A homemaker, college program director, business administrator and education adviser are seeking two seats on the Alpine School District Board of Education in one of the fastest growing Utah school districts.
Political newcomers Gary Phelps and JoDee Sundberg are vying for the Precinct 4 seat Linda Campbell has held for 12 years. Precinct 4 covers southwest and west-central Orem.And seeking to retain her post in Precinct 5, Marilyn Kofford will attempt to fend off a challenge by American Fork resident Jim Hunter. The area includes Lehi, Highland, Alpine city and north American Fork.
Alpine, counting more than 45,000 students, faces interesting dilemmas.
Because of a small tax base, the district remains last out of 40 districts in state funding to operate 53 elementary, secondary and special-education schools. With an anticipated influx of 7,000 new students by 2002, questions about how to pay for growth have repeatedly been raised.
As a result, Alpine officials won approval of a $66.9 million general-obligation bond issuance and leeway proposal to pay for at least four new elementary schools, renovations of older buildings, upgrades in technology, smaller class sizes, textbooks and reading programs.
Alpine officials recently announced that three schools will be built by next year in northeast Orem, Pleasant Grove and Alpine. Another is planned - and quiet wars have erupted in many neighborhoods over possible sites.
Those elected to the two posts will vote on future school sites and be pushed in the raging debate concerning skyrocketing student fees, year-round class schedules and the control of charter schools.
Of the four, three have children attending classes in the Alpine district. Kofford, who is wrapping up her first term and second year as board president, is the sole candidate with previous experience as an elected official.
School board races in Utah are nonpartisan.
PRECINCT 4
Gary L. Phelps
Address: 704 S. Woodmore Drive, Orem 84058
Age: 56
E-mail: phelpsga@uvsc.edu
Occupation: Director of center for Web-based learning at Utah Valley State College
Personal: Married to Eileen, five of 10 children still in Alpine Schools, four grandchildren
Experience: Educator and administrator for 30 years, PTA volunteer, program director of a reading research grant.
Reason for seeking seat: "I desire to leave a legacy which includes helping Alpine district become a national public education model. From my experience with parents, teachers, and civic and business leaders I have learned educational issues and gained a good understanding of the board's role."
Most pressing issue facing the district: "Our largest issue is quality education and being responsive to parents' needs for their children. When parents feel they are not being heard or valued, they seek other options. In America, our public system absorbs all students. It is homogeneous. We must intensify our efforts to make our public schools as good or better than private schools. Public involvement councils are a good first-step toward local site-based governance."
Site for new elementary school: "I haven't yet decided and won't decide until I have had a chance to scrutinize the demographic data in more detail. As I watch the growth in Vineyard, I am also watching the changing enrollments in all of our schools. As a school board member, it is important that I do what we encourage our children to do - homework - then make a decision which does the most good for the largest number of students and patrons."
School fees: "There is no question that fees are excessive and should be eliminated . . . Parents are adamant that fees must be lowered or eliminated. Fees have become so burdensome that many believe public education is no longer `free.' I believe we have to develop local solutions."
JoDee Sundberg
Address: 478 S. 520 West, Orem, 84058
Age: 44
Occupation: Mother, homemaker, teacher
Personal: Married to Jay Sundberg, four children, attended BYU.
Experience: Substitute and specialty teacher at Orem Elementary, PTA president and board member, parent-advisory committee, licensed counselor for pre-need care, volunteer on Little League board, church leadership service, LDS mission to Perth, Australia.
Reason for seeking seat: "I believe my involvement with the Alpine School District in so many different facets enables me to make qualified decisions concerning the needs of our children. I understand the heart of the district, and the policies and procedures that govern the educational community. For the past 15 years I have been actively involved with children in both the elementary and secondary schools."
Most pressing issue facing the district: "The most well-known issue we face is growth. We gain approximately 1,000 students ever year with the resources of funding from a tax base that is very small . . . Parent involvement is essential in establishing schools in which children feel they are in a safe, caring environment where students, parents and teachers are working together to enhance student success." Equitable funding, reduced school fees and technology also need to be addressed.
Site for new elementary school: "The growth patterns are so dynamic and variable in the district that we will be able to monitor that growth because of a two-year holding pattern. It gives the board an opportunity to be very analytical in the decision-making process and to be able to build where needed."
School fees: Favors Alpine taking a position to cap school fees. "There is currently a bill being proposed in the Legislature to be voted on in February that was developed in our school district . . . This proposal recommends fees be reduced for core classes necessary for high school graduation and college entrance, including text and lab fees."
PRECINCT 5
James (Jim) Hunter
Address: 580 N. 420 West, American Fork.
Age: 48
E-mail: jim@4udesigns.com
Occupation: Education specialist/
consultant to the Army National Guard, Washington, D.C.
Personal: Married with five children. More than 30 years of military service.
Experience: Please see more information on Web page at http://www.4udesigns.com/vita.html
Reason for seeking seat: "I am running for school board for the same reason I originally became a teacher, to make a positive difference in the lives of children." Hunter said there is too much attention and money paid to district officials and not enough given to the teachers. He also questions the board's policy of only offering a short time at the beginning for public comment instead of allowing patrons to speak out throughout the meeting.
Most pressing issue facing the district: ". . . district-level officials and the school board . . . are focused on things other than the best education for the district students." He also said a year-round school schedule, which have been adopted by many Orem schools because of overcrowding, is inefficient and problematic for both students and teachers.
Site of new elementary school: "That begs to ask where is the greatest growth in the district? Are there more new residents in Orem, Pleasant Grove or Alpine than Lehi or American Fork? We actually need more than just another elementary school. We need several. One more elementary school is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound."
School fees: Favors the district capping school fees, or abolishing them. "America and our democracy was founded on the prin-ci-ple of free education. The courts have consistently reaffirmed the principle of equal education. Our system of fees has the effect of providing a quality education for those that can afford it, and an inferior education to those that cannot."
Marilyn Kofford
Address: 1100 N. Elk Ridge Lane, Alpine, 84004
Age: 57
E-mail: marilynk@covenant-lds.com
Occupation: Business administrator, mother
Personal: Married, loves to spend time in garden
Experience: A mother of six children, 17 years as a volunteer in the Alpine district, completing first term on school board, business leader.
Reason for seeking office: "I am running for re-election because I believe in children. They are our hope for future generations." She wants to make each school a learning center where students, teachers and parents unite for the success of all students; push for more parent involvement; assist teachers so they are providing the best education possible, create a safe atmosphere; focus on technology; work for smaller class sizes, and manage growth while maintaining high standards.
Most pressing issue facing the district: Meeting individual needs and student achievement. "We need to help each child succeed, whether they are struggling or reaching for the stars, they need to feel valued, that they can succeed and become productive members of society."
New elementary school site: "It is not responsible to say where the other school should be built at this time. We are watching the following areas: Vineyard, west American Fork, east Lehi, all areas of Lehi, Cedar Valley, North Orem-Lindon, Manila-Cedar Hills."
School fees: "I think it is important that a school board be responsible to maintain and hold fees as reasonable as possible to save parents and patrons money but still meet student's needs. Capping fees is a possibility. I think a study involving students, parents, teachers, administrators, board members and school communities could be very productive."