I want to be the strong and experienced leader our new school district needs. Here are my priorities—
1. Establish Board Norms to assure governance that is focused on what is best for students, honesty, collaborative problem solving, and accountability to the public.
2. Hire a highly qualified Superintendent and experienced Business Administrator. These two people are key to the success of our new district and will, in turn, be making critical decisions in staffing and transitioning.
3. Act quickly and collaboratively to prepare a balanced budget that will set us up for success from Day 1.
THOUGHTS ON MY VISION FOR THE FUTURE
I feel that, underlying every initial decision and discussion, should be a strong commitment to unity, both on the board, and within the four cities that make up our new district. This means an unbiased assessment of student needs across the district and a fair allocation of resources. It means building relationships of trust with city leaders, getting to know each city’s priorities, yet honoring our distinct roles in governance.
OUR UNIQUE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES
In 2022, I prepared the document below to inform the citizens of Orem about the ways our schools were being sustained in the Alpine School District. As part of the new larger south district, we are in a better place with a higher enrollment and a higher tax base, but our financial challenges as a district remain much the same. According to estimates by the business services department of Alpine School District, the new south district will need to overcome an approximate deficit of $22.8M. I believe we can overcome this deficit AND make our schools healthier and more effective at the same time. I look forward to being a part of addressing this budget challenge with forward-looking solutions.
