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A Call for Educa~.doc

Here is the sixth in a series of Kern High School District candidates that will appear on the ballot November 4.

If you have not registered to vote, go to this Web site to print out a registration form and mail it in on Ocober 20.

Also, if you want to see all blog posts on the KHSD election, click at the bottom of this blog on the words KHSD race to see all the stories.

The candidate profile will run Saturday for Chad Vegas. You can read the full story here.

Also, attached to this post is the plan Chad Vegas and Joel Heinrichs have created to reform the school district.

Age: 35

Board meetings attended last year: Almost all

Regular voter? The Kern County Elections Division shows he voted in 14 out of 14 elections for which he was eligible since 1996.

FIVE QUESTIONS TO ALL CANDIDATES (LIGHTLY EDITED):

1. What is the first thing you’d change about KHSD?

I would rethink the philosophy of public education. I think choice and competition is necessary. I would want at least three academic pathways that allow students to pursue college, advanced technical training or vocational training leading to employment upon graduation.

I would add charter schools, online school options, partnerships with community colleges, expanded career technical academies and home school partnerships.

2. Describe a board decision you’ve disagreed with.

I agreed with a majority of the decisions. I thought we should vote to support Proposition 8.

3. Twelve of the district’s 16 comprehensive schools did not meet all requirements of No Child Left Behind. What can the board do to help meet these guidelines?

We should increase the number of students we place in “academic boot camps” and improve our English Language learner programs.

Also, we need to recognize NCLB is flawed, especially as it assesses high school students only once and after only 14 months of high school.

4. Do you think the board has spent too little, too much or an appropriate amount of time and energy on religious and cultural issues?

The right amount of time is being spent. I think we have talked about two of these issues in four years.

5. How do you plan to stay connected with teachers, parents and students?

By serving on the board and through my full-time pastoral ministry.