2006 CSBA officer candidates 

Following are the candidates put forward by CSBA’s Nominating Committee for 2006 President-elect and Vice President of the California School Boards Association. Election of officers takes place during the Nov. 30 CSBA Delegate Assembly meeting in San Francisco. Statements appear exactly as received by CSBA.

Paul H. Chatman
President-elect
Ocean View ESD
I am honored to have this opportunity to be your President Elect. I have been a board member for 17 years, 5 years as a delegate from Region 11 and 4 years on the Board of Directors and this last year as a member of the Executive Committee. During that time I have been appointed to and served on 19 committees and have had the opportunity to chair the 2001 Annual Conference Committee. Those that know me know that my agenda is that all children be exposed to the same rigorous curriculum and have the same opportunity to compete in a global economy.

Our future as a country depends on you and I molding an education system that is challenging and focused on student success not failure. At the same time we must not succumb to those that advocate one-size-fit-all solutions for multi-sized problems. The structure of CSBA is well positioned to move the public education agenda and set the pace for the rest of the country.

As President Elect of CSBA, you have my commitment to keeping the needs of all of California’s children as our priority. We will refuse to allow the light of hope, and the dreams of prosperous futures to be dimmed because they lack the education and caring
to compete.

Paula Campbell
Vice President
Nevada City SD

Garden writers frequently quote Alexander Pope who wrote “Consult the genius of the place in all”. As a school board member, Pope reminds me to keep the needs and aspirations of students, their potential, energy, and spirit in the forefront of educational decision making. To best understand what we need, we must remember who we are and what we have. This is as true on the state level as it is on the local level.

Public education has faced difficult times in the past but has never before today made the bold commitment to finding an educational path for every student. We do this publicly and without hesitation. CSBA has been and will be instrumental in supporting our school boards and educational community in making this a reality and in publicly and without hesitation, finding the resources necessary. CSBA has the knowledge, experience, and passion of the committed membership and staff necessary to make certain that policy decisions on both the local and state level are informed more by what is important for students than by what is wanted by adults.

I bring 14 years experience as a school board member as well as involvement on the board of CSBA, Delegate Assembly and many CSBA committees. I am committed to serving the interests of our students and school boards and ask for your support.

Anne E. White
Vice President
Livermore Valley Joint USD

All trustees have a passion for public education, children and their future. No other elected policy makers are focused on providing opportunities to children and removing barriers to their success. Our task is both to grow good citizens and also to prepare young adults for careers. The well-being of our graduates, the economic vitality of our state and the preservation of our democracy depend on all of us doing our job effectively. CSBA is our partner!

CSBA offers us training to become skilled in governance and knowledgeable in education. CSBA provides analysis and advocacy so we can speak with one voice to focus other policy makers on what is best for all California children. Through CSBA we join with like-minded groups to increase our impact.

As a 16-year trustee in Livermore, a low-wealth suburban district of 13,500, I will bring a broad range of experience to CSBA’s leadership. I have been a Delegate since 2000 and chaired the Nominating Committee in 2005. I know issues from special education preschool to CAHSEE and Career Education. Facing declining funding, I have voted to eliminate programs that are good for children. Though making hard choices is always difficult, I set priorities and come to a decision.

I have sharpened my problem solving and collaboration skills. I am an enthusiastic, focused, thoughtful leader and I will concentrate my efforts and energies on enhancing education for all of California’s children. We simply must do it right, more often, in more places, for more children.