Election 2020
SCHOOL BOARD THE ATASCADERO SCHOOL BOARD has three seats open all four-year terms. Terri E. Switzer, Corinne C. Kuhnle, and Mary Kay Mills seek re-election to their respective Atascadero School Board seats and are challenged by parent and community volunteer Vy Pierce. Role of School Boards The local school board is a critical public link to public schools. School board members serve their communities in several important ways. First, school boards look out for students. Education is the only item that school
boards focus on and is accountable for. Second, school boards are accessible to the public and accountable for their schools' performance, and third, school boards ensure that students get the best education for the tax dollars spent. The school board's most critical responsibility is to work with their communities to improve student achievement in their local public schools. School boards derive their power and authority from the state. In compliance with state and federal laws, school boards establish policies and regulations by which their local schools are governed.
Atascadero Unified School District Election 2020 Q&A The Election Board of The Atascadero News and Colony Magazine sent out a questionnaire to the School Board Candidates, Corinne Kuhnle (Incumbent), Mary Kay Mills (Incumbent), Terrie Switzer (Incumbent), and Vy Pierce about their campaigns and their stance on various issues affecting the Atascadero Unified School District. Each candidate had the opportunity to answer the same list of questions in 100 words or less in addition to their introduction. The candidate's introduction and answer to one of our questions in their entirety are provided below, with the exception of Mary Kay Mills and Terrie Switzer, who did not participate.
CORINNE KUHNLE (Incumbent)
Committee, Atascadero High School Pool Committee. Our students are my greatest inspiration to serve as a board member. I have witnessed their growth and success magnified when we, as a district, work together. In my was raised in San Luis Obispo. My parents were the original owners of opinion, mutual respect and teamwork are the two key ingredients that have the Artic Circle Drive-in, now known as Frank's Hot Dogs. I attended Cal propelled our district to #1. Poly on their two-year Tech program, majoring in Ag Business. My husband, Randy, and I moved to Carrisa Plains after his graduation from Cal Poly and Describe your top three objectives if you are elected to the school board. are partners in the Kuhnle & Sons farming/cattle business. Together, we My top three objectives as a school board member are as follows: have four children who attended Atascadero Unified K-12, and all are doing 1. Adopting a new structure of curriculum during the Covid-19 pandemic and after. It is my hope that as soon as San Luis Obispo County of Public well in their respective careers on the Central Coast. Health gives us the okay, we can strategically forge ahead addressing our I have proudly served on the Atascadero Unified School Board for almost student's academic needs. twenty years. I have served and participated on several committees during 2. Working within a state-mandated budget and adopting a balanced budget. my tenure on the board: AUSD Board President-3 Terms, AUSD Clerk 3 Terms, ROP Board, Strategic 3. Encouraging an open channel of communication between all of our Planning Team, Superintendent's Budget Advisory Committee, County of SLO stakeholders with Superintendent Butler and the board, especially during Professional Development, Master of Governance Training, LCAP Steering these very emotional, challenging times.
corinnekuhnle@atasusd.org
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VY PIERCE
do hard things. I'll be a fresh voice on the board and look for creative and thoughtful solutions, so our school district can come out of these challenges better than before. I am proud to be endorsed by the Atascadero District am a mom to three school-age children and have spent the last decade Teachers Association, and many parents, students, teachers, business volunteering in Atascadero's public schools and non-profit organizations. owners, elected officials, and civic leaders. I've served as everything from classroom helper to elementary site council member, and a leader in PTA, PTO, and AHS Band Boosters. From an eleven- Describe your top three objectives if you are elected to the school board. year career working in the non-profit sector and from serving on non-profit I want to use my first-hand experience to solve the challenges created boards, I know the importance of trust, transparency, and accountability—and by COVID-19 and make our school district better and stronger. Secondly, I how to achieve them. I'm also a product of California public schools, from want to improve education for all students by addressing inequities among elementary through UC. the schools. My children and I have been part of 5 different schools. We Our schools face unprecedented challenges from this COVID-19 pandemic. have seen that our schools don't have the same level of parent support or I remember all the changes and challenges we've faced from implementing PTA fundraising to support assemblies, field trips, classroom supplies, etc. new Common Core curriculum and the school threat in 2015 to last March Lastly, I want to support arts education to enhance learning in core subjects when we were all thrown into distance learning. Together, we know how to and increase student engagement.
sites.google.com/view/vypierce4ausd
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MEASURES Atascadero voters will also decide the fate of two measures. AUSD has placed a $40 million school bond on the ballot — Measure C. Bond proceeds will be expended on the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities of the Atascadero Unified School District, including furnishing and equipping, and the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities. Measure C needs at least 55 percent voter approval to pass. You can read the candidate's full questionnaire at atascaderonews.com/decision-2020/
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Colony Magazine | October 2020