Jim Peters: Taxing community not needed

RACE FOR HUNTINGTON BEACH UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

Name: Jim Peters

Age: 46

Occupation: Educational consultant: professor of educational law

Family: Two children: Sabrina, 16, and Jimmy, 14.

Community activities: Pro bono educational services.

Education: Irvine University College Of Law, Eastern College and

Moorehouse College.

Favorite leader: My mother.

Contact information: (714) 266-2473; [email protected].

PETERS ON:

* STUDENT SAFETY:

Simple. Do not tolerate drugs and weapons at school -- sensible

solutions designed to protect and insure our children’s safety is not

compromised.

* RAISING STUDENT TEST SCORES:

Supporting use of technology to enhance student learning is a huge

priority of mine. The Digital High School and Educational Technology

Grant programs are another. There are so many ways for technology to

be infused within the educational program to support teacher and

student goals. We have an extremely comprehensive Technology Use

Plan, which needs improvement

* FISCAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DISTRICT:

In these days of budget cuts, we need to exercise wiser money

management instead of taxing our community. The administration

released classified personnel. They cut programs for our children,

then hired more administrators at salaries in excess of $100,000.

They then said, we will just asked for a bond. The public said, just

go jump in a lake.

* BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THE DISTRICT:

Faced with a $24 billion shortfall in the state budget this year,

our district was forced to cut $3.5 million from our district budget.

Some of the reductions got pretty close to the classroom, which I

would have fought hard to avoid. Overall, 83% of our district’s

allocation of revenue is for staff salaries and benefits. I also

believe parents and students should decide which schools their

students will attend.