Vision
My vision for CUSD is to maintain and enhance educational excellence, provide a stable and nurturing environment for students and staff, promote a culture where all stakeholders are heard and valued, and operate in a fiscally responsible manner.
Immediate Priorities to Tackle at CUSD
Stability in Budgeting and Funding
With inflation and vulnerability of state funding due to the economy and other factors, it is important to proactively anticipate issues in balancing the budget and make sure that the areas that are often the first to suffer like the arts, music, instructional materials for all subjects, professional development, etc. are protected. The Board must be forward thinking in setting fiscal policies that ensure we can weather any down economy while being able to provide for the students and teachers in a stable manner. The board all the while should be focused on ways to grow and enhance our budget.
Proactiveness with Infrastructure, Facilities, and Safety
School is a place of learning for the students, but it is also the workplace of the teachers. CUSD has historically solid facilities, but it is lacking in a full comprehensive plan on reinvesting into the facilities to keep them fresh and innovative. While one of the most prestigious school districts in the nation, being on campus and in the classrooms at CUSD, it does not feel that there was a strategic plan early enough to maintain and improve the facilities to keep them at the same level as success in academics. Most CUSD campuses seem to be aging at about the same rate – some worse than others. While there is a plan put in place by the prior board for facilities, it does not seem to be meeting the needs of the students and teachers fast enough or in all of the appropriate areas. Safety of the campuses is also a concern. Mitigation efforts have been taken to protect those on campus, but the fact is the campuses are still wide open and vulnerable. Reviewing where we are facilities wise and polling the teachers and other stake holders on where we need to concentrate first is a priority.
Strong Support for Academics, Arts and Athletics
There are more ways that the Board can support the academic, athletic and arts programs at CUSD. This is especially important due to the effects of the pandemic and the challenges some students face with academic lapses. Sports and the arts are also feeling the effects of the lapse with some teams and groups with fewer students or students who due to the lapses need more support by the existing staff. More pressure is on the staff post pandemic with little adjustment in support to the academic program. It seems like a formula destined to cause burn out and ultimately may affect CUSD’s overall performance across academics, athletics, and the arts. It is possible, even without large expenditures, for CUSD to provide needed supplemental support. For a long-term vision, the board needs to be fully supportive of our programs in providing the teachers and learners the support they need to continue to excel and give them a chance to enhance that excellence with the technology, support, equipment, and materials they need.
Cost Savings Measures
It is true that there are budgetary concerns due to a number of factors including state funding and inflation. I will address budgetary concerns as a priority if I am elected, but it is important to mention that in evaluating cost savings options, I am not in favor of any cost savings option that compromises the quality of education provided. Rather, I would look to resource management tools and optimization of CUSD operations to cut costs.
Some of the cost savings measures that should be considered that will not compromise the quality of CUSD’s world class academic standing:
- Implementing energy-efficient technology to reduce utility expenses by conducting an energy audit and where appropriate across all campuses provide for me efficient lighting and HVAC systems
- Procurement optimization through meaningful purchasing and in leveraging purchasing power to negotiate better rates to get the most for each dollar spent
- Community partnerships with county businesses to provide donations or sponsorships to offset costs
- Expanding our volunteer program for nonessential services.
Equity Across All Student Populations
I am committed to equality across all student populations in CUSD. The students of one area or school should not be treated differently than others based upon location, ethnicity, social status, race, gender, sex or for any other reason. I will support policies that ensure that all students have access to all that they need to be supported in their success. I support programs to support underrepresented students, including English language learners, students that are economically challenged, and students with disabilities.
