Bud Strange - Candidate for School Board

Bud Strange

Candidate School Board Director #04

·         Lifetime area resident and graduate of Naselle High School
·         Married 43 years, raised two kids, also Naselle High School graduates
·         Volunteer Firefighter - Naselle Volunteer Fire Department – 33 years
·         Fire Commissioner - Naselle Volunteer Fire Department – 20 years
·         Board Member – Naselle Water Company – 16 years
·         Small business owner 36 years
·         Computer programmer, systems analyst and manager – 30 years

I have spent my adult life serving the Naselle community.  I have been a part of many positive changes in my roles as a water board member, volunteer firefighter and commissioner.  My business background and conservative approach have helped streamline efficiencies both operationally and financially. 

If elected, I will be a voice for the people. I will work to ensure that as much information as possible will be put in front of the residents of our school district to keep them informed. As an example, I have created a web blog: http://naselleschoolblog.blogspot.com/  that anyone can share thoughts about our school. I also have videotaped the monthly board meetings and posted on YouTube. This allows people to keep informed without leaving the comfort of their home if they choose.  Although there is room for more communication improvement, I consider this a good start. With the blog having over 2400 views and YouTube monthly board meetings having over 1800 views, this tells me  our community is very interested in what happens at our school. Without being a board member, I have been a factor in positive changes at our school and will continue to work towards positive change.

If elected, here are some of the issues that I will be talking about.

• Mandarin program –
• This school year, we needed double the classroom space for kindergarten and 1st grades and we operated under a grant. Next year, we are expecting another grant and it may or may not happen. Each year, we will need an additional class room. This will happen at a minimum through the sixth grade. In the worst case scenario, we would need an additional 9 classrooms and teachers. How is this going to happen? Not only physically but financially. Questions still needing answers.

• Vocational classes -
• We need to give serious consideration to more vocational programs and opportunities. Are we preparing our student population? What is the majority of our current population choosing as their route? If students are choosing the “typical” 2 year, 4 year route then maybe we do nothing. If a large number of students are choosing work based learning, apprenticeships, on-the-job training or a vocational route, maybe we find  means to develop these needs.    As a parent of two successful children each choosing a separate path, I see the benefit of both.      

• McCleary Act -
•  On January 5, 2012, the State Supreme Court ruled that Washington State is not amply funding basic education under the State Constitution. Fully funded education is to be in place by 2018 at an estimated cost of 4.5 billion dollars. 
• First, districts are currently paying for many services that are part of the legal definition of “basic education,” and that consequently the state should be paying for.
• Transportation of students who live outside a 1-mile radius of the school.
• Materials, supplies and other operating costs. Examples: textbooks, heat for the building, copier paper, etc. 
• All-day kindergarten. 
• Reduced class size (to 17 per class). Kindergarten through 3rd grade. 
• HB 2261 called for more rigorous graduation requirements and more instructional time to allow kids to achieve them. The Legislature has not adopted a schedule for paying for these yet, but they are clearly called for in HB 2261. 
• Increase in instructional time for middle and high school students to 1080 hours from the 1000 we require today. This is another two weeks of school time that could be accommodated in many ways, and was added to the definition of basic education to allow enough time for a 6-period day in middle and high schools. 
• Expanding the number of credits required to graduate from high school to 24 from the 20 we require today. 
• At a minimum, the State must fully fund NERCs (overhead costs), transportation, and staff salaries and benefits without relying on local levies or federal funds.

• Common-Core
• Over 50 percent of the population has never heard of it, yet it will affect every child that goes to school in Washington State.
• The common core standards were introduced in 2010, Washington State, and 44 other states and 3 territories have adopted them. In 2014-15, current state tests will be replaced by one of the two exams designed for the common core.
• The Common Core goal is to provide a clear, consistent understanding of what students are expected to learn to be college and career-ready.
• The standards define what students should know and be able to do, not how teachers teach.
• Common Core takes away local control and moves it to the federal government.
• Common Core may not be changed by state legislatures or state or local school boards.
• Only states that participate will be eligible for certain grants.
• Is Common Core good? It depends on who is talking. Convincing arguments have been made for both sides. One thing is clear, local control will be further eroded and schools that already excel, such as Naselle, will have to work even harder to maintain status quo.