Phone statements were taken from the six individuals who chose to apply for the Silver District #4 open position on the school board. Their comments were limited to a few questions and these were held to the length of a paragraph to make similar amounts of space for each. Below are their responses.
Nicholas Bobo says he has two children in Stout elementary, one in La Plata, and nephews and nieces in the district’s schools. He was interested in seeing that community, teachers and students had a voice for their concerns. The Vo Tech was a special concern; he would like to see more offerings, and more kids better prepared for future employment. Extra-curricular offerings were important, too. He wanted more and better things for the kids.
Dr. Michelle Diaz says she has a son at Stout and an 8th grade daughter at La Plata. She said her interest was in reforming policies for the true focus of educating children, turning them into productive adults and citizens. As she sees it, two major requirements in this process are transparency and accountability, and she added that advocacy for staff and students was important, too. Communications are key, as well. She hopes to see a fully functioning educational process in the district.
With three sons in the district’s schools, Daniel Arrey said transparency and accountability were important, as well as support for the superintendent, who had been successful elsewhere and who needed to be free to do his best for Silver. Positive attitudes from community and others should make better results possible. Also, prioritizing needs should help us get the “best for our dollars’ worth” from the recent bond issue.
Nancy Stephens spoke of “a well-run organization, with each part contributing,” listening, being responsible with funds, evaluating fairly, supporting and building the local education system. She has two children, one at Stout and another starting there next year. She wanted to use her skills to develop consensus for the benefit of all children. The democratic system was important and school systems needed protection. She hopes to leave Silver in good hands after doing her part.
Otto Khera, Instructional Technologist, said he had training and skills, practiced in south L.A., which he hoped would work for all stakeholders and improve education in this rural environment, as well. He hoped to see more collaboration and best use of resources to increase dual enrollment with WNMU and raise work skills for students in the job market. He was also interested in community efforts such as the Bike Plan and planning and zoning. His 4 children are enrolled at Aldo Leopold Charter School.
A sixth applicant, Seth Traeger, was given a number of calls to interview by phone, but he didn’t respond before deadline. His information will likely come this Wednesday, when all who applied will be interviewed by the school board. The public may attend this meeting at 5:30; it will be held in the board room at the Administrative offices on Swan.
Most of the applicants mentioned accountability and transparency, and voiced a need for unity and cooperation on the positives rather than the past divisiveness and negatives spoken all too often in the public meetings. They voiced optimism that so many had shown interest and were running for the position.