GUSD Candidate Q&A: What Are Your Priorities?

With school board elections coming up, it's important that voters know as much as they can about their candidates. At Glendora Patch, we'd like to offer voters an easily accessible and centralized place to meet each of their candidates in a weekly Q&A forum.

There are two incumbents and two newcomers vying for two empty seats. With Election Day Nov. 8, we’re giving voters the opportunity to get to know their candidates for Glendora Unified School Board.

Candidate Q&A Question #2:

I know the district will always explain that there isn't funding for certain programs, facilities, equipment or jobs but funding for other items because certain pots of money must go toward specific things. I believe that despite the complexities of the budget, a true effort must be made to fund programs/classrooms that sorely need it. What specific school programs or facilities do you think need special attention regarding funding? What do you think should be the district's priority?

Cory Ellenson

I will utilize my skills in accounting and law to maximize district resources. I want to transform our complex $52 million budget into easy-to-read line items, so that all taxpayers can easily access and understand the source and use of funds.

I will work to ensure all programs are adequately funded, placing special emphasis on getting needed resources into the classroom, where the educating of students actually takes place. My priorities are:

• Retaining Glendora’s best and brightest teachers and giving them needed classroom support

• Providing programs for advanced and struggling students, both of whom need more than traditional learning

• Investing in technology like SMARTboards, iPads, and Kindles; the learning tools of a new generation

• Utilizing community partnerships to stretch our dollars and accomplish more with less

Douglas Ferrell

Glendora Unified School District has always garnered strong community support.  The rededication of Goddard Middle School marked the completion of the 10-year Measure G building and renovation project.  This accomplishment sets the stage for my list of funding priorities:

• Safety.  Measure G funded the upgrade of our 60’s-era facilities to meet current health and building safety codes.  We brought back the Resource Officer at GHS and implemented the All-Call system.
• Technology.  Measure G funds technologically upgraded our facilities also enabling more advanced implementations in the future.  Smart Boards in the classrooms being a good start.
• Music and Arts.   Measure G funds constructed a new Theater and Arts classrooms at GHS.  Teaming with the FGUS Foundation we have sustained funding for music in the elementary and middle schools.
  

Irene Miller

As a small business owner my focus must always be on using our money and resources to provide a product that benefits our customer, and gives them the greatest value for their money. The taxpayers are the customer and their child’s education is the product.

Our schools should have one area of focus, producing the best educated student. Therefore, most of our money and resources should be put into the students, classrooms, and teachers. GUSD has 688 employees, 304 are teachers and 384 are support staff.

Until the actual spending is transparent, understandable and readily available to the public, we as a community are unable to make an informed decision on how and where to spend our money. For more information or to contact me please visit www.vote4miller.net

Doris Blum

The priority for the Glendora Schools must be to provide 21st century education for all students within a safe and secure school environment.

 Meeting each student’s academic needs demands a varied curriculum from accelerated, for the gifted, to interventions and tutoring for those falling behind.  NAVIANCE and AVID programs help students navigate the road to college, with the implementation of technology the overarching theme. 

Safer campuses, greatly enhanced by Measure G modernization, now exist at all schools.  We quickly see upgraded lighting, restrooms and quiet air conditioners, but possibly forget that our buildings are now earthquake safe and easier to maintain. 

Budget shortfalls often require difficult cuts to District programs.  Those programs selected for FGUS Foundation gifts thankfully mirror GUSD priorities, funding much needed educational enhancements.