Coalition seeking PUSD board candidates

A group of parents, teachers, local business owners, community leaders and former Poway Unified School district leadership have come together to form a coalition to elect school board trustees who they say will focus on student needs and the district’s educational reputation for excellence.

Called the Coalition for Effective School Board Leadership, the group, which numbers about 20, aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of school board business through the endorsement of candidates in the November election, according to a press release.

Two seats on the school board currently held by Andy Patapow and Kimberley Beatty will be up for reelection in November. While Patapow has said he will not pursue re-election after serving on the board for more than 20 years, Beatty has not yet said if she will seek to retain her seat on the board. Beatty was elected to the board of education in 2012, defeating then-board president Linda Vanderveen.

According to Coalition Chair Mary Andrews in a press release, “The Coalition for Effective School Board Leadership is a grass-roots campaign that brings together people who care about students and the Poway Unified School District. Being one of the highest performing districts in the state, it is our mission to return to the PUSD Board of Education to the level of professionalism and excellence that our district deserves.”

The coalition also states in the press release that all school board trustees have a duty to oversee school district policy and to work collegially to make the district the best it can be, and says that it is the ideal time for the community to return control of the board to trustees who will act in the best interest of students and who will maintain the district’s reputation for excellence in education.

There are six key criteria that the coalition identifies that all qualified school board trustees should embody, according to the press release.

These criteria include demonstrating personal integrity, promoting a positive atmosphere and respecting diverse viewpoints; demonstrating focus on students and the educational reputation of PUSD; demonstrating the ability to build a consensus; understanding the complex issues related to all aspects of public education; understanding school board governance and the role of a school board member; and advocating fiscal responsibility and transparency with an understanding of California education funding.

Karen Harkins Slocomb, a former high school representative to the school board, parent and a member of the coalition said in the press release, “I have been concerned about what I have observed in recent months at PUSD school board meetings, and I’m excited to be part of this coalition. It’s an opportunity to help make sure that our district continues to focus on students.”

The coalition is currently seeking qualified candidates who are willing to run in the November election. Candidates who wish to seek the endorsement of the coalition should contact Coalition4EffectiveSchoolBoard@gmail.com or visit www.coalition4effectiveschoolboard.com.