Why have you chosen to run and what do you believe you can bring to this Board? What specifically in your background has prepared you for this position?
Email: mort@jps.net
Phone: (916) 371-1637
I am a candidate for the WUSD School Board to represent and advocate for the staff, students, parents and educational community of West Sacramento. Over the years I have worked with and watched the Board make very important decisions that affected the lives and education of our West Sacramento students, and I feel that I can contribute a high level of knowledge and expertise in helping to examine and work through the current issues and problems that face the district.
I would bring 25 years of experience in education to the School Board. I have also spent 7 years in the Washington Unified School District as an administrator working with the Board, Supt. and other district office staff, administrators, and the staffs and students of the schools in which I have worked. Throughout the years, I have worked through countless issues related to school governance, student attendance, student achievement, school culture and climate, personnel relations, facilities and planning, etc. I am a listener who is respectful and caring about the input and opinions of others. I seek advice when I deem it necessary, and am a tireless worker and supporter of the students and community that I serve.
Dani Langford
Email: danamites@earthlink.net
Phone: (916) 372-3384
First of all, I am a parent and not a politician. I am honest and have integrity. I have always believed in a strong public education system and strongly support equality in education for every child in this community, no matter where they live or if they have someone to advocate for them or not. As a parent of three children that have attended each level of education within WUSD, I am very familiar with the District. My husband, Larry, and I have worked hand in hand with students, staff and teachers for the last 13 years actively volunteering not only in the District but throughout the community as well. In the last two years I have become frustrated with the District Administration and the Board not listening or showing any respect to the concerns of parents, staff, teachers and community members that have come to them for help. That frustration led me to teach myself about educational laws and directed me to find resources in knowledge through contacts within the educational community. I have also educated myself with District policy and by-laws. I am willing to not only listen to parents and teachers but I will follow up with answers for them.
I believe I can make a difference because I am familiar with the current issues we are facing as well as I am a parent of students in the District. I have a background in banking and am good with numbers as well as various training in management. I have attended every school board meeting as well as other District related meetings consistently for the last two years.
Karl Machschefes
Email: machkarl@sbcglobal.net
Phone: (916) 372-8487
I have chosen to run for the school board because I bring experience, leadership and a bright vision for the future. I have 4 years of prior school board experience, 5 years as a classroom teacher, K-12 including special education, and 14 years in the construction industry. This gives me a board and relevant background of experience. I understand a school district from top to bottom.
Matt Stegman
Email: matthewcstegman@yahoo.com
Website: www.mattstegman.org
Phone: (916) 281-4136
I am running for the board because there are concrete and measurable basic improvements that can and must be made at our schools, and I have the education, experience, and drive to see that these improvements are made. It is imperative for the children of our city that we make these changes. This is their one great chance for obtaining their primary and secondary education, and to be encouraged to continue with school after graduation. Too many of our kids are graduating without obtaining a quality education. Too many of our kids are dropping out of school altogether because of a lack of intervention and counseling during their high school years. Too many kids are truant because of an unsuccessful SARB (School Attendance Review Board) program. Too many kids are subjected to drugs on our high school and middle school campuses because our district does not take a stand against drugs. Too many parents send their children out of district or to private schools. We lose a huge amount of ADA funding because of these problems, and then complain that the district does not have enough money. There are very specific steps we can take to turn these problems around. If we do, we will hugely increase the ADA funds the school district takes in. I hope then, with the additional money, we could give teachers pay comparable with surrounding districts. This would help attract and retain teachers and staff, and improve morale, as well as our children's education.
With the right people on our school board, our district can make dramatic improvements in our schools. I will see that the proper changes are made and not just talked about, and will be a positive leader who will move the district forward. I have three young children in third grade, second grade, and kindergarten at Bryte Elementary, and have a vested interest in working hard for all the children of the district to achieve a vision of great schools.
I have a bachelor of science degree in business administration and a law degree. My studies included classes in management, accounting, finance, and real property. I have over ten years experience as a prosecutor handling financial crimes, general felonies and juvenile crime. I have served on local and statewide boards and committees and have proven myself as a leader. I will bring a positive attitude to the board and work cohesively with other board members.
Sandra Vargas
Email: sandravargas1@yahoo.com
Website: www.votesandra.com
Phone: (916) 617-2990
Education has always been my biggest passion and helping students succeed has always been my number one goal. That’s why I started out my career in education as a teacher and why I became a legislative advocate for public schools at the Capitol.
As an advocate for various school districts and education-affiliated organizations, I work hard everyday to maximize resources for schools and to fight for programs that will help students succeed. Some of the major statewide accomplishments I have worked on recently include: ensuring children have sufficient and up-to-date textbooks, highly qualified teachers, and adequate school facilities (as per the Williams’ Act of 2004), advocating for more funds for classroom supplies (as part of the statewide allocation of $550 million through a Discretionary Block Grant in this year’s education budget), increasing health-related services to students by securing an additional $10 million for the Healthy Start Program, and my most recent endeavor of all, promoting and supporting the Quality Education Investment Act of 2006 (QEIA), which makes Washington Unified School District (WUSD) eligible for over $4,000,000 to reduces class sizes, improve our pupil to counselor ratio, and provide quality professional development for our teachers, all this, among other benefits.
For the past 5 years, I have worked at the highest levels of state government on education policy. I believe I bring a unique set of skills and abilities, as well as a valuable network that I can tap into to bring resources, funding, and relevant information to Washington Unified that we do not presently have, nor, that any other candidate possesses. I am fortunate to know and work with all of the main players and stakeholders at the highest levels of state government, and would like to use my connections for the students in my own community of West Sacramento.
Having worked as a classroom teacher, I have first-hand knowledge and experience in issues affecting education. I have a commitment to excellence in everything that I do. I have fresh new energy and ideas that will allow me to do whatever it takes to get things done and to encourage others to continue to work hard for our students and always put students first.
I want to put my experience as a teacher, education advocate, and planning commissioner, to work in my own community, to benefit our children. By improving our schools, we improve our city, and therefore, our quality of life. I believe we can give every West Sacramento student the greatest gift possible: an excellent education –and the future of opportunity that comes with it.