Candidate for
Board Member; Solana Beach Elementary School District

I strongly support the Solana Beach School District's Mission to provide the highest quality, child-centered education utilizing all available resources to provide an education that is rich in diversity and mindful of each student's individual needs. The overriding focus of the mission is to be child-centered. One of the mainstays of this mission is the District's commitment to site-based management (See position paper below).

In the near and moderate term the District must face two major issues: 1) Growth in student population caused primarily by the continuing development of Carmel Valley and (2) A probable decline in funding caused by the economic conditions in California.

I have been a resident of Carmel Valley for 14 years, and have had children in the Solana Beach School District for the past nine years. As a result, I understand that Carmel Valley growth impacts the Carmel Valley campuses, but also affects the rest of the District as the other sites must absorb students the impacted Carmel Valley sites cannot. School #6 must be built as soon as possible on the Townsgate site in order to relieve overcrowding at Solana Highlands and Carmel Creek, and planning for School #7 must follow close behind in order to absorb development in the Future Urbanizing Area.

With current economic conditions, and the State's budget issues, school and program funding will become more of a challenge. The District has done a fine job of establishing reserves for the opening of the next school site while maintaining quality programs and meeting new program adoption standards mandated by the State of California. A prudent fiscal policy must be maintained in order to provide for contingencies and possible short-falls in allocations from the State. In order to maintain quality programs, the District will need to explore all possible revenue sources. As a Commercial Lender for the past nineteen years, I have spent my career reviewing financial statements, budgets, projections and cash management issues.

My volunteer activities,professional experience, and longevity in the community afford me the qualifications necessary to be an active and effective member of the Solana Beach School Board. I believe strongly in public education and in every child's opportunity to succeed at his or her own level. I welcome the opportunity to continue serving as a member of the Solana Beach School Board.