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Age
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Demographics / Personal Info )
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60 years old |
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Family
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Demographics / Personal Info )
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Two sons, graduates of Olathe North and University of Kansas |
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Occupation/place of employment
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Demographics / Personal Info )
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Vice President of Business Banking, M&I Bank
ritaashley@comcast.net |
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Education
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Demographics / Personal Info )
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University of Kansas
Bachelor of Music (Piano)
Master of Arts in Teaching (German)
Master of Business Administration
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Political experience
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Demographics / Personal Info )
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Completing first four-year term on Olathe District Schools Board of Education |
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Civic involvement
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Demographics / Personal Info )
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Olathe Economic Development Council Board of Directors
Olathe Area Youth Symphony Board of Directors
Olathe Chamber of Commerce
First United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, Usher
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Number of years you have been a resident of the city
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Demographics / Personal Info )
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Resident of the school district since 1994, (15 years) |
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Would you support an increase in the LOB (Local Option Budget) to enable the district to increase staff salaries?
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uncategorized )
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Yes, generally speaking I support increasing the LOB in order to allow an increase in staff salaries. Olathe District Schools has several surrounding school districts with very competitive salary schedules. It is important for Olathe to maintain a competitive salary schedule in order to retain the talented staff in our district. Competition for teacher talent is not as big an issue in other parts of the state as it is in Johnson County and metro Kansas City. The LOB could allow Olathe Schools the flexibility to remain very competitive salary-wise. In the current economic environment however, I believe that the Board of Education must be cautious and deliberative about increasing taxes in order to increase salaries because many of the residents of the district may have lost their jobs or may have had their own salaries frozen or reduced. It is a delicate balance this year and for the foreseeable future. |
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Do you believe that the cash balances of the school district are too low, about right, or too high?
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General )
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Currently cash balances in our school district are at an acceptable level but I would not be in favor of lowering them any further. One of the primary concerns of the district at this time is the reduction in state revenues as a result of the slow-down in the economy. Adequate reserve levels are important to facilitate cash flow when there is an interruption in the flow of revenues from the State of Kansas. Adequate reserves are also important for emergency situations that might be unforeseen, such as the tight economic situation we are currently experiencing. A concern of our district is maintaining an adequate level of reserves as we try to find ways in which to deal with the projected reduction in state revenue and to remain sensitive to an increase in property taxes. |
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How do you feel about the district’s consideration of moving ninth grade students to the high school?
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uncategorized )
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I have supported moving 9th graders to the high schools since the proposal was first presented to the Board of Education. Currently 9th graders in Olathe schools are limited in the classes they can take, particularly advanced level classes and electives, because those classes are not offered at the junior high. By moving the 9th graders to the high school, they can participate in advanced level classes in math, science and foreign language. They can choose from over 25 elective classes. The 9th graders can participate in high school choir, band, orchestra and theater as those fine arts are recognized by KSHSAA. Having the 9th grade at the high school also eliminates the need for transporting students from the junior high to the high school for sports practices. This grade arrangement allows the 9th graders to have access to counselors who are trained to work with four-year high school students in counseling with the students regarding post high school plans. |
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What is your position on charter schools/vouchers that allow for public funds to be spent for private schools?
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uncategorized )
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Olathe District Schools offer students of all grade levels, various socio-economic backgrounds and multiple ethnic backgrounds the opportunity for an excellent education. There is absolutely no reason to support a voucher program for students to attend private schools when we have an excellent school system. |
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What is the role of a Board member versus the role of the Board? What do you see as the major role of the board of education?
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uncategorized )
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In my view the role of the Board of Education is to define the mission of the district and along with the Superintendent, determine long and short-term goals that will move the district toward its mission. A major part of accomplishing that role is to provide stewardship of the fiscal resources of the district and to align those resources such that all students meet state standards. The Board of Education employs the Superintendent to oversee the implementation of the resources, including staff and facilities, to carry out the mission of the school district.
Individual Board members represent the entire Board of Education and the entire school district. The individual Board member should communicate the policies and procedures of the entire Board. The individual Board member should represent the majority opinion of the Board and not his/her individual opinion. A Board member should respect the authority and position of the Superintendent, just as the entire Board respects the position of the Superintendent.
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What do you see as the major priorities of the school district for the next five years?
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uncategorized )
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1) Successfully carrying out the mission of the school district in light of the significant projected reduction in state revenues for the next few years.
2) Providing for the ongoing growth of district enrollment in light of tight budget considerations and the desire to maintain a stable mill levy.
3) Continuing to provide competitive salaries and adequate professional development to the certificated staff in order to maintain a highly qualified instructional staff.
4) Communicating the successes of the school district to the voting public in order to continue the strong support the district has enjoyed for years.
5) Continuing the district’s success with closing the achievement gap for low socio-economic and minority students.
6) Exploring educational opportunities with Johnson County Community College, Kansas State Olathe Innovation Campus and area businesses to expand learning opportunities for highly motivated high school students.
7) Working to continue to increase the graduation rate and to achieve AYP across all schools in the district.
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What changes, if any, would you recommend in the school finance formula?
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uncategorized )
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First of all, the State of Kansas school finance formula should be simplified. While I understand the constitutional obligation we have to educate all students in the state, I believe that the formula is significantly slanted to provide disproportionate amounts of financial support to smaller school districts that are not run as efficiently. Not only should a state-wide effort for consolidation be implemented, but more local control should be allowed so that any district across the state can increase their revenues through additional local taxation. |
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Do you support recent actions by the Kansas Supreme Court to increase school funding?
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uncategorized )
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I am of the firm belief that we in the State of Kansas are circumventing the real issue with the funding of public education. There should be no need for a Kansas Supreme Court decision to increase school funding. The Kansas State Department of Education working with the state legislators should re-evaluate the current organization of school districts. With fewer, larger school districts our tax dollars could be used more efficiently, the teacher shortage could be minimized and the quality of education for most students could be improved. |
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Why do you want to serve on the Board of Education and what makes you especially qualified to do so?
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uncategorized )
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I am passionate about education and life-long learning. I also am committed to public service. Serving on the Board of Education satisfies my desire to be involved in both of these areas. Olathe District Schools represent such a broad cross section of our country. I am intrigued by the differences in our schools. And for that reason I am challenged to make them the best they can be. My previous four years of service on the Board provides the basis for me to continue my service. I have learned a lot about the district, about our community and about people during that time period. I want to see the implementation of the 6-9 reconfiguration to its fruition because I believe it is the right thing to do for our students and for our staff. I am therefore very interested in continuing my service on the Board of Education. |
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If the Olathe District Schools Board of Education is called upon to make significant budget cuts in the 2009 and 2010 budgets, what approach you would take? (For example, should cuts be across the board or should they be more strategically targeted? If the latter, please list the first 5 budget items or categories you would examine to reduce, prioritized from 1 to 5.)
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Education )
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Reductions should be strategic. That is the approach the district has taken to date. I will not prioritize categories as nothing is remaining untouched for possible reductions. Thus far the district has eliminated travel and conventions, professional development, field trips, custodial services and full-time subsitute teachers. Additionally the district has offered a one-time incentive package to those teachers at or close to retirement. Those retirements will allow the district to reduce salary expense and corresponding benefit/social security expense since the teachers moving into those positions will be lower on the pay scale. |
Our local school districts are facing the potential of cuts in previously proposed FY2010 funding increases due to the lack of revenue being generated, and projected to be generated, by the state. As a locally elected member of our school board, please explain your perspectives on the following issues:
i. Should statewide tax rates be increased?
ii. Should local tax levels (i.e. property taxes) be increased?
iii. Should the Legislature grant greater taxing authority to school boards to utilize the Local Option Budget?
iv. Should the local school district simply absorb the loss of revenue through spending cuts?
v. Other thoughts/ideas?
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uncategorized )
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i. Should statewide tax rates be increased?
I believe it is very difficult to raise taxes statewide when the entire economy is in dire straits. It makes more sense to carefully review all agencies of state government, as well as all programs, and make strategic expense reductions.
ii. Should local tax levels (i.e. property taxes) be increased?
It doesn\\\'t make sense to raise local tax levels excessively because many of our population are experiencing difficult economic times. The district has approved modest increases in student fees including lunches, all-day kindergarten, buses, textbook rental.
iii. Should the Legislature grant greater taxing authority to school boards to utilize the Local Option Budget?
Separate from the tough economic times, I believe the legislature should allow local school boards to have greater taxing authority with the local option budget.
iv. Should the local school district simply absorb the loss of revenue through spending cuts?
Yes, I do believe that we will have to reduce some expenses because of loss of revenue. This has happened so quickly that the district does not have time to make gradual adjustments. We must also be cognizant of maintaining an adequate level of reserves.
v. Other thoughts/ideas?
No
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