Dear Concerned Voter, My name is Paul Green. I am a candidate for the Board of Trustees that will be the governing body of the proposed new school district should voters within the prescribed boundaries vote on November 6, 2007 to approve measure "B," that would unify the Del Paso, Grant, North Sacramento and Rio Linda School Districts into one K-12 school district.

I am seeking to be elected to represent Area 3, North Highlands, and I need your help to be victorious whether or not you reside in North Highlands because the election will be at-large (registered voters from throughout the District will have the opportunity to vote for seven individuals to serve on the Board - one representative from each of the of the seven areas - and each area will be limited to only one representative on the Board).

As I assessed whether or not to seek this office, I chose to do so only after receiving input from others whose opinions I sought that I have the education, experience, talent, temperament, time, and requisite leadership and management skills to perform the duties and tasks required of a School Board Trustee. I will:

• Advocate on behalf of approving Ballot Measure "B" that would unify the four Districts into one new one prior to the election.
• Acknowledge that because of a lack of face-to-face communication outside the Board rooms and a belief that their input was not wanted, respectively citizens are some staff are distrustful of all or part of the existing school structure and that it is imperative that their trust be regained so they become willing partners in making the new district as excellent as it can become in performing the primary function of educating our children and youth.
• If measure "B" is approved, work cooperatively with parents, other Board members, students, administrators, teachers, classified employees, the general public, and others to define the new District and to integrate all the pieces into a smoothly working unit.
• Retain as my primary commitment that, if elected, I will work extremely hard to ensure that each District student has an equal opportunity to seek a quality education to the best of his or her ability.
• As my primary goal, focus on improving student achievement and graduation rates for all students through staff empowerment and engendering parental involvement and commitment (primarily through awareness) - especially those groups with the lowest rates.
• Seek equal acceptance of and increased opportunities for career education (business, agriculture, vocational/technical disciplines and the arts).
• Expect, accept and evaluate input from stakeholders and stakeholder groups as part of the decision-making process prior to deciding how to vote on an issue before the Board.
• Be a good steward of taxpayer (your) money, by seeking to have omnibus staff submissions made to the Board for items that require funds expenditure instead of single, piecemeal submissions and by program effectiveness reviews and interim status reports on a pre-determined schedule.
• Seek to have adopted a clear, understandable and transparent-to-the-public process for use as a decision making aid so all concerned may feel a part of that process regardless of the resulting decision.
• Be accountable to the public for my votes by ensuring that I understand staff requests and other input, either as originally submitted or through question and answer, prior to voting.
• Routinely visit administrators, school sites (including classrooms, if appropriate) and classified staff to receive feedback regarding how policies put into place are affecting staff's capacity to perform their duties and whether or not they have any recommended changes or suggestions that will improve overall productivity or to correct policies that lower productivity.
• Take into account the need to not "mortgage our student's future" by voting to spend money today that will negatively impact known out year expenditure needs and require of staff a commitment that a clear plan already exists or one will be completed by a date certain to ensure that necessary funds will be available when needed in the future.
• Seek fair and equitable treatment for all regardless of status - especially parents or legal guardians for whom English is a second language.
• Attempt always to be aware of how my votes will affect those whose voices are least able to be heard and who are least able to care for themselves.

I developed the above list only after reflecting upon the conversations I had with each of the superintendents (and other staff in some instances) of the four Districts identified above and the superintendents of the Robla and Elverta School Districts.

As a result of these conversations, I learned much. They shared their thoughts with me regarding the weaknesses, opportunities, threats and strengths that they foresaw on the horizon for the new Board as they begin the task of establishing policy, procedure and structure following the hoped for voter approval of the unification.

These all should become apparent to the new Board members as they begin efforts to finalize this unification prior to the July 1, 2008 date when it would become effective.

Many items that require resolution already are being acted upon by the assigned joint committee and they are making progress; however, there will be remnants, and I look forward to working with the other elected Board members to finish the job, as above.

For more information, please visit my website: www.paulrgreenjr.com and volunteer.

And remember, I need and ask for your help during the campaign and, of course, for your vote on November 6, 2007.

God bless.

Paul R. Green Jr.
Candidate Proposed Unification School Board