Political Statement

By Dean V. Stefanides

Our school district is a step away from state receivership. The district is running out of cash and soon must have to borrow in order to meet its obligations. Instead of facing the cash shortage and making tough decisions, the current school Board of Governors took the easier route and added to the problem by spending beyond our district's means.

To minimize budget gaps, I plan on utilizing the existing technology to reduce unnecessary operational costs. In my recovery plan, I require the collaboration of the educators and para-educators in order to reevaluate the compensation plan for our district, (currently at 90% of the budget). The teachers are a vital part of our kid's education. We need to reward the top performers and acknowledge their achievements.

In every business, when faced with the similar situation of a cash shortage, you revaluate expenses and create a prudent plan of action. Unfortunately the current board hasn't done enough and does not have an effective recovery plan.

I have balanced real budgets for years and have always finished with a positive end result. I was a founding parent of University Public Schools and I have served in a school site council. I am a Rotarian, and a member of the ROP advisory committee for the BCOE.

In Chico, we are very blessed to have so many charter schools within our district. While the district is rushing to find money to meet its obligations, charter schools are able to balance their books without sacrifice to our kids' education. Their business model is proven and it works! We need to mirror their success and create a fiscal accountability for every department and school in our district.

Once elected, I will team up with local businesses to create partnerships so we can fill the gap of cutting classes by providing community classrooms with the cooperation of our teachers.

I ask for your vote.