe that any ideas that I have can be studied and implemented within eight years. I believe that experience on the Board can help to a certain degree, but a new perspective will keep the Board vibrant and innovative to the constantly changing educational climate.

Eight years maximum. That’s a pledge you can count on.

Budgeting

2010-05-02T21:41:00.003-06:00

Every organization has a limited amount of money to spend. Deciding how to spend that money is done through budgeting. Families have budgets. Businesses have budgets. And the school district has a budget. The budgeting process has guidelines and deadlines in state law. The majority of the general fund decisions—teachers, transportation, staff—are made at the state level, but most of the spending decisions are made by the district. Since the district is in the final stages of this year’s budget cycle, I am presenting my opinions on how the budget should be constructed.

Budgeting Process
I believe that the greatest improvement regarding the budget can come through communication in the budgeting process. I believe the following ideas should be implemented:

The budgeting calendar should be presented to the Board and documented in the meeting minutes. The calendar should include contingency time for the final approval to allow for changes initiated by the Board and/or through community input.

The district should have frequent, open communication with the Board during the budget preparation. This communication should be part of the scheduled board meetings or workshops and listed in the agenda. These discussions should be documented in the meeting minutes.

Any reduction in staff, especially in the classroom, should be presented to the Board as soon as such reduction is known. This information should be documented in meeting minutes. Principals are required to and are making personnel decisions regarding next school year before the budget is finalized. The Board and the public should know about these decisions before they happen.

I believe the Board should be required to approve any classroom personnel reduction.

Public input regarding the budget should not be discouraged. Public input should also not be limited to the public hearing on the budget in June at which time most decisions have already been made and implemented.

How to Spend
A focus on the classroom and the education product needs to be a priority in the budget. Like our own family and business budgets, the decision where to spend available funds can be a difficult process. People’s lives and careers can be affected. Like in our individual situations, spending habits might need to be altered. The district has done admirably in the budget as the majority of the funding is directed to the classroom. However, in a quick review of past budgets, I found the following areas that I believe merit further review:

Elementary school administration appears to be nearly equal at every school, although some schools have more than twice as many students. An individual school approach should be used.

District benefit costs continue to increase. Benefits availability and cost need to be in proportion to the job classification. Benefit cost increases should not be automatically absorbed by the district.

District travel expenses were approximately $2.5 million in last year’s budget. This seems high since no employee is required to travel to educate any of the district’s customers.

Other areas that I believe should be reviewed include supplies and equipment, district administration staffing and school location, construction and scheduling. New and non-traditional methods (electronic texts, school-business partnering) should also be reviewed as budget opportunities. As the economic climate improves in future years, I believe that budget increases should be made slowly and deliberately. Also, a contingency fund should be established and grown as allowed by state law to help absorb future economic downturns without drastic cutbacks as seen in recent years.

As the budget decisions are presented to the public this year, I hope that everybody takes the time to review the district budget and make comments through their elected Board of Education. It is through this communication that the educational system will prioritize their resources and function in the way that the community desires.

More About Me

2010-04-24T23:07:00.000-06:00

Here’s more information about me, my background and family. I grew up the oldest of four children in Nephi, UT, a small town in central Utah. My dad is an accountant and my mom was at home before starting to work at the county assessor’s office. Education was a big part of my youth. I enjoyed and excelled at school with math being my favorite subject. I started studying math with the class ahead of me and by my junior year in high school had finished all classes that were offered. Such is the life in a small-town school. I was involved in speech and drama, competing in regional and state competitions and participating in the theatrical productions. Although I knew at the time that theater was not where I would make a career, I learned much about public speaking, being in front of an audience and presentations. These skills are very helpful to me in my engineering career today. I also ran on the track team. I made life-long friends among my classmates and teachers and although I do not see them often, their influence is part of my life always.

After high school I attended BYU. My freshman year I started on the accounting path since it was something I had been exposed to through my dad. I found the studies really boring (sorry accountants). My roommate was a mechanical engineering major and I found his studies interesting. I served a two-year LDS mission in Peru and studied mechanical engineering upon my return. Four years later, I had a degree with minors in mathematics and Spanish. The job search did not go very well, and I worked as a substitute teacher in Nephi while staying with my parents. Eventually, I found a job with TRW (now Northrop Grumman) working with the Air Force and moved to Davis County in 1995. I’ve been here every since.

I met my wife Jana in 1998 while constructing our house in Syracuse. We married in 1999 and have been blessed with five wonderful children since then. I’m not going to write more about my children because this is a public site and I want to provide them some privacy and protection. We like to do many things as a family, especially working in the yard, getting ice cream cones and visiting amusement parks. For my relaxation, I like to work in the garden, ride my bike, and read books, mostly science fiction. I am currently reading the Shannara series by Terry Brooks.

My education and work experience have provided me with a background I believe will be helpful on the Board of Education. I have not studied the field of education, but I am educated and understand the value of education. I will be able to study the items presented to the Board and make thoughtful decisions. My job duties include scheduling and budget management. I have taken large-scale, multi-year projects and broken them into executable pieces. I believe this budgeting background will be helpful as the Board works with the district office in the creation of the annual budgets. I also believe my planning experience will be valuable as short- and long-term plans are developed and presented to the Board. I am detail-oriented and possess other qualities I believe will be assets in this position. Most of all, I have a desire to serve the students and community I would represent. I believe that this is the most important attribute.

Taxpayers

2010-04-13T22:41:00.000-06:00

Businesses need a source of funding to purchase equipment, pay employees, obtain materials and pay for operating costs. This funding comes through customer revenue or an outside source of investment in exchange for ownership in the company. This investment comes from shareholders or, in the case of education, the taxpayers. The contribution of the taxpayers, as shareholders, to the public education system should not be overlooked.

There are many positive attributes that public education brings to the community. Communities with a strong public education system have lower crime rates. Businesses locate their offices and factories in locations with an educated populace. New businesses bring economic growth and development that helps keep the community vibrant. The education system is a good investment by the community.

Since the educational system is funded by the taxpayer, there exists a critical trust between the taxpayer and the system. The district has the responsibility to ensure that every dollar is spent in the wisest manner possible. The board of education has approval authority for the budget and should take an active role in the budgeting process. A tax rate should not be assessed just because it is allowed. A position, program or building should not continue just because it has existed in the past. The taxpayer money needs to be spent in the most judicious way. I believe that the board of education needs to always remember where the educational funding comes from when making spending decisions. If this belief is followed and communicated, the taxpayer will see their contribution at work, know that it was spent wisely and be supportive of public education.

My last three entries have been about customers, employees and shareholders. These three are the legs of any successful business. If any one is missing, the business will not succeed. The educational system should be treated with the same focus and not forget these vital areas. If the schools are successful with this focus, students will learn, parents will be involved, teachers will enjoy career satisfaction and the taxpayer will feel that their investment in public education is well spent.

Teachers & the Classroom

2010-04-06T21:35:00.001-06:00

All successful service industries require good employees, and education is no exception. The employee is responsible to provide the service and maintain customer satisfaction. Often other employees help in this process, from managers to accountants and supply personnel, but the focus is on the front-line employee providing the service. In education, the front-line employees are the teachers.

Teachers have the greatest influence on the educational process. Teachers are subject experts in their classrooms and, especially in secondary schools, have developed advanced knowledge. Teachers are child psychologists and have studied child behavior. Teachers are disciplinarians that help maintain a safe and appropriate learning environment. Teachers make learning a fun and enjoyable experience. Teachers are examples to their students and their influence can last a lifetime.

As the front line of the service, teachers and classrooms should be the focus of the educational system. Good teachers should be rewarded for their skills and effort. I believe that a merit-pay system can be developed that will reward those teachers who are outstanding in their field and incentivize all to continue to improve. This effort should not necessarily be additional education, but improved teaching and communication skills. Other district and school resources are important and the educational system could not function without them. However, these other resources should have their focus on the needs of the classroom. This focus will provide a better product that will produce higher parental—the customer—satisfaction.

Employees are essential in the educational system, especially teachers. I plan a future entry on principals and their unique role. The Davis Education Association (DEA) has asked that I fill out a questionnaire that has been sent to all school board candidates. The questions asked and the responses I provided have also been posted.

Davis Education Association Q & A

2010-04-06T21:32:00.002-06:00

Davis Education Association
2010 Davis School District Board of Education
Candidate Questionnaire

Name: Michael Sperry
District: 6
Street Address: 3380 S 930 W
City: Syracuse
Zip: 84075
Phone: 801 698 0622
Email: mike4dsd@gmail.com
Website: mike4dsd.blogspot.com

1. Please tell us a little about yourself and why you have filed to run for the Davis School District Board of Education.

I am a 15 year resident of Davis County and have lived at my home in Syracuse for the past 11 years. My wife, Jana, and I are the parents of 5 children, 4 of which attend Bluff Ridge Elementary while the youngest is still too young for school. I was raised in Nephi and graduated from Juab High School. I attended BYU where I received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. I work for Northrop Grumman (formerly TRW) for the past 15 years.

I started thinking about the possibility of running for the school board three years ago during the Syracuse High School boundary study. At the time, my children were young and I was not concerned about the high school boundary. I provided my input to the Board of Education regarding the matter and received no feedback from the board member of this district. I knew of others who had the same experience. The part of this experience that really bothered me was the lack of transparency in the process. The board did not require the boundary committee to hold open meetings. The board went to a consultant and removed any transparency when the committee approach became too difficult. After this event, I looked up my board member’s election date and learned she had just been reelected (unopposed) months earlier. This is the time I started contemplating running for election to this position this year.

I am a candidate for the Board of Education because I want to ensure that the students of the Davis School District receive a quality education that will allow them to develop the skilled required for a productive adulthood now and in the future. This includes my children. I am a candidate because I believe that the parents of the district need someone to listen to their input, someone willing to communicate with them and someone to provide a representative voice on the board. I am a candidate because I view this as an opportunity to serve the community. I am a candidate because I believe that I can make a positive impact on the continuing education of all of the students in the district.

2. What kinds of experiences have you had with the schools in the Davis School District? (children in school, volunteering, etc.)

I currently have 4 children attending schools in the Davis School District. My wife serves on the Bluff Ridge Elementary Community Council. I have been an occasional classroom volunteer.

3. What, in your opinion, is the main mission of public education?

Provide a quality education for all students that will allow them to develop the skills required for a productive life.

4. Do you believe that public schools are adequately funded? If you do not believe they are adequately funded, what changes should be made to provide appropriate financial support for quality public schools?

I believe that the state legislature has done an admirable job regarding funding in these difficult economic times. Education funding is received from the public in general and everybody’s budgets have been reduced. Education cannot demand or expect continued or increased funding during these situations.

A way needs to be determined that will allow for steadier operations during difficult economic times and that the funding received is used in the best possible way. The establishment of a rainy-day fund at the district level during ample budget years for use during lean times should be investigated. District and school administrations needs to be evaluated and changed where necessary. The past existence of a position or program at the district level does not necessarily merit the continuation of this position. The use of buildings and new construction needs to be examined to determine the best economic use. There are many areas that can be studied to ensure best economic use. Some funding could be found in these areas that can be directed to better classroom funding.

Public support can also be improved through better customer relations. Parents are the customers in the education system and their satisfaction will lead to better support. I believe that when the public feels that their tax dollars have been spent wisely and their input to the educational system has been considered, public support will increase. I do not believe that this process has happened or been communicated effectively. If additional funding is required after this process, a more supportive public and legislature will be more willing to provide this funding.

5. What do you see as the three most critical need/issues facing the Davis School District in the next five years? How would you begin to address these issues?

The three most critical issues facing the Davis School District are 1-budget limitations and their impact on the classroom, 2-continued growth of the student population and 3-continued changes in education with evolving technology.

Budget limitations are a constant for every business and family. I addressed my point of view regarding funding in question 4.

Student population growth will also be a constant and needs attention. I believe the district should have 3-, 5- and 10-year plans that are reviewed regularly and presented to the school board and public. The district should work with the county and state planners and statisticians regarding student growth. School buildings should be adequately planned for so land can be purchased, where necessary, before the demand for and cost of land is high. Older schools need to be evaluated to determine if it should remain open, be remodeled or rebuilt. Investment in older schools should not be automatic but should be provided if it is the best alternative. Alternative schedules need to be studied and implemented where practical. I do not have any emotional connection to any building, program or area of the district but will examine the data objectively and support changes where appropriate.

Evolving technology affects both how education is provided and what education is needed. Careers that were plentiful 30 years ago are now becoming obsolete. New career opportunities are available and the students need the foundation to compete for these jobs. The district needs to ensure that the educational offerings are evaluated and updated. Technology in the classroom also needs to continually be evaluated and implemented where practical.

6. What would you do to retain quality educators in the Davis District?

I would work with the teachers to develop the best possible environment for a career. This includes compensation, opportunities for advancement and growth, respect from co-workers and administrators and providing the required resources in the classroom. I believe that merit pay should be part of this system. I believe that with a focus on the classroom, quality educators will be rewarded for their efforts and be provided the tools they need to succeed.

7. What would you do to attract new teachers in the Davis District, considering the fact that the legislature this year significantly reduced the retirement benefit for future teachers?

I believe that the same focus on the classroom mentioned in question 6 will help attract new teachers to the district.

8. If another voucher or tuition tax credit bill is introduced in the legislature, would you support another such effort, or would you oppose it? Why?

I would not support the effort at this time. However, I believe in parental choice and that parents should be presented with available options.

9. In 2010 Sen. Margaret Dayton sponsored a bill (S.B. 77) that would prevent school districts from providing Association leave (paid substitutes) for teachers who serve during the school day on district committees such as negotiations. It would also prevent the school district from paying 50% of the DEA President’s salary. Would you favor the continuation of the current Association leave policy between the school district and the DEA, or would you oppose it?

I support the premise behind Senator Dayton’s bill. In an environment where resources are scarce, the resources are best spent in the classroom.

10. In your opinion, is there anything the Davis School Board and District Administration could do better?

I believe that both the Davis School Board and district administration could do a better job with communications. As a parent and member of the public, I often feel that my input is unwanted and unrecognized. This attitude sometimes diffuses to the school administrations and staff. I also believe that the board and district are sometimes too comfortable with the status quo instead of exploring new ideas and technologies. Sometimes a better way to do something can be found when studied.

I believe that the board could do a better job providing the direction and leadership for the district. The board is the elected body representing the people and their leadership is needed. The board should dictate to the district the agenda, calendar and direction of the school district, and not vice versa.

11. Is the Davis School District too large to be responsive to its patrons and the community? Would you support splitting the school district? Why or why not?

I believe that the school district is approaching the size that makes it too difficult to be responsive to the community. The district board of education precincts are slightly larger in size than the districts for the state house of representatives. I believe that the board of education and the district have done an outstanding job of working with all areas of the district despite this large size. I believe that there are pros and cons to a school district split. I would not propose a split as a member of the school board. However, I would not fight a community-backed division but would support the will of the community. I believe that it is the role of the school board to present the pros and cons to the community and allow them to make an informed choice.

Parents & Students

2010-03-28T22:11:00.000-06:00

What does education have in common with a taxi cab, a lawn care company, a hair stylist and a doctor’s office? All of these are service industries. As the name suggests, these businesses provide a needed service for an agreed upon price. There is no physical good produced although many goods may be used in the delivery of the service. Customer happiness provides sustained income and the continuation of the business. Without customer happiness, the business fails. Because education receives funding through public support, there is no direct link between customer satisfaction and continued funding and the customer can become lost in the system. Today I am going to address the educational customers: parents and students.

Students are customers in the educational system. They will use the skills they develop for the rest of their lives. These skills along with their experiences in the different subjects will help determine their chosen career. The students of the district depend on their education to prepare them for the future. Students, especially those in the upper grades, can provide invaluable feedback regarding the quality of their education and should be utilized including the evaluation of curriculum, teachers and schools. The students are the customer and should not be disregarded.

Parents are the ultimate customers in education. Parents are the decision-makers for their children and their concerns, ideas, problems and suggestions should never be ignored or dismissed. Parents are aware of the curriculum and assignments, what works to further their child’s education and what is busy work. Parents are aware of the different teachers and their teaching methods. Parents are aware of the support they receive from the school administration. Parents are aware of the different learning opportunities available in the district (language immersion, IB program, concurrent enrollment). Their ideas and direction for the schools need to be considered, studied and implemented where practical. Satisfied parents (customers) will become the best advocates for the educational system.

I believe that the education system should keep the customers—parents and students—involved in the decision-making process and strive to keep them satisfied with the education received. As a parent myself, I would ensure that the parental point of view would be respected on the Board of Education.

Good Communications

2010-03-24T15:52:00.000-06:00

Good communications are an important factor in any group, be it a company, a family or the government. When good communications are achieved, assumptions are reduced, people work together better and decisions made can be supported by more of a consensus. For any elected official, I believe that communications with their constituents should be a high priority.

As a member of the Board, I would actively pursue opinions, solutions and positions of the voters I represent. I would continue to utilize a website to provide updates on items before the Board and request input. I would welcome your e-mails and provide a response to them. Too often, e-mails to representatives are never answered. If a large and contentious issue came before the Board, I would propose a precinct meeting where the issue could be informally discussed and debated. I would work to foster good and open communications.

Good communications need to also exist between the school district, the Board as a group and the public. The school district has established an excellent web site where much good information can be obtained. I would propose that the information available be expanded. Any item presented at a board meeting or planning meeting should be available online in the agenda and minutes. For example, the planning department may make a presentation of population growth patterns and future school impacts and I believe this information should be made available electronically. Another example is that I believe names of administrative appointments should be provided in the agenda to allow for adequate public comment before the vote.

People need to know that they are being heard. As your representative, I would be your voice and would welcome your opinion.

Why I am running for election

2010-03-19T18:38:00.000-06:00

The first item that I am sharing is why I have decided to run for election to the Board of Education. I started thinking about this possibility three years ago during the Syracuse High School boundary study. At the time, my children were young and I was not concerned about the high school boundary. I provided my input to the Board of Education regarding the matter and received no feedback from the board member of this district. I knew of others who had the same experience. The part of this experience that really bothered me was the lack of transparency in the process. The board did not require the boundary committee to hold open meetings. The board went to a consultant and removed any transparency when the committee approach became too difficult. After this event, I looked up my board member’s election date and learned she had just been reelected (unopposed) months earlier. This is the time I started contemplating running for election to this position this year.

I need to say that I do not plan on disparaging the current Board of Education members or decisions. There are differences of opinion that I have that will be apparent as I discuss my philosophies and ideas in future posts. I do not plan to point out these differences but leave it to the readers and voters to compare. The current board members are providing excellent service. I just happen to disagree with them on some points and believe that I provide a different perspective. The above example is an exception since this occasion started the process to run for election.

I am a candidate for the Board of Education because I want to ensure that the students of the Davis School District receive a quality education that will allow them to develop the skilled required for a productive adulthood now and in the future. This includes my children. I am a candidate because I believe that the parents of the district need someone to listen to their input, someone willing to communicate with them and someone to provide a representative voice on the board. I am a candidate because I view this as an opportunity to serve the community. I am a candidate because I believe that I can make a positive impact on the continuing education of all of the students in the district.

Future posts are going to address more of my background and my positions on various subjects regarding the school district. If you want to know more about my position on a certain subject, please e-mail me so I can provide that information in future posts or direct communication with you. Please know that I will never include your information in anything I post without your consent. I look forward to the opportunity I will have to meet many of you during this election and discuss the important issues regarding the education of our children.