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Parkrose Board of Education candidates' answers

We posed the same question to Parkrose Board of Education candidates: “School board members are asked to make difficult decisions that can make them unpopular. In the recent past, decisions were made during contract negotiations and property acquisition for the new middle school that created a great deal of strife in our community. How would you defuse potentially volatile conflicts that threaten to disrupt the district and keep it from its primary mission of education?” Hear more from the candidates at a Parkrose school board candidates forum at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 11229 N.E. Prescott St. on Monday, May 13 at 7 p.m.

Position 1
Mary Lu Baetkey is running for Position 1 on the Parkrose Board of Education.
COURTESY MARY LU BAETKEY
Mary Lu Baetkey
“How do you defuse potential volatile conflicts? You work tirelessly. In my years in the district, I have seen intense anger over issues, which today makes us wonder why. As a board member, you represent the people who voted for you and those that did not. In every case, you work for all. One has control over the choices they make on the board as well as their willingness to be open to listening to those that might disagree with them. Treating individuals with respect and honoring their concerns is key.

As a board member, you speak the truth and you provide all the facts openly. You work very hard to make sure that surprises are not provided the community. You have the responsibility of getting clarifications from the administration when you do not know the answer to a question. While some might not agree with the decisions you make, those decisions should be based on needs of all students, on cost, flexibility for the future, and the health of the district as a whole.

Working towards solutions with respect for all is most important, yet knowing you cannot please all is part of reality.”

Dave Carter is running for Parkrose school board
Position 1.
COURTESY DAVE CARTER
Dave Carter
“Elected school board members are entrusted to make decisions that provide and ensure for the enrichment and betterment of student achievement. My vision of the Parkrose School Board mirrors this. I will reinforce the importance and need of clarity and transparency. Open dialogue and discussion is the basis and cornerstone to airing out concerns, opinions and ideas. This could clear the way for true debate, easing the need for disharmony and conflict. The impassioned energy that exists in our community demonstrates we all share the same goals. Ultimately, we want our children to have the best education - one that will empower them to fulfill their dreams and prepare them for a very challenging and competitive global work environment.”

Position 2
James Trujillo is running unopposed for Position 2 on the Parkrose Board of Education.
COURTESY JAMERS TRUJILLO
James Trujillo
“The Parkrose School District serves a diverse neighborhood with a vast array of needs, strengths and opportunities. In addition, the district is constrained by demanding regulatory requirements and reduced funding for operating needs. Given these constraints, it would be unrealistic to believe the school board would not be the source of robust debate on occasion. However, the board can help reduce conflict by:
• facilitating honest, accurate and respectful conversations;
• striving to assume positive intent;
• seeking to understand diverse opinions;
• creating information transparency wherever possible and appropriate, and;
• maintaining a clear focus on purpose.

I believe the purpose of the school board is to help create a dynamic, student-centered environment with positive learning outcomes - at a price we can afford. Of course, the school board cannot do this alone. We need to partner with school administrators, teachers, parents and the community at large.

This is our community and these are our kids. We need to create safe, learning-focused schools together. We need to elect a diverse school board that genuinely reflects our neighborhood.

Form a winning team by electing a board that is looking forward and not in the rear view mirror. Every vote counts.

Position 3
Former school board member Mark Gardner is trying to return to the Parkrose Board of Education.
COURTESY MARK GARDNER
Mark Gardner
“You must tell the truth. Many decisions can cause tensions in a school district. Nothing the board does is going to please everyone, every time. However, truth goes a long way in diffusing controversial issues. Truth telling appears to be something audibly missing from the current Parkrose Board of Education.”

Thuy Tran
“In this past year as a Parkrose School Board member and a parent with three children in the Parkrose School District, I have talked to parents, teachers, administrators, and students. I have gotten to know many families and individuals in the Parkrose community who are not involved in the day-to-day activities of the school district - not just as a school board member, but long before I arrived at this appointed position.

These relationships and everyday conversations I have with other parents, teachers, administrators and community members are important to have before volatile conflicts arise, not only to defuse potential conflicts, but also because parents, teachers, administrators,
Thuy Tran, who was appointed to Position 3 on the Parkrose school board, is running for a full term in May.
COURTESY THUY TRAN
other educational leaders, and community members should have a voice in the Parkrose School District. As difficult decisions arise, I have and will discuss the conflicts with those directly affected, and base my decisions on fairness and the best outcome for Parkrose students.”

Position 4
Ed Grassel, unopposed
“You are correct that some of the decisions made by a school board are unpopular, and as a board, we make those decisions together. A board member has no individual power, except for the collective power of the board, as a whole.

As the board works together to make those decisions, we remember our purpose, that is to educate the children of our community, making sure that every student has the opportunity to reach their greatest potential. Our goal in all decisions is to fulfill that purpose. I personally focus on how we as a board, working together, can find the best educational policy, budget and leaders for our students. To find the best of these
Ed Grassel is unopposed for Position 4 on the Parkrose school board.
COURTESY JAN GRASSEL
important elements, I do research, such as: reading current educational books, articles from both the Oregon and National School Board Associations, “Harvard Business Review” and other resources. I work to find ideas that could benefit the Parkrose community, and discuss those ideas with board members. We then share our views, opinions and research with each other, and ask for input. That input comes from parent and community groups, interested citizens, and school staff. The board carefully reviews all input in light of our student's needs, then votes.

As for those times that decisions do not find favor with each person in our community, I am always open to discussing the process and reasoning behind those decisions. In some of those decisions, the board has limited options; a state budget that gives us a fixed amount of dollars to spend on our schools, thus a limited amount of funding for staff compensation, or a city building code that requires the proper amount of land for storm water filtration. I will continue to do my best, so that children can discover their greatest potential.”

Position 5
Bruce Altizer is running for Position 5 on the Parkrose board of Education.
COURTESY BRUCE ALTIZER
Bruce Altizer
“The most important part of solving a problem is recognizing that you have one. In the public arena, issues involving either monies or properties are almost certainly going to be contentious. We cannot avoid all conflict and strife. We can mitigate it by early identification and involvement of those persons and organizations who are most affected by the issue.

It is equally important that we, as elected officials, keep the district's voters and taxpayers informed about these issues. Failure to be forthright with anyone is the surest way to make a difficult situation worse.”

Erick Flores
“As a School Board member representing position 5, I would prevent these unfortunate community events by establishing a culture of transparency, conversation and community engagement. Beyond finding faults on our very own neighbors and/or our hard working teachers, we, School Board, should be doing a better job at engaging in partnerships, dialogue and understanding with the people we represent. At the end of the day, we are all in this together and we depend on our schools and on each other to provide leadership on how effective communication and community engagement should be. Decisions don't need to be unpopular when facts
Erick Flores is running or Position 5 on the Parkrose Board of Education.
COURTESY ERICK FLORES
and dialogue have been established and we should not treat our neighbors and teachers as adversaries. Instead, we should address them as partners and associates in our mission to create a better and safer community for all of us.

I will bring my community outreach experience and educational background to the school board from day one. I will take it upon my shoulders to seek partnerships with our cities and neighborhood associations in order to create more opportunities for our students and families. Parkrose is an amazing place and it is up to all of us to work together collaboratively in order to strengthen our institutions and create a better place for tomorrow.”

Heather Simoneau
“Conflict is inevitable; however, it can either be constructive or destructive. There are many reasons for conflict, including but not limited to, poor communication, changes in leadership, or lack of openness. When these behaviors occur, there are often several indicators that lead into it, such as body language, public disagreements - regardless of the issue, surprises and/or increased lack of respect.

In order to resolve and potentially avoid conflict we must provide the public with all the information they need and more, in order to have a clear and transparent picture of what is going on - no secrets or surprises. We must be honest about concerns and provide time for communication frequently, and in a timely manner. When conflict happens, we need to meet it head on, listening to ALL concerns and keeping in mind that a fresh perspective can bring thoughts often overlooked. Ultimately, we must stress the importance of policy and at times we must agree to disagree, which can build better decisions, leaving the possibility of reviewing said policy later if needed.

Most importantly, we need to work as a team. Listening to all sides and making the best decisions possible for the students and staff of the Parkrose School District. Beginning in kindergarten, these children are our future, and they deserve the best we can give them and more.”
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