Candidate Statement

By Nancy Hersman

School Board members must do their homework; they must understand all reports brought before them, and they must make additional efforts to research issues themselves. They must go to the community and listen to the concerns of their constituents. The only chance we have to unite all those invested in our School District's success is through timely, open disclosure of all pertinent information, followed by frank dialogue. It is then the Board's burden to make well-researched, well-reasoned decisions for the benefit of all + taking into account today's issues, as well as the issues of tomorrow. I am seeking election to the Board of Trustees because I believe I have the passion, the ability, and the experience to meet these demands. I am asking that you give me that chance.

The 20 years I have spent as an attorney have taught me how to make careful and balanced decisions. My experience has also trained me to evaluate contracts with due diligence and with a full understanding of the ramifications of those agreements. During my terms as President of the Manhattan Beach Middle School PTA and on the Mira Costa PTSA board, I worked closely with the School District, parents, and the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation on budget issues, and experienced first-hand the financial challenges we face. I heard arguments for and against maintaining various School District programs and witnessed the pain we feel as a community when educational options are lost because of budget constraints. My depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding of our schools, coupled with my experience as a corporate attorney and mother of three students at Mira Costa and MBMS, make me uniquely qualified to serve as a Trustee.

We are blessed with some of the finest schools and teachers in California, and with a community endowed with the resources and will to nurture them toward even greater achievement. Now is the time to put a School Board in place which will ensure + through careful decision making, fiscal accountability, frank communication, and a clear vision for our future + that the potential of our School District is reached. With your support, I will work tirelessly to guarantee the exceptional quality we expect for our community.