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Phone
(509) 338-7839
Email
brandonkrugerforpullman@gmail.com
Town where you live
Pullman
Experience (300 characters max)
First-time candidate.
I’m a parent of two students in the Pullman School District; my daughter is entering 5th grade and my son is entering 2nd. I regularly volunteer for class field trips and field day. I deeply appreciate our Pullman educators and the opportunities they create for students. I’ve been an active volunteer at Pullman High as well, including: assistant softball coach, football announcer, and other game management roles. I have over 13 years of experience in public works, as both a heavy equipment operator and later as maintenance coordinator. In that role, I managed over 45 employees, conducted interviews, was involved with budgeting, fleet management, and handled equipment purchasing. I’ve also driven combine for a local farmer during harvest. Through my family's involvement in local schools, sports, and community life, I’ve built strong ties in Pullman. This rounded experience has prepared me to serve as a school board member and help strengthen our district.
The three most pressing issues facing the Pullman School District are as follows. First and foremost, there is a fracture between the current district leadership, the school board and the community of Pullman. This fracture is creating uncertainty and a lack of trust. Second, the financial health of the district and cost cutting measures being taken in light of it. Like all of us, the district is feeling the effects of rising costs and inflation. While this is a challenge, decisions need to be made with community interests in mind and a willingness to think outside the box to increase revenue streams. Third, overall staff morale and lack of trust in district leadership is very concerning. We need to make sure that staff feel appreciated, valued in their roles, and give them a feedback loop into the decisions that impact them most.
The fractured relationship between the community, the school board and district leadership needs to be repaired. I believe that the decisions being made by the current district leadership and school board in light of the current district finances are not reflective of the community at large and they do not communicate value to the district’s hard-working employees. If elected, I would work with other board members to ensure that we are truly listening to the community and the staff, setting policy and making decisions based on those voices and values. We cannot continue to ask for taxpayer support without valuing their feedback.
I believe the number one responsibility of a school board member is to listen to the students, staff, families and leadership of the district to have a constant pulse on what is actually happening in our schools. I would be open to meetings with my constituents and then reflect on board policy and procedures to ensure we are following through with enforcing safety procedures. I believe administrators should be in the buildings at all times that students are on campus to provide supervision and staff support. I believe consequences that are outlined in the Family & Student Handbook should be consistently applied. I believe in consistent and quick follow through when incidents happen to help change behaviors and rebuild the relationship between students and classroom staff. I believe the learning environment should be respected and teachers should be supported as the educational leader of the classroom. When that structure is in place, a safe learning environment is created for all.
I would first need to listen to understand from the students, teachers and parents to gain perspective from experiences outside of my own. The Pullman School District has a really great instructional staff and I believe that those working most directly with students are going to have the best understanding of the needs represented in their classrooms and what they can do to support their classroom as whole. If elected, I would work with the rest of the board and district leadership to prioritize needs and interests to best determine what the budget can support. I believe that it is the responsibility of the board to approve a healthy, sustainable budget that is able to support the school system as a whole and that specific needs or interests are best addressed at the classroom or building level.
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