VOTE411 Voter Guide

25 years leadership, business, budgeting, and strategic planning experience. As a current elementary and middle school parent, I care deeply about the success of our school system, and I've seen how it impacts our community. I want to use my leadership expertise to drive long term planning and manage the district's budget to be sustainable. I will focus on initiatives to increase enrollment, be financially responsible, and assure safe inclusive schools for our students and educators.

Though the federal Department of Education structure is in flux, Oregon Department of Education rules are well established and our district is in line with those expectations. Our district should maintain compliance with regulations and follow all guidelines provided, building curriculum and policies and maximize our success within those boundaries.

Our district's most urgent issue is a budget crisis. We are currently proposing a $10M loan to balance cash flow over the coming years. If this loan is secured, we need to manage those funds judiciously, and only spend what is necessary. If we focus on increasing enrollment, our funding will increase, thus allowing us to pay that loan sooner. I will work with district leadership to strategically plan budgets five years out, including contingency plans for downturns, to assure we avoid future crises.

I have called Ashland home for 25 years. Our twins were students of Ashland schools and graduated in 2021. We witnessed our kids journey from little to big, guided by some of the best teachers, staff and administrators in the State of Oregon.

The first 16 years of my working life were dedicated to teaching. I served on teaching faculties at Oregon State and U of O, and for many years, I headed the women’s center at SOU. In addition to teaching experience, I will bring a deep set of budgeting and people skills from 12 years as Executive Director for the nonprofit dispute resolution and restorative justice center in our valley.

My understanding is that a school board functions as a body (not as individuals) and under a set of conduct regulations. I am not personally liable for the decisions of the Board. However, if I step outside of that body, I may be held liable for a choice or action.

Should I be elected, I fully expect to step onto a learning curve regarding the guardrails of board service and compliance with federal and state education policies. I know that compliance is typically tied to funding. One of the primary functions of a school board is policy and accountability.

School boards are responsible for policy and accountability regarding the superintendent and budget. These are all entwined. There has to be sufficient resource and good leadership to enact good policy.

The Ashland School District will be facing budgetary challenges in the years ahead. I can help. I led two regional nonprofits from financial spirals to solvency, and maintained finances including budget, banking, and financial policies.

I have over 20 years of experience as a classroom teacher and Head of School. I prepared for a Masters degree in Education by first studying education through the interdisciplinary lenses of anthropology, history, neurology, psychology, and sociology. I then worked toward two Montessori teaching diplomas, one in Primary education and one in Elementary education. In addition to classroom teaching, I also developed french language curriculum and music curriculum which I taught at the elementary and middle school levels. As a Head of School, I successfully launched a new infant care program. When I became a parent, I volunteered in the local school classrooms and on the site council, sifting through data specific to the school and district.

The obligations of the district to Federal and State policies include ensuring equal education opportunities, providing safe and inclusive learning environments, and specifics regarding students with disabilities, nondiscrimination, and rights. Federally, we must provide Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), we must meet requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and Title IX for example. At the state level, we must ensure inclusive and equitable environments, complying with and report compliance with IDEA and TAG for example. We must also follow Oregon's attendance laws. Ensuring safe schools and civil rights are also in our obligations.

Our most urgent issue is our budget crisis. I would look deeply into what mistakes were made through data and conversations, and how the current budget is allocated. I will strive toward responsible fiscal thinking including growing a robust reserve fund. A major concern at the moment is further funding cuts from the federal level and how we can respond as as district. The next biggest issue in my opinion is continuing to develop outstanding educational programs in the midst of this crisis. I will look at the programs that our schools offer and strive for preparing our students for the world they will be adults in. Developing more STEM opportunities and strengthening current programs with community support and involvement.