Theresa Crane Responds to The Taft Independent

By Theresa R. Crane

The Taft Independent requested that all local candidates submit their reasons for running for office and what each hoped would be accomplished during their four-year term. In this candid article, Crane addresses her concerns about the condition of local education, poor employee morale, and what sets her apart from her opponents.

Crane can provide insight to this important service and she is well-qualified, with former experience as a trustee for the board, having served from 1992-2000. Following her earlier service on the school board, Crane returned to her Alma Matter and realized her ambition to complete her Bachelor of Science Degree. "I believe in education" commented Crane, "I think it is very important to be continually learning."

Crane not only believes in receiving education, but she shares her excitement for learning as well. She presently works as a substitute teacher and loves to see every student get excited about learning new concepts. "Math and Language Arts - those subjects are the ones that really excite our elementary school children as they master the course objectives. I love it!" added Crane.

In addition to her qualifications to serve as a Taft City School District Trustee, with experience as a former board member and current teaching assignments, Crane has earned the California School Boards Association Master of Boardsmanship Award and is a life member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society. She has also served with the Kern County Network for Children, and is a former member of the California School Boards Association and the Kern County School Boards Association. Crane is also a member of the California Teachers Association.

Crane is interested in serving our district because she believes that our children need to receive a better education. "Some who are satisfied with the present status quo will say that student test scores are good enough. But what they don't want to tell you is that we are losing more and more local control over our education. This year our district must reserve 20% ($165,000) of Title 1 funding to keep available for an outside "Supplemental Service Provider" from the private sector. They will receive this money from our budget to come in and do the job the Taft City School District was unable to do. These S.S.P.'s will use our existing funds to bring about 60 students from Lincoln School and Conley School up to standard. Additionally, we have three schools in our district: Jefferson, Conley, and Taft Primary that also require further improvement in the delivery of services to the students."

"We have to recognize a deficiency when there is one and be willing to work together to get the job of providing a quality education for our students correctly delivered. I have tremendous respect for our staff. There are many challenges for educators today, and they need our support."

Crane wishes to represent the underrepresented individuals and organizations of our school community. School employees have shared their frustration about the unresponsiveness of the present board as the school employees have reported areas of concern.

"I believe the Administration of the TCSD must be held to high standards of ethical behavior. Ethics and effectiveness go hand in hand and they must form the standard for which behavior is conducted. If the actions of the administration would be guided by an appropriate ethical code of conduct, then there should be a corresponding likelihood of effectiveness that will produce positive results for our kids."

Crane asserts that unproductive tactics that have been used by administrative sources must change. "Name calling of our public servants, both verbally and through written correspondence will no longer be tolerated. The style of intimidation and useless rhetoric - that was once thought to only occur among juvenile delinquents - sadly, is displayed by those entrusted to leadership. We deserve better role models and I will work to restore proper respect and acceptable behavior for our children and valued employees so they may enjoy a healthy environment at school."

Also on Crane's "to-do list" is to encourage excellence and reliability from the district superintendent. "The teachers of our district recently passed a vote of no-confidence in the superintendent, Dr. Michael Harris." While the vote does not have official impact, Crane says it could also be considered an indirect critique of the board. The board recently offered a four year renewal to Dr. Harris' contract.

In speaking personally about Dr. Harris, Crane said that "he has responded favorably in providing time for me to meet with him; however, when I request to view public information, it is practically impossible to receive the data. Other citizens may similarly be experiencing dissatisfaction in this process." Crane says that she is optimistic about Harris' forecast of our students achieving greater gains in their academic growth targets.

Crane encourages direct communication between the public and the school district. She likes to see open dialogue between all interested parties with the board and encourages participation at board meetings. She believes that the public should have confidence that those addressing the board will receive ethical communication for building trust and enthusiastic collaboration.

Perhaps not all candidates have this same opinion. One of the candidates in the current race chose to skip attendance at every TCSD board meeting following his candidacy announcement. "My challenger felt it would be inappropriate for him to attend our school board meetings before this election. We are dissimilar in that area."

Two items that Crane recently addressed the school board on pertained to the previously mentioned volatile labor relations and sensitive budget matters. Crane said that she would "work to be enjoined with a majority of the board to insist that the superintendent adjust the budget to properly remunerate the school employees for their service." She believes that if our district would offer competitive salaries to its employees then our children would have the advantage of receiving service from satisfied and better qualified employees who will be pleased to complete their career ambitions with the Taft City School District.

Some of the questions and concerns Crane presented to the board at this public meeting included:

• Why does the presently established Board of Education accept the reported style of its labor relations specialist?
• When the Board President, time and again, refers to the board's practice of annually "stealing" money from the Retiree Benefit Fund, what is actually meant by that? (The figure reported this year was $275,000.)

Crane looks forward to representing the communities of Taft, Ford City, Valley Acres, Dustin Acres, South Taft, and Taft Heights. She can be contacted at 763-3746 or the website: http://smartvoter.org/vote/theresa_crane .

All voters within the Taft City School District service areas can "leave their print" with Kern County's simple electronic voting system and cast their ballot for a better education for our students. Vote for Change, Vote for Theresa Crane!

(Theresa Crane and the School Employees and Friends to Elect Theresa R. Crane invite the public to a "Meet the Candidate" session this Saturday, Nov. 4th from 12:00 - 1:00 at the A Street Park.)