Candidate for
Board Member; Orinda Union School District

The following are answers submitted to the Contra Costa Times for their election coverage issue:

What would you bring to the district as a member of the school board? Proven involvement in the community and ability to lead. Proven ability to actually reach consensus. Proven ability to find workable and reasonable solutions to serious problems. Proven involvement with the School District as council liaison and various sub-committees including Pine Grove development.

What are the top three challenges that the district will face in the coming term? A) Involving parents, students, teachers, administration and others in the decision making process (OUSD is doing a good job but progress can and should be made). B) Pine Grove sale, development, use of funds. C) Per pupil funding.

What should be the priorities of the board when balancing the budget? A) Parents priorities. B) Community priorities. C) No exceptions to the first two.

What are your thoughts about refurbishing schools and school facilities? It will continue to be a challenge. The Board has done excellent work to date. The Board needs only to continue its fine work. The Board must continue to be creative regarding resources and scheduling of capital improvements. And answer to question 3 becomes most important as to this issue.

How would you propose combating declining enrollments in schools? Any solution other than local events is detrimental to other committees, and not likely to be looked upon favorably by community tax payers and donors. The parents and the community as a whole need to be surveyed -- what are their ideas, solutions, etc. What would they like to see implemented if anything at all. Consolidation, economy of resources and other local controls may surge to the top of the list. Cyclical events might not be the best premise to determine long term goals.