Virtual Town Hall Questions for Bruce Shepherd, School Board Candidate

Coronado Patch: I'm an 18-year-old girl attending Coronado High School. This will be my first election. Why should I vote for you?

Bruce Shepherd: I believe Coronado voters of all ages and backgrounds should consider voting for me because in my eight years on the school board I have demonstrated that I study the issues and come prepared, I have a passion for public education, I am determined to operate Coronado's schools so as to rival or exceed the best schools in San Diego, I am committed to attracting and retaining outstanding teachers, and I have the discipline to pursue the above while keeping a prudent eye on the bottom line.

Over the last decade, Coronado's schools have risen to the top in San Diego. We have a rich curriculum that teaches fundamental skills, promotes critical thinking, uses cutting edge technology, and seeks to nurture and address the unique needs and interests of students, including the arts, special education and athletics. And along the way, our students have progressed to now test among the best in San Diego. 

We cannot rest on our laurels, but our community should take enormous pride in the quality of Coronado's schools. I am committed to making Coronado's schools the best they can be.

Coronado Patch: I'm a 57-year-old PATT member who is in charge of fundraisers. I'm tired of being so concerned about fundraising. Why should I vote for you?

Shepherd: Unfortunately, I do not have good news for you. Funding is tight. The state has cut revenues by 15 percent in just a few years. While we manage our funds conservatively, last year we had to cut $1.6 million in annual expenditures (from a budget around $25 million). 

Given the state's predicament, our revenue challenges likely will continue. Under California laws, 85-plus percent of school funding comes from state government. To carry us through to the economic rebound, I have pursued careful budgeting.  We built a meaningful "rainy day" fund, and we will use those dollars in a measured manner to lessen the impact of state budget cuts. But reserves alone are not enough — we must keep a vigilant eye on expenses, and parent organizations likely will need to fill some of the void. Prepare to eat some more spaghetti dinners! 

As a board member, I have pursued policies that preserve district financial integrity, while still maintaining the outstanding quality of education. But there is no magic pill. We must continue to be diligent on financial matters, make good choices with our limited resources, and chip in when we can or when necessary to assure great opportunities to all students.

Coronado Patch:  I'm a 77-year-old retired accountant worried about the California budget and how it's impacting education. Why should I vote for you?

Shepherd:  I too am worried about California's budget and the ramifications for education. The state is in a serious financial plight, and our public schools are in peril. In some parts of California, families of means abandon the public schools, leaving a two-tier system where wealthier families attend private schools and the rest are left to struggling public schools. This is not healthy for California or our country. 

To assure that the financial storms do not erode our schools, we need to maintain sound budgetary judgment, to keep an eye out both for ways to save expenses and for prudent revenue options, and to make tough choices when necessary.  And we need to think creatively, for while financial resiliency is critical, it is a hollow victory if achieved at the expense of educational quality.   

I hope to be a part of a board that within the next four years shores up the district's financial position, while also maintaining and even improving the quality of our schools. During my service on the board, I believe I have demonstrated the experience and ability to wrestle with these issues, and to apply level-headed common sense to achieve good decisions for our district.

Coronado Patch: I'm a 60-year-old teacher concerned about retirement. Why should I vote for you?

Shepherd: In reality, there is little a local school board can do to affect teacher retirement programs.  Under California law, local districts contribute to a statewide retirement fund, and then the statewide fund provides retirement benefits to teachers on a defined benefits basis. As San Diego's financial plight over the last decade has demonstrated all too well, the system is not sound, but for the time being it is the system we have, and your local school board cannot change it.

But one thing the board can do is shore up the district's ability to honor its commitments to retirees regarding medical benefits.  These benefits are borne directly by the local district.  Over the past few years, we have studied the district's actuarial exposure for medical benefits. When I discovered that the district's exposure exceeded its annual reserves, I brought a motion to increase our reserves to cover the costs.  We now reserve an additional $117,000 per year to cover these costs.  This is not required by state law, but it is the right thing to do, both to assure the long-term financial health of our district and our commitments to our many outstanding teachers.

Coronado Patch: I'm a 32-year-old unemployed Coronado resident. I was laid off by CUSD. Why should I vote for you?

Shepherd:  I do not have an easy answer for a laid-off CUSD employee. During my years on the board, one of the hardest things I have had to do is to vote for layoffs. These decisions affect people we know, our friends, people whose families are dependent upon a CUSD paycheck to make ends meet.  I hate these decisions.

Unfortunately, there are times when we have little choice. In order to retain local control over our schools, we need to demonstrate to the state, on an annual basis, that we can meet certain minimum tests regarding financial strength. We are elected to do that job, and sometimes (such as in 2008-2009 and again in 2009-2010) that means making tough choices. 

One thing I can tell you: Our recent frugality has led to increases in class sizes, and I find that unfortunate.  Once we have the revenues to do so, I hope to hire good teachers and other staff personnel in order to once again reduce our class sizes. 

Coronado Patch: I'm a 23-year-old who just graduated with teaching credentials. I want to teach within CUSD because I am a product of its schools. Why should I vote for you?

Shepherd: Well, if you are a good teacher with energy and a talent for inspiring students, then you should feel comfortable voting for me. I am committed to bolstering the ability of Coronado's schools to attract the best teachers. That means, among other things, that we must make sure Coronado's compensation system stays competitive. And we need to deploy that system so as to incentivize the best teachers to stay in Coronado.

If you are less than a good teacher, then you may have less enthusiasm for my candidacy. I believe that we need to infuse greater assessments and accountability into our teacher evaluation system. 

The good news is that we have many teachers in the CUSD who are products of the school system, and they seem to be some of our strongest teachers.  I hope you can join the group of inspiring alums!

Go back to the "Virtual Town Hall with School Board Candidates" here.