Woohoo! Victory for Higley Schools
No not victory for me, but victory for the school district. It looks like the all-important budget override passed! In addition, two candidates that I was really pulling for, Paul Howell and Greg Land, were voted on to the school board. I am thrilled about it all.
Thanks to all of you who voted for me. I was just edged out by Paul, Greg, and incumbent Denise Standage.
Higley USD - school board
4-year term
100.0% of Precincts Reporting
(12 of 12 Precincts)
| Total Number of Votes | Percent | ||
| Total Number of Votes | 27,212 | ||
And more thanks for your Yes votes on the budget override. That is huge. Nearly 16,000 votes were cast and it won by only 200! Awesome stuff. Here is that results page.
100.0% of Precincts Reporting
(12 of 12 Precincts)
| Total Number of Votes | Percent | ||
| Total Number of Votes | 15,875 | ||
With the Budget override passing and Paul and Greg getting elected this is a great day for HUSD.
Scott:
Thanks so much for the election update. I just recently came across your blog and look forward to further information about HUSD. Also, a big thanks for running for the school board.
November 5, 2008, 11:25 amGeoff Johnston:
I appreciate the kind words Scott. I intend to keep the blog up and running as a way to get the word out to community members about HUSD.
November 5, 2008, 11:50 amKatie:
Geoff, I would like to personally say how disappointed I am that you were not elected. I think that it is a shame that some people are not able to see how much a change is actually needed in our school district. The thought of another term with Ms. Standage on our board only proves that it is not what you know but who you know. Let’s just hope that her eyes will finally be open to see what she has ignored for the last few years. It has been in front of her eyes and her ignorance to accept it only shows with her claims that she was unaware of any issues.
Please continue to keep the blogs going. I hope you will consider running again in the future.
November 5, 2008, 5:55 pmPeggy:
Way to go Greg and Paul!
November 5, 2008, 6:14 pmI am so disappointed though that Geoff and Tauyna are not able to have seats on the board. What a great team they, and Mrs. Anderson would have made.
I hope that Geoff and Tauyna continue to be vocal activists for our school district. We need more concerned parents and community members like them! Thanks you for all you have done to create change in Higley.
Denise needs to open her eyes this term. Who knows, maybe she will turn around and suprise all of us who weren’t paid to vote for her.
Katie:
That was my point exactly Peggy! Denise must have fans out there as well that were hiding. Perhaps it is homeschooling or quilting group.
November 5, 2008, 7:07 pmMonica:
I simply do not get it. Obviously those who voted for Mrs. Standage have never seen her in action or tried to communicate with her regarding district issues. Congrats to the two men who made it! Mr. Johnston we need you! Stay with us please!
November 5, 2008, 10:14 pmDee:
Actually I have communicated many times with Mrs. Standage. She has been the ONLY board member that has been involved in any way with my issues or those of others I know. She is the ONLY board member that has repsonded to my concerns at all. Well, her and Joyce Lutrey. Obviously, inspite of the venemous accusations against her, the people of the district can see what an assett she has been-which is why she was voted in again! Also, it is clearly-why SHE was invited to represent OUR district in Washington. A lot of really good things have been happening in our district so if we focus on the assetts and work to improve to areas of fault-maybe things wouldn’t get such bad publicity. We have a great distict if you take a hard look. No district is without its faults-ours included, but lets start cheering our district on rather than beating it like a dead horse all day.
December 4, 2008, 12:30 pmBecky:
Well I hope that the newly appointed board members just remember why they were elected by us voters!
CODE OF ETHICS FOR ARIZONA SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
The ASBA Board endorses the following code for local school board members:
As a member of my local Board of Education I will strive to improve public education, and to that end I will:
Attend all regularly scheduled Board meetings insofar as possible, and become informed concerning the issues to be considered at those meetings;
Recognize that a board member should endeavor to make policy decisions only after full discussion at publicly held Board meetings;
Render all decisions based on the available facts and my independent judgment, and refuse to surrender that judgment to individuals or special interest groups;
Encourage the free expression of opinion by all Board members, and seek systematic communications between the Board and students, staff, and all elements of the community;
Work with other Board members to establish effective Board policies and to delegate authority for the administration of the schools to the Superintendent;
Communicate to other Board members and the Superintendent expression of public reaction to Board policies and school programs;
Inform oneself about current educational issues by individual study and through participation in programs providing needed information, such as those sponsored by my state and national school boards association;
Support the employment of those persons best qualified to serve as school staff, and insist on a regular and impartial evaluation of all staff;
Avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest, and refrain from using my Board position for personal or partisan gain;
Take no private action that will compromise the Board or administration, and respect the confidentiality of information that is privileged under applicable law, and
Remember always that my first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of the students attending the public schools.
And I emphasis this one especially to the new board members: Avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest, and refrain from using my Board position for personal or partisan gain;
There are too many rumors going around why some of our new board members decided to run for the board.
December 11, 2008, 10:47 pmGeoff Johnston:
Avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest, and refrain from using my Board position for personal or partisan gain
There are too many rumors going around why some of our new board members decided to run for the board.
What rumors are you talking about Becky? I haven’t heard them.
December 11, 2008, 10:51 pm