Why vote for me?

By John Zaring

I've been walking the proverbial walk on education in Castaic for nearly ten years. I served as the Campaign Manager for Measure SA, ensuring that Hart has the money it needs to build Castaic High School, and I've been working behind the scenes since its passage to ensure the high school is not only built, but meets our community's expectations. Walk with me!

Thomas Jefferson said, "Educate and inform the whole mass of the people ... they are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." As Americans, this is our most sacred responsibility, and I feel that the most crucial years in Jefferson's mission are the elementary and middle school grades.

My observation is that our district's most valuable asset + its teachers + contributes skills and educational wisdom that have helped our district grow and excel. I believe that we also have dedicated administrators, and I think as a unit the current Governing Board has largely served our district well. If elected I hope to add to that success by focusing on what's best for all students. I pledge to protect the classroom, and shine a spotlight on achievement gaps within our schools so that we can continue to honor Jefferson's dream for democracy.

However, the State's ongoing financial mess looms large over our district and in fact all schools. This crisis is the main factor in my decision to serve. I understand that there are difficult challenges on the horizon, but I am prepared for these challenges because I've been listening and participating as an involved parent for years, not months. For much of the past decade I've been an advocate for Hart to build a high school for Castaic's students instead of ping-ponging us between West Ranch and Valencia. In an effort to fill a leadership vacuum, I founded CUBS + Castaic United to Build the School + and walked our neighborhoods to collect over one thousand signatures during a petition drive. I organized and moderated multiple informational "Town Hall" style meetings, which featured representatives from the Hart District, Supervisor Antonovich's staff, CUSD board members, representatives of our Town Council and other key community players.

In 2008, I served as Campaign Manager of "Measure SA", a $300M school bond that will provide the full funding needed to finally build a high school in Castaic. I collected endorsements and again walked nearly every single street in Castaic, knocking on doors and distributing CUBS fliers in support of the bond. Measure SA passed with the overwhelming approval of Castaic voters. There are still obstacles to overcome, but at the September 2nd Hart District board meeting Superintendent Castellanos and Hart's entire board publicly reaffirmed their commitment to open the school in the 2013/2014 school year. A decade late in coming but coming nonetheless, something which certainly would not be possible had Measure SA been defeated!

Regardless of who wins, not one decision the next board makes will be easy, and on many occasions the choices may range from Bad to Ugly. This cold, hard reality only strengthens my desire to step up and serve our children. My background as a producer has uniquely prepared me for service on a school board, because in my profession you must also remain calm in the center of the storm, be a problem-solver and never let emotion trump logic, all while managing multi-million dollar budgets. I always look at things the way they are not the way I want them to be, and I believe a challenge is something to be overcome not to scream about.

If elected, I promise to bring a sense of optimism and energy to my responsibilities, actively share information with the community, and then seek the input of students, parents and teachers alike. No decision will be made without thorough analysis and before a consensus is built between the board and district staff. I will also work with + not against! + the Hart District to ensure that Castaic's new high school meets our community's expectations. Please note that I wrote "with" Hart, not "for" Hart; I will work for the children of Castaic.

Finally, and I give my word on this, my political "career" will begin and end on this school board; I harbor no delusions of grandeur, have no desire to become the mayor of Castaic or launch a new west-side city. Furthermore, I pledge to avoid any conflicts to my responsibilities as a board member by REFUSING TO SERVE IN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP POSITION. To be perfectly frank, I would be humbled if given the opportunity to represent our district during this challenging time in our country's history.

TO REITERATE, I AM RUNNING BECAUSE I VALUE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND I BELIEVE THAT CASTAIC'S CHILDREN DESERVE THE VERY BEST!

I will be humbled if given the opportunity to represent all of Castaic's children in these challenging times.

Thank you for your consideration!