Gretchen Guess - School Board Seat D (March 24, 2011) |
Name: Gretchen Guess
Occupation: Regional Director, Business Planning & Development, Providence Health & Services Alaska
Registered Political Party: Democrat (school board is a non-partisan race and seat)
Why are you running for the School Board?:
I have a passion for education, my hometown, and the belief of excellence for every child. Our school board should:
- Focus funding on the classrooms
- Teach to every child
- Communicate clearly and consistently with parents
- Care about the costs to taxpayers
I will bring an experienced, common sense and positive voice to the school board.
What one sentence best describes your philosophy of how the school district should be run?:
A clear focus on excellence for every child.
What letter grade would you give the current school board, and why?:
B - The school board has had some difficult choices to make – and as a former legislator, I know how that is. I think they have done a good job at working together, and listening to the community. We all need to tackle the budget with the school board taking the lead.
What letter grade would you give Superintendent Carol Comeau and school administration, and why?:
B - Carol has done a great job at being the face of the school district. I grew up in Anchorage, and I do not remember a superintendent who was as available, willing to listen, and supportive of all students, the district and community.
What are your thoughts on the 2011-12 school budget approved by the school board? Is the budget too big? Not big enough? At the right amount?:
I was disappointed to see class size increase. It is one of the few things we know research says makes a difference. The growth rate of the budget over the last 13 years is unsustainable.
This year the city charged the school district for the tax collection related to schools. I disagree with this approach, and believe the city should pay those areas of their obligation.
What school services would you like to see reinstated, and how would you suggest they are paid for?:
Reduction in class size by refocusing current spending, specifically district administration, towards the classroom.
Are property taxes too high? Explain your answer:
Many residents are struggling with the expense of living in our community, and the feeling that property taxes are too high is real.
What is the most important issue affecting the school district as a whole?:
The unsustainable growth in the budget whose expenses are not articulated or understood by the residents/taxpayers of Anchorage, and whose value is too often only measured by a resident's personal experience with the school district not the overall value to our community.
What are your thoughts on the three school bond propositions in front of voters?:
I think they are responsible given the needs of the community, and the fact we are bonding for less than the debt we are retiring. The maintenance bond often comes into question. Generally, I do not agree with bonding for maintenance; however, the state reimburses for maintenance bonds so it advantages the Anchorage taxpayer to bond for maintenance.
The last municipal election had the lowest voter turnout in at least 20 years. Why should people head to the polls and vote on April 5th?:
Because nothing impacts our families and communities more than our schools and the running of our city.
