The School Board Needs To Lead and Demonstrate Transparency and Accountability to the Public

If elected, I believe the Board of Trustees should inspire the District to set immediate and long term goals for student achievement. They must also acknowledge the staff for their successes in student achievement and assume responsibility when it falls short.

The Board needs to hear our community’s concerns and act in ways that demonstrate their belief in transparency and accountability. They must communicate with the public early on when addressing issues. The parents and community should have a say on the direction of the school district because the success of our community and our children depend on their involvement. The best way to solve these tough issues is to have involvement from all of the stakeholders. I propose to use parent outreach groups, community leaders, and student councils to help resolve issues and provide the Board of Trustees with input to meet the community’s needs.

There are many emerging issues that the Board of Trustees must address in the upcoming years: 

Budget:

I believe Accountability begins at the top. I will ensure tax dollars are spent helping students. I will work with other School Board Trustees to make sure we are funding from the classroom up. It is anticipated that funding will not increase and may even decrease over the next few years. When tough decisions on the budget need to be made, I will make certain these decisions will have the least impact on classroom education. 

Student needs:

With reduced funding anticipated, we must have a well thought out plan to address needs in the following areas:

• Our high achieving, college bound students.
• The specialized needs of lower achieving students (e.g., improving the graduation rate, initiatives to close the achievement gap, including where English is not the primary language spoken at home).
• Reduce the dropout rate.

The unique challenges of our learning disabled students (e.g., crafting the best Individualized Education Program (IEP) possible); Provide equitable services to our outlying schools (Incline Village, Gerlach and Natchez). I will always make it a priority that the Arts and Athletics will be properly funded.

• Address issues touching other select groups or the student body in general.    

The District’s Envision 2015 plan addresses many of these issues, however, it does not indicate how to fund them when dollars are short. I will work with our parent outreach groups and the community to involve other stakeholders who may be able co-sponsor programs to allow these programs to be funded. I will work within the existing budget to free up reserve funds or to cut unnecessary funding to failing programs for use in successful programs.   

Technology:

Technology is the future of learning. I will push for accelerated use of technology in our classrooms.

• The use of tablets (i.e. Ipad’s) instead of books. Loading the student’s books on an iPad makes it easier for the student to get to and from school without having to heft a very heavy backpack.

• Video conferencing for lessons.
• Use of interactive boards at the higher grades.
• Use of private foundations and federal grants to support funding for technology. 

Safety:                                                                               

One of the main priorities of any School Board should always be student safety. Many of us have experienced or heard of the school yard fight or bullying that can occur in our schools.

• I will make it a priority to ensure that all students will remain in a safe learning environment while at school and increase measures to provide safety to and from school.
• I will emphasis the Walking School Bus program at all grade levels. A walking school bus is a designated stop in which either a parent volunteer or school staff member meets with students and walks them in a group to and from school.
• I will push for more staff involvement during break times and before and after school to monitor student activity.  Increased staff involvement will assist in early intervention before any violence or bullying occurs. I will also advocate the need for training staff and students on alternatives to bullying or violence.
• I will work with School Police to provide continuous training and drills to staff and students on emergency procedures.
• I will also diligently seek federal grants to improve lighting conditions and fences in our schools.

“We consider these threats -- and any threats -- made against our students, staff and schools to be extremely serious. Those who make them need to realize that we will make every effort to find and arrest anyone who makes them,” said Lt. Dale Richardson. Tahoe Bonanza June 2009