Forbes stresses communication

Friday, October 1, 2004 By Peter Hegarty, Alameda Journal

David Forbes has served as PTA council president and is active in the Alameda Education Foundation.

He has been a full-time sailboat skipper in the Caribbean, sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, and currently works at Club Natique, the sailing club on Ballena Boulevard.

A native of England, he has lived in Alameda 14 years and has two children in public schools here.

Forbes is running on a slate with William Schaff, who is also active in the education foundation.

District officials project up to a $750,000 deficit this school year. How would you balance the books?

What the state is allowing us to do this year is dip into our reserves, so the district does not need to make cuts, right now, today, but needs to plan for cuts for the 2005-06 year because that's when you need to back-fill the reserve.

What we need to do is lobby our new senate president, Don Perata, and Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, and ask for an extension of the ability to dip into our reserves.

I guarantee you we are not the only school district in this situation.

If program cuts are needed, what would you cut first and why?

The first thing is to go to every department, and, say we need to cut 10 percent across the board, for example, and let the managers come up with suggestions.

So far the district has cut about $6 million over the last four years. It's not like we're fat and can easily absorb cuts.

If administrative cuts are needed, where would you cut?

If cuts are needed, then there will be administrative cuts. But for a multi-million dollar corporation, the district is not over-staffed. If we have to make cuts, then are there going to be cuts coming out of that building? Absolutely.

What would you do to boost test scores and student performance?

Obviously, the West End needs more help. We need more sharing of success, exporting teachers and principals from the more successful schools, for example.

Describe the relationship between the city, the school district, and developers of the former Naval base? Can it be improved, and specifically what would you do?

The relationship could be warmer and fuzzier. (The developer) is making money hand over fist there.

The relationship with the city could also stand some improvement.

What's the most pressing issue facing AUSD today?

It's easy to say money. One of the things (Bill Schaff) and I want to work on is communication. There's a lot of improvement needed in how the school district communicates with the city, community members and employees.

And I really see that as a direction that needs to be set from the top.

What separates you from the other candidates and what distinguishes you from the on the board?

I bring leadership and the ability to think in terms of solutions rather theam problems.

TOP

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Last Modified: October 1, 2004

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