Phone
(360) 856-1303
Email
jimkallio6@comcast.net
Town where you live
Sedro-Woolley
Experience (300 characters max)
I was elected to the Sedro-Woolley School Board in 1997 and served five terms, stepping down at the end of my fifth term in 2017. I served as the board president my last thirteen years on the board. During my time as president, I led the search process and hiring of two superintendents.
I was elected to the SWSD board of directors in 1997. I served twenty years on the board, stepping down at the end of my fifth term in 2017. I was the board president for the last 13 years on the board. During my time as president, I led the search process and hiring of two superintendents using a consulting firm. With at least two new board members and a superintendent search this coming winter, my previous experience will be invaluable, both during the search process and as a mentor to the new board members. I know the role of a school board member, and what this community wants and expects from its schools.
Finally, probably the best experience I would bring to this position is having lived in this community for sixty years. I know our local values, and those are the values I will use as a leader of our school district.
The lack of cohesive leadership, leading to a loss of focus on what the priorities should be. There is too much time and effort being expended on individual agendas. The focus must be put entirely back on getting the most in the classroom.
Funding. Every school district in the state is struggling with balancing their budgets. There were small improvements made during the last state legislative session which may provide some relief, but it appears that there will be a decrease in federal funding.
Loss of trust and support from the community. The recent unexpected, forced resignation of a popular superintendent has caused an uproar. Both the M&O and Capital Projects levies are up for renewal next year. Passing the M&O levy is critical in keeping existing programs and activities for students. The Capital Projects levy provides funds to do large scale maintenance and repairs on district facilities. You cannot pass these levies without having the trust and support of your community.
My goal would be to resolve the divisiveness of the board that led to the loss of the superintendent and at least one board member. During my previous time on the board, I worked with 3 superintendents and 12 board members. I was able to forge a good working relationship with all of them. My leadership experience should help me to mentor and convince the entire board to focus on the same goal. The emphasis of everyone must be on student achievement! There is still an achievement gap left over from the loss of classroom time during the pandemic. We owe it to our students to do everything in our power to help them close that gap. The other piece to creating a positive leadership team is to hire a qualified superintendent that fits with our community. That person must not only know how to push our district forward, but they also have to earn the trust and confidence of all the stakeholders in the district.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to ensure the safety of all students. However, the SWSD has always emphasized student safety. There are constant updates being made to improve the security of all facilities. I would work to make sure we continue to upgrade systems as new technology becomes available. I would also emphasize collaborative planning and training between the district and local law enforcement and first responders.
Another area of student safety is to make sure every student feels safe in their learning environment. They must be protected from bullying, harassment, or ridicule for any reason. I know there are already policies in place to address these issues, but it is imperative that they are adhered to in every school and every classroom. It has always been my principle that every child gets the same opportunity to receive the best education possible for them.
The role of a school board member is very complex. The way to be successful is to base most decisions on two main factors. They are: What is best for students and am I spending the public's money efficiently. Sometimes you have to balance those two things to come up with a solution. If you use these guidelines, it is easier to defend your position to the parents and the community. The other part is being available to the public. Not to talk, but to listen. I have a very good reputation from my previous board tenure of being open, honest, and fair with everyone. I have not changed my approach in how I would serve as a board member. I will work tirelessly to build trust and confidence in the board, from students, staff, and the community.
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