Political Philosophy for Meredith Reynolds

Candidate for
Governing Board Member; La Canada Unified School District

MEREDITH REYNOLDS will:

--Guarantee the sound financial management of our school district!

--Serve with positive, independent leadership!

--Put La Canada's students first!

SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT As a Board member, my first responsibility to you is to guarantee the sound financial management of our district. My undergraduate degree in Economics with an emphasis in Public Finance and Fiscal Policy, my law degree and my professional experience as a corporate attorney give me precisely the skills and knowledge necessary to oversee the financial management of this District. Without sound financial management, we have nothing, I am the one candidate with the professional training to guarantee a strong financial future for this district and the 4300 students who depend on that future.

Both the `96-'97 and th `97-'98 independent audits of our District have resulted in a Unqualified Opinion, which means the auditors had no "findings". Fewer than five percent of all school districts in the state are granted an Unqualified Opinion.

POSITIVE, INDEPENDENT LEADERSHIP

--During my term on the Governing Board the first Master Facilities Plan was developed, the result of 18 public workshops. This Master Facilities Plan was critical for the passage of the 1995 school bond. By using those $15M and interest earned, 70 permanent classrooms were upgraded both structurally and educationally at the elementaries. 4 new classrooms built at LCE. We purchased and upgraded 20 relocatables for class size reduction. At the High School (7-12) 15 new classrooms and a second gym were built. Both seismic and technology upgrades were completed throughout the entire site. The Bio-Life Science and Geology labs were renovated and modernized and a new student drop-off/pick up area to access Foothill Blvd. was constructed.

--Also during my term on the Governing Board, I have worked tirelessly to improve relations with the City. I have served multiple terms as one of the Board's representative to the School District/City Joint Use Committee.

Relations have never been better. As a result of improved communications and a spirit of cooperation, the community has seen action taken to improve field maintenance, to construct sidewalks, and to improve traffic safety around our schools.

PUTTING LA CANADA'S STUDENTS FIRST

--Because of our careful attention to revenues and expenditures and maintenance of higher than required reserves, the LCUSD was able to be one of the first districts in the state to implement class size reductions in 1996. Class sizes in grades K-3, ninth grade math and English are at 20 to 1. Across the District the class size averages are lower than they've ever been in the history of the District.

--Class size is important, but without effective teachers many of its benefits will be lost. I have worked very hard to support relevant teacher training and the implementation of highly selective hiring procedures to assure only the best teachers are in our children's classrooms.

--Parent and community participation and input has been increased by expanding the membership on the Curriculum Council to include parents and students, by publishing a District newsletter mailed to the entire community, by creating a District web page and by encouraging site-based management.