HARRISON SCHOOL DISTRICT 2

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Oct 17, 1999

BOARD OF EDUCATION

(Four-year term, vote for two)

WILLIAM R. (Bill) ZALMAN

Age: 47

Education: Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, 1975, University of Nebraska; 21 hours' coursework toward master's degree in adult education, 1979, University of Nebraska

Occupation: Director of Offender Services, Colorado Department of Corrections

Related experience: Parent of two children in D-2; booster club president at Harrison High School

How to reach him: 579-9659 home; e-mail BGZalman@aol.com

KEY ISSUES

Funding: D-2 is operating in an efficient and effective manner fiscally. However, state funding of schools has lagged behind inflation. A result is that many programs cannot be implemented. As a board member, it will be important to communicate with elected state officials and D-2 patrons to support an increase in state and local funding.

Growth: D-2 is anticipating a planned development called Soaring Eagles. We must take a proactive approach with the developer to project what school needs will be. Proper planning should direct the type and size of schools needed. With no state funding available, appropriate bond issues must be offered to the community.

Top priority: Teachers and administrators must be empowered to do their jobs. Micro-management must be stopped. We must be accountable, respectful and responsible to the patrons. Every child must have the opportunity to be educationally challenged and to achieve to their ability.

AL BROPHY

Age: 67

Education: Master's degree in physical science, 1972, University of Wyoming

Occupation: Retired

Related experience: Former chemistry and physics teacher in D-2 for 26 years; D-2 board member for eight years; parent of four Harrison High School graduates

How to reach him: 576-1213

KEY ISSUES

Funding: Adequate funding is a problem, but we do have sufficient funding if it's used correctly.

Growth: Industrial growth is a problem in our district because of all the construction. Student growth right now is not a problem.

Top priority: My top priority will be to continue facility improvements and updates, such as building a new middle school if the community passes a bond issue.

STEPHANIE LEWIS

Age: 48

Education: Attending University of Phoenix to earn bachelor's degree in business management in February

Occupation: Community relations consultant

Related experience: D-2 board member since 1995; parent of a D-2 graduate and active volunteer; advocate, Southeast YMCA

How to reach her: 638-8517 phone, 638-8223 fax, e-mail slewis@harrison.k12.co.us

KEY ISSUES

Funding: We must spend what we have wisely. Explore all possible funding opportunities through grants and federal programs. Be creative about using the resources at our disposal. If we examine alternative options and sources for educating children, we may discover alternative funding.

Growth: By 2001, the population within a three-mile radius of Sierra High School will be 92,938. That's a 32 percent increase from the 1990 census. Through the district's five-year strategic planning process, we attempt with the community's help to project future needs.

Top priority: To focus on the children. Every policy and decision made should have a positive effect on our students. Decisions regarding employment, recruitment, salaries, facilities, curriculum and more are made because we are given children to educate for lifelong success. If it were not for the children, we would not have a future.

DENNIS SLATTERY

Age: 48

Education: Harrison High School graduate, two years of college

Occupation: Production supervisor, Svedala Pumps & Process

Related experience: Parent of five D-2 students or graduates; active volunteer with various school parent groups and accountability committees

How to reach him: 390-3524

KEY ISSUES

Funding: There are few options for school boards in this area, but new and creative ways to fund education need to be found. The real answer to the funding problem is at the state level and how education funding is divided among all school districts.

Growth: I believe more burden for growth needs to be placed on the developers. Most are here for the short term and are not here for the long-term effects their building has upon a school district.

Top priority: To bring teamwork, integrity and respectability back to our board and a positive attitude to and about our district.