Candidate for
Board Member; Mount Diablo Unified School District

Gary has served the Mt. Diablo School District as a Board member for 13 years. Serving as President of the Board of Education for three terms, he has established himself as a competent leader in our district. Gary's commitment to the children, parents and the community at large is evidenced by the passion with which he serves and the fact that in 13 years he has never missed a single Board meeting.

He has served on many committees within the school district including: The safe and Drug Free Schools Task Force, he founded the Career Integrated Academics Committee (CIA), the Real Estate and Facilities Committee, the Community Advisory Committee, several Attendance Boundary Committees, the Health Benefits Committee, the Health Education Committee, Bond Oversights Committees, and the Fiscal Audit Committee to name a few.

Gary's educational leadership extends outside the district as he has served as a State delegate to the California Schools Boards Association (CSBA) for many years, was recently elected to serve on a seven member committee tasked with selecting the next leaders of CSBA, has traveled many times to Sacramento and to Washington D.C. to advocate for the children of our district, of our State, and of our Nation.

• Here's what Gary has to say about the MDUSD:

We must work diligently to settle all of our employee contracts. We ask our teachers to take care of our children, but due to the fact that they do not have health care benefits, they can't afford to take care of their own children. The first step in settling our contracts is to do something that we have never done since Gary McHenry has been the Superintendent, we must analyze the budget relative to our number one priority, serving the needs of students. The Board must look at all programs and support those programs which are effective and cut out those that are not. We have a $300 million budget; we need to reduce that budget by about 3% per year so that we can place a competitive offer on the table. We must negotiate with respect for our employees and we must negotiate with the utmost honesty.

As we look at our three year budget forecast, we must set priorities. Our Board majority and our Superintendent have squandered millions of dollars and we must stem that tide. The Board must work collaboratively with one another, with our employees, and with our community in an effort to construct a budget that accomplishes our number one goal, supporting students. Every dollar we spend must be scrutinized to ensure that the money that we are spending is being spent in the classroom.

The Board must assert its leadership role in bringing all stakeholders together to begin the process of establishing a strategic plan for our district. Every teacher, administrator, custodian, clerical employee, all other employees, parents, and all students should know what the vision of our school district is. We need to plan for our future and control the destiny of our district. Our students can no longer afford for our district to only be reactionary. We must have a vision and a plan for student success. We must anticipate the challenges that we will face and plan for those challenges.

When I am in the district speaking to parents, students, community members, and employees, I hear the challenges that people are facing. I hear the anxiety in people's voices. People are dying for positive change in our district and they are encouraging me to continue to serve. As I see the challenges that my daughter faces as a high school student in a school that is short on teachers, and see for my own eyes in my youngest daughter's classroom the affects of the Board majority cutting kindergarten class size reduction, I know I have to stay and work.

It is rare for an incumbent on the Board of Education to endorse a non-incumbent to run in a race that he is running in, but that is what I have done. I have endorsed Sherry Whitmarsh because she brings with her years of professional experience and years of personal involvement in the schools of her own kids and at the district level. If Sherry is elected, she will work together with me and Paul Strange to change the direction of our school district. We will provide the positive fundamental change that our students and parents require. Our school district can once again be a wonderful place to learn and work. We are committed to serving our children and providing the leadership necessary to turn this district around. I would be honored if you would re-elect me and elect Sherry Whitmarsh.