[ THE USD 450 SCHOOL BOARD RACES ]

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Mar 30, 2003 by Capital-Journal

3. "Pay to play" is one alternative to maintaining current activities while balancing budgets. Most students who have passion or talent are probably paying for additional opportunities to participate in the activity "outside" the school programs. However, alternative-funding sources should be established for students who are financially challenged.

4. Facilities are my expertise. The district should develop a facility strategy that focuses on preventive maintenance and benchmark costs with other school districts. Maintenance will only defer capital improvements. Sometime in the future financing instruments will be required in order to provide basic, safe, secure and technology-accommodating buildings.

At large

TONY S. BILLAU

Age: 42

Address: 7245 E. US-40 highway

Occupation: Rustic Custom Log Homes of Kansas/Billau Constructors

Education: Shawnee Heights High School, Kaw Area Vocational School and business courses at Washburn University

Family: Married, with two children

1. We look at the complete budget. Small cuts will have to be made in many different areas. As with cuts in business, personnel audits will have to be made and employees may need to take on additional workloads so some jobs can be consolidated.

2. I hope we can keep any opportunities in the arts that we currently have. I would like to see this area grow in the future because of increased interest, and scholarship opportunities available. I don't see how we can offer additional opportunities until problems with maintenance of facilities is solved.

3. It would be cost effective to become more productive and streamline our current system. The many patrons I have talked with seem to look at this as a reasonable area for savings. Maybe an alternative would be for corporate sponsors rather than "pay to play."

4. In the future, USD 450 may have to pass a bond issue. I would like to look at our capital outlay expenditures, update operations of our maintenance department, so they are productive again. I believe heating, ventilation and air conditioning replacement projects may need additional funds to complete.

DON CHRISTIAN

Age: 49

Address: 5825 S.E. 29th, Tecumseh

Occupation: Pharmaceutical representative

Education: Bachelor of education, Washburn University

Family: Married, with a son age 21 and daughter age 18

1. A board member's priority is to insure that classroom education is never compromised. I would do everything within my power to minimize cuts in the classroom. A task force made up of administrators, teachers, parents and school board members need to examine and prioritize proposed changes in the budget.

2. With continued demands on requirements for entry to state schools, I am more concerned in making sure our students are prepared for college. Students are limited in classes they can take based on a block schedule. Students should be able to choose classes of interest and meet college requirements.

3.Students should have the same opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities. If funding forces cuts, I would consider a compromise. An activity fee exists for sports, but it doesn't cover the program's cost. Other options may be community involvement or a sliding scale based on ability to pay.