Candidate for
Board Member; Monterey Peninsula Unified School District; Trustee Area 3

Three years ago, I retired from being a kindergarten teacher to run for the Monterey Peninsula School Board. I am asking for your support and vote for the position of Board Trustee, Area 3-Monterey in the November 8th election.

MPUSD is one of the few districts that is composed of trustee areas that do not have elections at large. Each trustee represents one of three diverse areas. As a trustee for Monterey, I am responsible to all the citizens and children of this trustee area but also responsible to all the children in the district. That is why the balancing act of a board member's decision is important.

The bottom line in education is funding: how to provide for our children the best education possible within a very stringent budget. MPUSD and many other districts are facing the same issues: trying to educate students with insufficient funds in a state that is 47th in school funding in the nation. Despite the fact we don't have the resources our children deserve, MPUSD is still offering them a quality education.

These four years on the School Board have been challenging. The District has faced budget deficits, closed six schools, faced complex modernization projects throughout the district, and addressed budget reductions resulting in declining enrollment and district-wide uncertainties with the state's budget crisis.

On the positive side the budget is balanced, the majority of our fine teaching staff has continued to teach your children. Our creative staff has applied for grants and special projects and has obtained millions of dollars to supplement our programs. Parents have been willing to work to supplement our limited budgets, providing fun for families as well as much needed funding for their schools. The path of education has continued. We have hired a dedicated and loyal administration, one that has a pronounced feeling of good will and trust in the District.

As Board President and MPUSD Board Member I have:

• Based decisions on my understanding of district programs and their relationship to our budget
• Attended 144 policy, Board agenda and President's meetings.
• Visited every school in our district each year, those in Monterey many more times, to ensure that I was making the right decisions for our children and employees
• Completed (and was one of only two to graduate)the California School Board Association's Governance Graduate Program for Board Members
• Been honored into the Who's Who of American Teachers 2005
• Voted against closing Monte Vista and Foothill Schools
• Attended numerous meetings and forums related to modernization, testing, budget review, Marina development and Board Governance

• Strive to recruit and retain our valued employees
• Meet the challenges of hiring a new superintendent
• Monitor the modernization projects completion
• Seek competitive compensation for all employees
• Promote unity among and within all employee groups and district staff
• Continue to balance our fiscal responsibilities with program needs.
• Balance the projected growth in Marina while expanding Monterey's programs and enrollment
• Support efforts to complete the Monterey High athletic field

How can one encapsulate this knowledge I have acquired over the last four years? I can't. California School Board Association states that it take two years to be a good Board Member. Don't vote away the knowledge and experience I have gained. Change is good, but four years of knowledge gained is invaluable.

Regena Lauterbach,
MPUSD Trustee Area 3

Toy Bryant
ID# 1277356