School board trustees deal with tax dollars and other people's children. As taxpayers, we want great schools that provide a quality education efficiently because it is a key component to economic growth. As parents, we want our children to have the tools necessary for success later in life. Both taxpayers and parents need our school board to balance these concerns and not get sidetracked with partisan political agendas. Experience and background matter when electing someone to the school board.

I want our school district to work better for the students and the patrons of the district. I want actual results for my kids and yours.

My children attend our public schools. I have a vested interest in our success and understand the impact a school board decision will have on our kids. Our district must provide a well-rounded, quality education in a cost efficient manner that gives our kids the chance to succeed after graduation. Each decision made at the board level should be made with parents and taxpayers in mind. Trustees should ask themselves whether or not we are doing the best we can, with what we have, for the best interest of our children.

In August, our community generously supported a multimillion-dollar bond project to bring our aging school buildings up to date. As a member of the committee that studied and identified those buildings with the most pressing needs, I recognize that this district has a three-fold promise on which we must deliver.

We must:
1) Fix what we said we would fix;
2) Do it in the time frame the board promised; and
3) Keep it within budget - not a penny more.

I grew up in this community. It was important to return to the community after graduating with my law degree to work and raise my family because Coeur d'Alene is a great place. My hope is that our children have the tools to succeed regardless of where they choose to live, but they will one day opt to live here and that we have an economy where they can prosper. The choices we make in education today affect the future options available to our children tomorrow.