Finances top list for Stanwood schools

By Brian Kelly

Herald Writer

STANWOOD — Continuing financial woes, budget cuts and layoffs: The future for the Stanwood-Camano School District is a murky pool, but four citizens can’t wait to get their feet wet.

Two volunteer positions on the Stanwood-Camano School District board will be decided on Nov. 6. And all four candidates say they’re anxious to help the district overcome its past problems.

For District 1, Sharon Baumgartner is challenging incumbent board member Dennis Thaut. In District 3, Roger Myers is challenging Leo Kypuros.

Like Thaut, Baumgartner has been at countless board meetings. But now she’s ready to switch her seat from the one in the audience to one on the five-member body that governs the district of 5,000 students and 500 employees.

While hesitant to criticize the board members themselves — there are three new ones and some are still looking for their niche, she said — Baumgartner said attempts to inform the public over pressing issues would not result in a good rating.

Most recently, the district’s budget director resigned as the district was still coming to grips with "budget discrepancies" that resulted in $1.4 million in budget cuts and the layoff of 42 employees.

Although she has worked as a volunteer in schools, youth sports, levy committees and for the PTA, Baumgartner said she still feels that she and many others have been kept out of the loop on critical issues facing the district.

The board should do more to inform the community, she said.

"I want the public back in public schools. These things should be done in an open way. It’s not some private corporation."

Thaut, who was unavailable for comment this week, has also pledged to better community involvement in schools, as well as increase the board’s oversight on budget and financial issues.

It’s a theme that finds shared support.

Kypuros, a candidate for the District 3 position, said the board could improve its outreach efforts by hosting an extra meeting every month devoted to citizen input on issues. Another way may be to send out issue-specific newsletters, such as one that fully explains the district’s budget problems.

But he added that right now, all is not known on the cause of the district’s financial troubles. A financial expert hired by the district is still sorting through the details, Kypuros said.

Even so, the future of the district depends on citizens understanding its financial situation. The district will need to soon pass a maintenance and operations levy, but Kypuros fears some will vote no if they’re not given the full story behind the latest crisis.

"I know there’s going to be a lot of sentiment out there: Why should I give you more money when you can’t manage the money I’ve given you already?"

Myers, a former teacher and educational consultant, agrees that the board’s involvement in financial matters should be refocused.

"It’s my feeling this kind of got away from people over the years," Myers said. "I don’t think people were vigilant enough in reading the reports and forecasting what was ahead."

You can call Herald Writer Brian Kelly at 425-339-3422 or send e-mail to kelly@heraldnet.com.

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