SCOTT AURICH

Age: 52

Residence: Coronado

Community involvement: Past president, Coronado Association of Realtors; coached 16 seasons of youth sports; Coronado Schools Foundation board; SAFE Foundation advisory board; co-chair of campaign for bond measure to build middle school.

Occupation: Residential real estate broker

Education: Bachelor's degree, Stephen F. Austin State University

Statement of candidacy: “Fiscal responsibility and solving state budget reduction challenges while trying to retain the highest quality of teachers is the primary reason for my candidacy.”

DOUG METZ

Age: 74

Residence: Coronado

Community involvement: Coronado Rotary; Chamber of Commerce; SAFE Foundation; Coronado Schools Foundation; San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, education, legal and infrastructure committees; airport task force chairman; California Boating and Waterways commissioner.

Occupation: Management and legal consultant

Education: Bachelor's degree, Colgate University; J.D., Wayne State University, California School Boards Association continuing education courses

Statement of candidacy: “Keep Coronado tops in student achievement; protect classroom instruction from state budget cuts; fund (a) competitive salary structure; (and) apply new superintendent's technology experience to instruction, school management, parent and public communications.”

DAWN OVROM

Age: 42

Residence: Coronado

Community involvement: Elementary, middle and high school PTOs; PTO president; Coronado Middle School Site Council; SAFE Coalition; Coronado Unified School District strategic planning committees.

Occupation: Stay-at-home mother, attorney

Education: Bachelor's degree, University of Redlands; J.D., University of California Hastings College of the Law

Statement of candidacy: “I want to apply my perspective and experience as a veteran parent volunteer to board decision-making. Having successfully rebuilt beautiful facilities, it is now time to streamline district operations.”

  

Coronado schools have a new superintendent, a new pool and new facilities throughout the four-school, 3,000-student district.

Three candidates are running for two seats on the five-member board. The board oversees a $26 million budget. The district opened an aquatics center at Coronado High School this year, but the foundation first charged with raising money for its operations came up short. The board approved a deal with another foundation to raise money and manage the operations of the pool in hopes that the district will not have to subsidize its operations.

Candidates in the Nov. 4 election were asked about the pool and other issues.

Below are the candidates' answers:

QUESTION: Do you support the school district funding part or all of the operations of the high school's aquatics center if a foundation cannot raise the money?

Scott Aurich: No, I do not support the district using funds, which could be used for teachers' salaries, to pay for operations of the pool. Part of the reason I am anxious to serve on the board of trustees is to be in a position to evaluate what other options may be available if the operational costs cannot be sustained by the foundation. I feel the pool is an asset to the community, and I am hopeful that we will find a way to maintain it.

Doug Metz: No. The center was built on a “no general fund encroachment” promise. A new foundation board is assuming responsibility for making it financially self-sustaining.

Dawn Ovrom: No. The district simply does not have sufficient discretionary funds. I strongly support working with the aquatics community to secure funding for the foundation to support programming at this beautiful facility.

QUESTION: Do you support the No Child Left Behind Act's requirements for annual testing and corrective actions for schools with low pass rates?

Scott Aurich: I support the premise that we have annual testing and corrective action required for schools that have low pass rates. The pass rate at the Coronado schools is far in excess of the standards for this program. The No Child Left Behind Act was designed to address problems in schools which are very different from our schools here in Coronado.

Doug Metz: Yes, with amendments to assure more realistic and accurate appraisals of student achievement.

Dawn Ovrom: I support the goal of annual testing to provide a manageable evaluation tool, and I support the need for underperforming schools to improve. However, implementation of the program seems arduous at best and has yet to provide consistent improvement across the nation.

–Chris Moran