Weekly Q&A with Lopez School Board Candidates
Published 12:50 pm Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Q&A with candidates for Director 1
Candidate Joe Thornton
Weekly: Can you give us a brief bio?
JT: I was born and raised in Portland Oregon in the 1940s and 50’s. After coming back from a tour of service, I completed my four years at Portland University where I received a bachelor of arts with a major in accounting. My working experience began in public accounting where much of my time was spent auditing schools and other tax supported organizations.
Later, my focus was health care where I became finance director for several hospice and home care nonprofits. My most recent position was with Hospice and Home Care of Snohomish County, where I worked in administration for 10 years as the chief financial officer.
Weekly: Why are you running for school board?
JT: I am a candidate for Lopez School Board Director Number 1. Last spring, I played a major role in opposing the $15.5 million dollar school bond that was vigorously supported by my opponent. As you know, the bond was defeated by the voters of Lopez because it did not address the real needs of our school. As I dug into the financing features of the bond, I took time to investigate other factors that appeared somewhat contrary to what I expected.
For example, I learned that the cost of teaching a child at Lopez Schools is much higher than the cost of teaching kids in the surrounding school districts and in most schools of comparable size. When this fact was raised, proponents said that they were glad that Lopez could afford higher spending, because it meant that our kids would no doubt be getting a better education.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has this site that shows the report card of all schools: http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/summary.aspx?year=2012-13. As you will see, academic scores for Lopez, especially for math, are below scores of surrounding school districts.
I am running for school board to assure that our resources are put in places where they will do the most good for our students. This can happen if you elect members that encourage a broad spectrum of the community to come forward to help identify needs.
Candidate John Helding
Weekly: Can you give us a brief bio?
JH: I was elected to the school board in 2009 and currently serve as chair. I’ve had a career as a management consultant to businesses and universities. My community service includes habitat restoration work and facilitating non-violence trainings in state and federal prisons. I have an engineering degree from Oregon State and a Master of Business Administration from Stanford. I moved to Lopez in 2006.
Weekly: Why are you running for school board?
JH: I am running for another term because I believe in our school and kids, am thrilled with the progress we’ve made these past four years, and want to help us stay on that path.
In addition to my board service I’ve volunteered as an Algebra TA, SAT tutor, and school trips chaperone. I know firsthand what our school can do. In the most recent comprehensive Washington State Achievement Index, https://eds.ospi.k12.wa.us/WAI, all of our programs have moved into the “very good” category placing us ahead of Orcas District and just behind San Juan District overall. We’re by no means perfect, but that’s the type of progress I want to continue building on as your board member.
If re-elected, I’ll focus on three areas. First and foremost, I’ll continue to support our leadership team, Superintendent Bill Evans and Principal Lisa Shelby. I organized the national search and recruitment effort that brought Lisa Shelby to Lopez. Both are outstanding educators who care deeply about kids and have greatly strengthened our broad and unique Lopez approach.
Secondly, I’ll continue to help in keeping the District financially sound. Over the past several years we’ve reduced non-educational expenses, solidified reserves, and increased enrollment. Our cost/student is in the middle range of our peer, small K-12 districts. There’s more we can do and I want to use my years of fiscal experience to support those efforts.
Finally, I’ll work to get a revised and significantly less expensive facilities bond passed. I take responsibility for the previous bond’s shortcomings. I was humbled by that process and I learned a lot. I want to listen more deeply to develop a revised proposal that can gain wide public acceptance and still meet our most critical facilities and educational needs.
Q&A with candidates for Director 2
Candidate Jay Brant
Weekly: Can you give us a brief bio?
JB: As retired U.S. Naval Officer, Jay Brant has been living on Lopez since 2007. He moved to the island with his wife Deanna, a fifth generation Lopezian and Lopez School alumni, and their two boys, Jimi and Anchor. Jimi graduated from Lopez High School this June and is now a freshman at Western Washington University. Anchor is in seventh grade at Lopez Middle School. Jay and Deanna live and work here on the island, as owners of Ye Scurvy Dogs. Jay is the Middle School Track Coach and is active in The Pack, the Lopez High School Athletic Booster Club. He and his family are hosting two exchange students this year, Adam Brezniak from the Czech-Republic and Jonathan Bumiller from Germany. Jay enjoys sharing his love of music, history and reading and spending time with family and friends.
Weekly: Why are you running for school board?
JB: Jay is running for Lopez School Board Director Position 2 because he believes that the most important job our school has is to prepare our children for the future with the best education possible. He would like to help Lopez School as a Board Member by providing effective leadership, fiscal responsibility and better communication with community members on all aspects of the school system. As a parent of current and past Lopez students, Jay is familiar with the current academic climate at Lopez School and knows first-hand what’s working and where there’s room for improvement. As the spouse of a long time Lopezian, he knows what’s worked (and what didn’t work) in the past and what the community is willing to support. He listens to community members at his restaurant each day and hears how people truly feel about the state of the school and understands their issues. Jay brings his experience as a retired US Naval Officer with a background in multi-million dollar repair and construction budget management and procedural optimization to the position, skills that will be very extremely useful as a board member in the coming years. When elected, Jay would join current board member Patsy Haber as the only board members who are parents of current students are Lopez School.
Candidate Clive Prout
Weekly: Can you give us a brief bio?
CP: I grew up in England, and earned my Masters in Engineering and Business. My first career was in the computer software industry. I moved to the U.S. in 1993 to manage marketing for a U.S. software company. In 2000, I made a career transition into coaching and training. Now I run a coaching and consulting business helping leaders and organizations learn, grow and become more effective. I moved to Lopez in 2005 with my wife, Abigail, who grew up here. We have two girls. Nonie has just started first grade. Sophie is in pre-school.
Weekly: Why are you running for school board?
CP:I am running for the school board because I want to continue to serve our school and community. Learning is important to me – education opened my horizons and allowed me to move to the US. Now my daughters are just entering school. I see the school as the natural heart of the Lopez community. It is the largest organization on Lopez, and its health is essential to the continued vitality of our island. Without a strong school and the young families it attracts and keeps here, we would be a much poorer place. I want to contribute my professional skills to the island by working to further improve the school.
We have an excellent school, of which I am proud. In 2013, U.S. News and World Report rated Lopez as the best small (less than 240 students) school in Washington. Our school is growing and improving. In the past three years we have added students, hired new teachers and improved academic performance. Yet we cannot rest on our laurels. We need to keep getting better. The school building needs extensive repairs that will require a capital bond to pay for them. I will work to develop a more affordable bond that our community can support. I also want to see better communication between the school and the community. I will continue to work for greater transparency about what is happening in the school – the good and the bad, and improved understanding between the school and the wider community.
Q&A with candidates for Director 3
Candidate Teddy McCullough
Weekly: Can you give us a brief bio?
TM: From a young age, Teddy McCullough has shown a deep commitment to serving his community. From writing legislation and testifying before the state legislature, to serving the country by working for the White House, McCullough has always put others above himself. He continues in that spirit, actively working to inspire young people to become active members of society by addressing the issues that they see are affecting their community.
While a student of Lopez Island High School, McCullough served as the Treasurer for the Student Body while also serving as the student representative on the Lopez Island School District Budget Committee and the Lopez Island School District Technology Committee.
McCullough has worked with many community organizations including the Lopez Island Prevention Coalition, and the San Juan County Youth Council to help promote community change by engaging the community in dialogue to help ensure the young people of Lopez Island live happy and healthy lifestyles in order to secure their futures.
Weekly: Why are you running for school board?
TM: I am running for School Board to work towards providing greater transparency on all issues ranging from the budget to curriculum decisions. I will work towards a budget that is both efficient and effective while providing students with an environment to thrive inside and outside of the classroom. I believe that our school needs to focus on what will help our students succeed. It is imperative that we provide the students of Lopez Island Schools with the proper tools to be fully prepared for higher education or immediate employment following graduation.
Candidate Del Guenther
Weekly: Can you give us a brief bio?
DG: Bachelor of science in biology, masters of art in zoology, teaching certification K-12. I had a 32 year career in education as a teacher, coaching and as an athletic director. Most of my experience was in public schools in Washington state, but I also taught in a private school and in the public school systems in Australia and Peru. For the past 11 years I have been a member of the OSPI Science Assessment Leadership Team.
Weekly: Why are you running for school board?
DG: I am running for the school board director’s position 3, because I feel I have the depth of experience to make a positive effect on the education of the children of Lopez Island. My philosophy of education has always been to do what is best for the student. If anyone has any questions about me or my educational philosophies, you are welcome to ask them at the League of Women’s Voters open forum at Grace Church on Oct. 10.
Q&A with candidates for Director 4
Candidate Paul Berg
Weekly: Can you give us a brief bio?
PB: Retired from BOEING after 35 years of service. Resident on Lopez since 1998. Community service includes two years on Friends of the Lopez Library board, two years on Community Center Board, six years on Lopez Senior Center Advisory Board (prime activity Woodmen Hall) and 10 years as chairman of Shoal Bay/Swift Bay Water Association. Prior to moving to Lopez spent 18 months working with Habitat for Humanity and other Boeing retiree community support activities. I’ve dedicated my spare time to community service and responsible involvement.
Weekly: Why are you running for school board?
PB: Fiscal responsibility must be the key to all future considerations. Not only to the School District, but to the community as well.
I will bring that voice to the board if elected.
Candidate Dixie Budke
Weekly: Can you give us a brief bio?
DB: Dixie has a diverse background that will serve the Lopez community well as a member of the School Board. In a work life spanning nearly fifty years, Dixie has been a business owner, consultant and educator. Dixie’s academic education reflects her commitment to improving organizations through the people who work within them. Dixie has a bachelor of science degree in business administration and management, a masters in human development and a doctorate in human and organization systems.
She and her husband Ken have owned their home on Lopez since 2006 and have lived here full time since Dixie’s retirement as a college professor in 2011. Dixie and Ken are active in numerous volunteer activities on Lopez. They have six adult children and eight grandchildren. Dixie was appointed to the School Board in November 2012.
Weekly: Why are you running for school board?
DB: Dixie is running for Lopez School Board because she thinks we have a great school that can always continue to improve. She notes that “In U.S. News and World Report 2013 rankings, Lopez moved up to a Silver medal and became the top rated small Junior/Senior high school in the state of Washington. Our school also ranks in the top 2 percent in the country and I would like the opportunity to continue to use my experience to build on what the community has accomplished.” Dixie supports providing an enriched curriculum that includes music, art, international educational and cultural exchanges as she feels they are life changing and can enhance students basic skills such as literacy and math. She also feels that strengthening career technical (vocational training) offerings gives students the opportunity to choose their own path.
Dixie believes a key role is to examine the budget to maximize resources while minimizing unnecessary expenditures. The school facility is in need of upgrades to safety, security, communication and energy systems. She is committed to working with a broad range of community members to identify critical needs and fixing them. For more info, visit www.DIXIEforschoolboard.org.
