Friday, September 24, 2010

4 seek position on school board

District may decide Tuesday on new trustee


By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

The Blaine County School District board of trustees may decide as early as Tuesday about who will be a new member of the board.

"We would like to, but we may not, but it is our intent to do so," Board Chair Julie Dahlgren said Wednesday.

Tuesday is the day the board will interview applicants in a process, including deliberations, that Dahlgren has promised will be completely open to the public. The special board meeting is set to start at 4 p.m. at the district office at 118 W. Bullion St. in Hailey.

The board has four applicants to chose from—David Gardner, Kathryn Graves, Jackie Mizer and Tommy Richmond. All are residents of Zone 3, the board post now vacant because of the resignation in July of Mari Beth Matthews, who moved to California. Zone 3 includes western and northern Hailey and the area north of the city.

Dahlgren clarified an earlier statement in which she said the decision for a new board member would be made by the current school board and district Superintendent Lonnie Barber. She said additional research showed that only board members can decide.

"The four of us have to come to that decision," she said. "He [Barber] can advise us but not vote."

Other school board members are Paul Bates, representing the Ketchum area, Steve Guthrie, representing southern Hailey and Bellevue, and Daniel Parke from the Carey area. Dahlgren represents the Sun Valley area.

The Idaho Mountain Express was able to get information and photographs from three of the applicants this week. The only exception was Richmond, who did not return telephone calls by press deadline Thursday.

The applicants were asked to provide information about themselves and brief written answers to the following questions: Why do you want to be on the school board? Do you agree with the direction the school district is going? What would you do differently?

David Gardner

"I believe in education," Gardner wrote. "I have a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's in business administration. I believe in our children. I have four boys and want the best for them and all kids in Blaine County to succeed."

Gardner wrote that he is "happy with the way the district is being run."

Gardner answered the question about what he would do differently by writing, "I absolutely believe it is the board's responsibility to have the students' best interest at heart when making all board decisions."

Gardner is married and received his master's degree in May from Boise State University. He is the manager of Electrical Wholesale Supply in Hailey.

Kathryn Graves

Graves is married and has lived in Zone 3 for 12 years. She and her husband have two boys. One is a seventh-grader and the other is a ninth-grader.

"I am running for school board because I have been involved with the schools and community for a long time and now I have the opportunity to become more involved," Graves wrote.

"Having served on the Strategic Planning Committee, I think the strategic plan provides a great road map for the school district."

"If appointed, I am looking to build on what is already there. In that light, my priorities are following up on the communications audit and focusing on academics."

Jackie Mizer

"After serving as both a hospital and retail pharmacist in the valley for 21 years, I've reached a balance between family and work that now allows me to become more involved in our community," Mizer wrote. "I wish to reduce the 'deficit of trust' between our school district and our taxpayers.

"Understanding why our district ranks as No. 11 in spending in Idaho [2008-09] at $14,792 per pupil, contrasted to the state average of $6,510 per pupil, in conjunction with comparison of statewide ISAT proficiency scores and graduation rates, would be my first endeavor. Then, I would work to determine if funds could be conservatively shifted to increase teachers' salaries or reduce, without building, elementary classroom pupil-teacher ratios.

"My husband and I have two children who have thrived in our school district. I propose to reassess how funds are spent to make our children's education exceptional."

Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com




 Local Weather 
Search archives:


Copyright © 2024 Express Publishing Inc.   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.