RANCHO SANTA FE — The Coast News has asked the candidates for the Rancho Santa Fe School District board of trustees to complete a questionnaire about their stances on local issues ahead of the November election.
The five-person board of trustees oversees the small district of around 600 students from Rancho Santa Fe, Elfin Forest, El Cielo, and The Bridges. The district contains one school site, Roger R. Rowe School, which is separated into an elementary school for grades K-5 and a middle school for grades 6-8.
Seven candidates are running for three open board seats: incumbent Board President Annette Ross, business owner and parent Karen “Kate” Butler, business owner and parent Karen Eschrich, executive recruiter Victoria Gamble, educational consultant and parent Janice Holowka, businesswoman and parent Maria Luoni, and business owner Kerry Vinci.
Candidates are elected at large rather than by districts and serve four-year terms.
Below are answers to a candidate questionnaire sent via email by Holowka and Butler. Other candidates did not respond to emails from The Coast News.
Voters can also view a recording of an Oct. 9 forum with Rancho Santa Fe school board candidates held by the League of Women Voters of North County San Diego, posted on their website.
Q: Why are you running for school board, and what skills would you bring to the position?
HOLOWKA: I am running for the Rancho Santa Fe School Board because I am passionate about giving back to our community and ensuring that every student receives an exceptional public school education. As the parent of two adult children with different abilities, I bring a unique, compassionate and objective perspective that also enables me to understand the diverse needs of students.
Additionally, my extensive experience as a management and educational consultant equips me with the skills to address parents’ concerns and challenges and to make an immediate, positive impact. I am confident that my personal and professional experiences will make me a valuable asset to the board and to the Rancho Santa Fe community.
BUTLER: I am running for school board because I believe our children should have the best education possible and a thriving school community. They deserve superior academics, curriculum, and teachers. I was born and raised in San Diego County, where I attended public schools. I have a B.A. from UCLA and a Ph.D. in Art History from Columbia University.
I have worked as a museum curator and university professor at Washington University in St. Louis and at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, and I am currently a private curator and art advisor. My husband and I live in Rancho Santa Fe with our two children, who attend R. Roger Rowe School.
For the past three years, I co-chaired the Rancho Santa Fe Education Foundation, helping to raise over $1 million for the RSF school district annually.
Q: What are ways you can save taxpayer dollars and/or raise revenue for the district as a school board official?
HOLOWKA: As a community-funded (basic aid) school district, we receive funding through property taxes, giving us more resources than attendance-based funding. In addition, we benefit from a robust foundation that parents generously support. Given that, my priority would not be just to save money but to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used effectively to serve the best interests of our students and to support the staff who are essential for their success.
This includes hiring and retaining exceptional staff and providing teachers with ongoing comprehensive training and support needed to excel in their roles. And I feel it’s equally important to invest in curriculum, programs, and resources that address the diverse learning needs and social and emotional well-being of all students. Additionally, I would ensure strong accountability systems are in place to monitor the District’s fiscal health and to provide transparency to the community.
BUTLER: As a school board official, I will be fiscally conservative and maintain a balanced budget. The district has consistently achieved this goal over the last few years. As a Basic Aid district relying on property taxes for income, we are fiscally stable with sound reserves.
We also have strong enrichment programs and small class sizes thanks to the sizeable grant donated each year by the nonprofit RSF Education Foundation. My goals are to maintain a balanced budget while increasing enrichment programs and student achievement through one-on-one or small-group literacy teachers. Smart use of state funding for specific programs and appropriate management of staff resources will help save taxpayer dollars.
Q: Some community members are concerned about leadership stability on the board of trustees. How would you plan to address these concerns and restore credibility in the board?
HOLOWKA: Having attended numerous board meetings across various school districts, I’ve seen how internal conflicts among board members can lead to instability and undermine a district’s progress. That’s why I’m committed to actively listening to and understanding diverse perspectives, which, combined with my extensive experience in conflict resolution and relationship-building, would be invaluable in encouraging collaboration and resolving disputes.
To restore and maintain credibility, it’s crucial that board members fully understand their roles and responsibilities. Board members are elected by the community to provide leadership and oversight, not to micromanage, but to support the Superintendent and staff as they carry out the Board’s vision and manage the district’s day-to-day operations. Most importantly, by working together, the Board can ensure the district remains focused on what matters most — our students’ success.
BUTLER: I have demonstrated my personal leadership stability with five years of participation on the RSF Education Foundation board of trustees and three years as co-chair. I am extremely dedicated to the success of the school and children and have no intention of leaving before my term is due.
I believe that all five members of the school board should work together for the good of the school and community and demonstrate respect for each other’s ideas and differences of opinion. Ultimately only our actions can restore credibility in the board.
Q: The board recently decided to remove a bylaw that designated one of the board members as a safety and security liaison, granting them authority to have “unfettered physical access” to the district’s school and grounds for the purpose of observing and evaluating safety conditions without need for prior notice. Do you agree with this decision to reserve this bylaw, and why or why not?
HOLOWKA: I believe that no individual, including board members, should have “unfettered physical access” to the school or its grounds without prior notice. We teach children about “stranger danger,” and most students wouldn’t recognize a board member or realize that this individual was there to observe or evaluate safety conditions.
When my son was in middle school, both school campuses went into lockdown because an elementary school student reported seeing an unfamiliar adult on campus. It turned out to be a parent picking up her child for a doctor’s appointment. However, the lockdown caused unnecessary alarm, especially for the younger students.
BUTLER: I do not have a problem with removing a bylaw that was atypical for public schools and created the perception that school board members could interfere with campus activities unrelated to safety issues. While the bylaw was created with good intentions at a time of heightened concern for student safety, I believe there are other ways for school board members to demonstrate their commitment to school safety.
For instance, the board should mandate that students’ physical and emotional safety be an administrative priority and require follow-up data that demonstrates active improvement.
Q: What is your stance on AB 1955, which prohibits school districts from adopting or enforcing policies that would require employees to disclose information about a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression to anyone without the student’s permission?
HOLOWKA: I believe that school districts should not adopt policies that require employees to disclose a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to anyone, including other students, without the student’s explicit consent.
Moreover, schools have a fundamental responsibility to prioritize the safety and well-being of every student. In this regard, school staff should have the discretion to determine whether to inform parents about changes in a student’s gender identity or presentation based on the unique circumstances of each student and what they believe is in the best interest of that student.
BUTLER: I am not a supporter of AB 1955. I believe parents should be notified if their child’s gender identity or presentation changes at school. Parents care about their children and deserve to know how they are doing emotionally as well as academically at school.