Dear Editor:
Three years ago I expressed my support for the candidacy of Gillian Thorpe for Haldane Board of Education Trustee. Today I am affirming my confidence in her by recommending that she should be re-elected to that position. Gillian has been a hardworking member of a fiscally conservative board. She has consistently adhered to a philosophy that board decisions should be made in careful consideration of the impact they have on the education of Haldane students.
Throughout her term of service to our district, Gillian has given her voice in support of her commitment to improving education programs in the district, as she did in the past when the board was considering cutting a foreign language position to part-time following a teacher retirement. Gillian advocated for preserving the position as a full-time job so that the district might attract the best candidates and so that foreign language programs would remain strong in Haldane.
On the budget, Gillian has worked collaboratively with the board to help present a spending plan that is both lean and supportable by the Haldane community. Prior to the state-imposed tax cap, Haldane’s Board of Education imposed its own form of spending restrictions, and for the past several years, voters have seen the results of their careful approach. The prolonged reductions in state aid and the mounting pressure of increased expenses and unfunded mandates have made this task difficult, to say the least. Haldane’s spending plan for 2013–2014 is consistent with the board’s intention to remain committed to sustainable budgeting. I am thankful for the part Gillian has played in approving this budget.
I would also like to offer my support of Julisa Rincon-Tomizawa for the second open trustee seat. Julisa’s professional experience with the Common Core and Response to Intervention would, in my opinion, be an asset to the board.
Finally, I would like to encourage all eligible voters to remember to vote in the school budget/trustee election on May 21. If you cannot make it to the polls on voting day, please consider voting by absentee ballot.
Sincerely,
Julia Famularo
North Highlands
