Meet the candidate: Beth Hergesheimer
Four candidates are vying for two open seats on the San Dieguito Union High School District Board of Trustees in the Nov. 6 election: Joyce Dalessandro (incumbent), Beth Gergesheimer (incumbent), Graham Ledger and Steve McDowell. Below are candidate photos, bios and answers to two questions given to them by this newspaper.
Beth Hergesheimer
Name: Beth Hergesheimer
Years living in the School District: 17
Profession/education: I hold a degree in business administration, and have worked in human resources in hospital, manufacturing and engineering settings.
Community activities: At Flora Vista Elementary I became the Health and Safety Chairperson, responsible for Red Ribbon week activities, organizing a holiday giving program and coordinating campus emergency preparedness. I then became Vice President of Legislation, taking my first trip to Sacramento. I served as PTA President, and began volunteering at the middle and high school campuses my sons attended. I realized that my human resources and business administration education and experience, as well as my passion and interest for what was happening in our schools, were a very good match for board work. I began attending board meetings, and ultimately filed for and was declared into office in 2004. I have also served six years on a non-profit pre-school advisory committee.
1.) What do you think are the biggest issues facing the school district?
1) Fair and adequate state funding is a key issue for the public school system.
2) Maintaining our high levels of achievement while making additional strides in student performance is an important goal, and a complex issue.
3) Maintaining and developing the cooperative partnership between students, teachers, parents, and administration that has been proven to produce achievement and success.
2.) Do you have any suggestions as to how the biggest issue in your answer for #1 should be addressed by the board?
1) Fair and adequate state funding is a key issue for the public school system.
Ongoing state budget concerns and under-funded state and federally mandated programs are financial burdens that require our district continue to be fiscally frugal, keeping money as close to the classroom as possible while continuing to seek more stable and equitable funding. We have continuously worked within budget while striving to provide opportunities for student achievement. As a current board member and previously as PTA representative, bringing funding and other issues concerning the education community to the attention of our State Legislators has been an ongoing effort.
During these fiscally challenging times we have seen all of our schools make progress, (five have API scores exceeding 900!), but know that there are more gains to be made, with best practices to share and implement among our campuses. Building on the collaborative efforts of our school board, school administrators, teachers, staff, parents and our community partners so that we can create an ever better school district and a stronger community for all students will be an ongoing effort toward which I commit my district-wide relationships and experience.
2) Maintaining our high levels of achievement while making additional strides in student performance is an important goal, and a complex issue.
3) Maintaining and developing the cooperative partnership between students, teachers, parents, and administration that has been proven to produce achievement and success.
Related posts:
- Meet the candidate: Joyce Dalessandro
- Meet the candidate: Graham Ledger
- Meet the candidates
- OPINION: Del Mar schools rock
- Meet Solana Beach City Council candidate Vickie Driver
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