From Brian Keith
Monroe
To the editor:
I am writing today asking for the voters of the Monroe School District to re-elect me to the Monroe school board on April 1. I have had the honor to work with other board members, staff and administration of the district and numerous community members while proudly serving the past seven years on the Monroe school board.
I originally became engaged in the Monroe School District during the winter of 2006 as one of a number of concerned Monroe citizens trying to understand how the financial mismanagement occurred in 2004 and 2005 and the future impact of overspending that took a $2.5 million fund balance into the hole for -$0.5 million. As a result of these meetings, it became clear to me that additional financial oversight was required by the district. Believing that my 16 years in finance and accounting would be useful, I filed my election papers in December of 2006 and was elected for my first term in April of 2007. After the community passed a referendum and a new Business Manager (Ron Olson) with much stronger financial controls was hired, my focus has shifted over the past few years to issues that positively impact the kids in Monroe such as increased classroom rigor, adding appropriate technology into the classrooms, the proper prioritization of limited district resources and higher accountability for administration and staff. The district has made significant strides in all these areas over the past few years that I feel should be continued.
Understanding that not everybody always agrees with all my decisions while on the board, I am comfortable making tough decisions and willing to explain my rationale for any votes that I make. My voting process considers all sides of the issue while working to investigate alternatives and propose solutions when appropriate. I always base my final vote on what is best for the district's 2,700-plus students coupled with the financial impact to the district.
Again, I ask for your vote on Tuesday, April 1.
Monroe
To the editor:
I am writing today asking for the voters of the Monroe School District to re-elect me to the Monroe school board on April 1. I have had the honor to work with other board members, staff and administration of the district and numerous community members while proudly serving the past seven years on the Monroe school board.
I originally became engaged in the Monroe School District during the winter of 2006 as one of a number of concerned Monroe citizens trying to understand how the financial mismanagement occurred in 2004 and 2005 and the future impact of overspending that took a $2.5 million fund balance into the hole for -$0.5 million. As a result of these meetings, it became clear to me that additional financial oversight was required by the district. Believing that my 16 years in finance and accounting would be useful, I filed my election papers in December of 2006 and was elected for my first term in April of 2007. After the community passed a referendum and a new Business Manager (Ron Olson) with much stronger financial controls was hired, my focus has shifted over the past few years to issues that positively impact the kids in Monroe such as increased classroom rigor, adding appropriate technology into the classrooms, the proper prioritization of limited district resources and higher accountability for administration and staff. The district has made significant strides in all these areas over the past few years that I feel should be continued.
Understanding that not everybody always agrees with all my decisions while on the board, I am comfortable making tough decisions and willing to explain my rationale for any votes that I make. My voting process considers all sides of the issue while working to investigate alternatives and propose solutions when appropriate. I always base my final vote on what is best for the district's 2,700-plus students coupled with the financial impact to the district.
Again, I ask for your vote on Tuesday, April 1.
