District Budget, School Facilities, Test Scores and Technology

By Sandra L. Dobbins

Please read on for more information regarding my positions regarding these subjects...

I have spent many an hour, many a day during the last two years, pouring over the books of this District while performing an independent, informal audit of the construction records, as well as the general ledger for all of the different funds. I am a founding member of Windsor Unified School District's Board Budget Advisory Committee, from which I resigned in early July, so that I might serve in the interim position for the Board of Trustees. I have also worked in some form of finance nearly my entire adult life. I started out as accounting clerk for the largest builder in Southern California, working on budget variances and construction contract management, through the investment firm for whom I now work. I am quite familiar with the scope and challenges of the District's financial position, and am well-versed in the particulars. This District will require frugal, cautious management if only to maintain its current position. I believe that with my training and background, I can be an asset to the District while we address the lean years to come.

School Facilities:

With the amount of maintenance work our older schools require, and the number of new buildings that will be needed in our future, I believe my years working in the construction industry will prove to be an invaluable asset in the effort to control costs relative to the upcoming projects. I have written construction contracts for a 500+ unit subdivision here in Windsor, and have been heavily involved on many levels in contract issuance and management for 18 years. I've applied that knowledge as a private citizen in an attempt at accountability for various cost overruns, and will continue to address these issues aggressively while an active member of this Board. Additionally, need to be at the forefront of the growth issue, so we don't end up with overcrowded classrooms for our students. This means current, relevant studies, so we can attempt to stay at the forefront of adequately housing our student population, and to build the facilities that are needed in a timely manner.

School Configuration:

This is such a multi-faceted discussion item. There is so much we need to know demographically and there is so much dialog that needs to occur within our community before I will be comfortable taking a position on this.

I realize that it is a difficult configuration on so many levels, not the least of which is for parents trying to get their children to school, if that school is across town, and particularly when there are multiple schools involved. There are many pieces to this puzzle that have yet to be sorted through - I will hold off until the data is in and we have a clearer picture of where this District needs to go. It's definitely time for this discussion happen!

Test Scores:

The recent STAR test scores presented to the Board were disappointing. The good news is, I believe there are already mitigation efforts that have been put place to address this situation. Bob Carter, our new District Superintendent, is committed to refocusing on the basics and has 30 years experience in education. Our children must learn how to read to become successful in their lives. Toward that effort, the Board adopted the Houghton Mifflin Language Arts series for grades K-6. This new, and highly praised English Language series has been enthusiastically embraced by the teachers of this District, and has been fully implemented at the beginning of this year. Use of the program hasn't gone without some adjustments, but for the most part, I've heard excellent reports. I am truly enthused working with Cindy Pilar, our Director of Curriculum. For those who haven't met her, they should. She's a powerhouse, and a veritable wealth of information regarding this issue. Furthermore, the District negotiated a respectable pay scale with the teaching staff, in an effort to retain and attract the best of the best. From my experiences with the teaching staff in this District - we are already there. The teachers I have met and worked with are bright, energetic, and fully committed to the quality education of our children. The results of all these efforts and more will need careful tracking and consideration I'm sure, but for the most part I am encouraged by the efforts of this District. We are all working toward a common goal - to help our students achieve the best education possible, so they can go forth and conquer the world!

Technology:

There is so much left to do on this front, and so little money available with which to do it! We need all teachers, in every school, to have the ability to access the web. We need teacher training accessible, and teacher release time available, regarding the programs and equipment our students will be using out in the 'real world'. We need overhead TV screens, so our elementary students can watch how the work is done. We need computers, software, hardware, VCR's, printers...... the list goes on forever. We need immediately to charge the Board Budget Advisory Committee with the task of pursuing possible grants available, or other revenue sources to fund this concern. We need the committee to bring the overall unmet needs before the Board, if the site budgets are not up to the task. Some of the problems are District-wide, whereas many are site specific, but the open items should be looked at, on a District level. It is not acceptable that some very basic technology needs of our schools remain unaddressed. We need to attach numbers and go after specific funding for these issues.