ENCINITAS — Two years ago, Encinitas Union School District voters participated in a particularly contentious election fueled by criticism over the district’s spending on non-essential projects and a perceived lack of transparency.
The verdict was a split decision, as voters elected one of the district’s most vocal critics and one of its supporters to the board.
In 2018, there are no major issues fueling the election, and very few headlines have come out of the district in the ensuing years since the 2016 race.
But this election does see two challengers and three incumbents vying for the three spots up for grabs on the district’s board of trustees.
Longtime board members Marla Strich, Emily Andrade and Gregg Sonken are on the ballot, as are newcomers Amy Glancy and Christian Adams.
The latter are running parallel campaigns, looking to upseat two of the incumbents.
The incumbents said they are running to continue the district down its current path of being one of the top districts in the county and state.
“I am running to continue the stable, visionary leadership that makes EUSD one of the best districts in the county and state,” said Strich, who was first elected in 1998. “I have a deep understanding of the history and development of our district over the past 20 years. I bring a big picture outlook in order to provide the best possible education for all students in EUSD.”
Strich, Andrade and Sonken — who are running as a so-called ticket — listed maintaining the district’s academic excellence, ensuring safe campuses and continuing strong, stable leadership at every level of the elementary school district as their top priorities.
Andrade, who was elected in 2010, also lists keeping the district financially solvent as one of her chief priorities.
“It is essential that EUSD continues to demonstrate fiscal prudence and responsible spending and investing,” Andrade said. “This will be especially critical in the future with the possibility of additional housing and our ever-changing economy.”
Glancy, a 48-year-old teacher and education consultant, said that trying to upseat an incumbent is difficult, especially in a relatively calm school climate. But she believes the district can do better, starting with improving the disconnect between the district’s parents and its administration.
“My biggest thing as a candidate as that as a parent in the district, I never felt connected to the district until I was studying for my master’s degree,” Glancy said, saying that she was performing a research survey as part of her studies. “I sat down with (administrators) and asked them what is the district’s focus. They looked at me as if to say, ‘You’re kidding?’ and told me to look at the district’s website.
“As a parent, why would I need to go to the website,” she said. “And that’s the disconnect. Most parents don’t know what is going on at that level unless it is communicated at the site level. And I believe that’s the whole point of the board, to be a voice for the community and to the community.”
Glancy and Adams argue the district can also do better at being more transparent with data tracking the district’s performance, especially dealing with English learners and special education students.
Again, Glancy said, this comes back to communication with the parents.
2 comments
Does anyone else think it odd that Andrade, who has already served two terms or 8 years on the board, says district solvency is one of her priorities? Hmmmm. Families are wondering why the district’s solvency needs to be one of her priorities if the incumbents and Superintendent Baird have truly managed the district finances properly?! And Strich, she’s been on the board for four terms already (16 years) and is seeking her 5th term (terms are for 4 years). (P.S. despite the signs you see that say “Teachers support” the incumbents, please know that the union gave their endorsement of the incumbents before the candidate filing period was over and before they knew if other candidates were running.) Adams and Glancy are the way to go.
For some reason many of our long standing incumbents think they are the ones capable of leadership of our school districts, blocking new ideas and board members. Often the longtimers typically do not have children in the programs, are not involved in the PTAs, and are otherwise long removed from the programs that directly affect the students, teachers and families they impact. Showing up at school events and at board meetings is not the same as being involved on the ground level and having a real feel for the pulse of the district. Because most school boards do not have term limits, incumbents can stay on the boards endlessly and reap great benefit packages. But, as board members, they essentially have unfettered access to the school campuses, school events and other functions making it hard for those with new – and often more current ideas – to become a board member. The common difference between newcomers and longtimers, is that newcomers often want to make positive changes to areas long overlooked, while the longtimers often become complacent resting solely on their district’s reputation which was earned not by them, but by the hardworking teachers, students and families who donate their time and efforts daily in the “trenches.” Strich, one of the incumbents running stood idly by for years doing nothing when parents complained about some of deplorable actions of administrators Beverly Barrett and others. The other two incumbents are not even endorsed by their own parties. While school board elections are supposed to be nonpartisan, is does make a voter wonder. My vote goes to Christian Adams and Amy Glancy.
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