Hello, My Name is Max Duran and I'm running for one of three seats on the Board of Education.
I was appointed a year ago to fill an unexpired term. During that year, I've learned a lot, though I feel that there's still much to learn. The reason that I'm running is that we had an administration that had become unreceptive to the Board. That arrogance was manifested by the top administrator and was beginning to filter down to a small portion of the rank and file members.
If this was the type of conduct and lack of respect they had toward Board members, how much more discourteous and indifferent would they have been toward our parents and our students. Don't get me wrong, most of our teachers are outstanding and supportive but that element was beginning to filter down. After hearing some administrators question the right of Board Members to challenge their reports, I saw, then and there, that we had a discipline problem.
That problem has since been replaced by a new interim superintendent who is willing to work with the Board.
Still, my main concern is that we need to provide the best education to our children. Currently, we have some classes at Vasquez that are being taught by teachers without the proper credentials or teachers with emergency credentials. I want this practice curtailed and I would encourage them to continue to achieve their proper credentials. I want to return quality to our education. I want to send our students into a world to compete with others and not take a back seat to anyone.
I bring to the table 30 years of experience as an administrator working for LAUSD. During this time, I developed strong working relationships with representatives from the Dept of Ed., Division of State Architect, the Office of Public School Construction and LACOE.
I am so serious about reducing DEFICIT SPENDING that I have always paid my own way to the various Board function that I have attended.
While others boast of working with large budgets, none are familiar with the procedures as set for in the California School Accounting Manual. Two years ago, I retired and began a school consulting business to assist school districts navigate through the State's bureaucratic maze. Allow me to contribute my expertise to our community.
I am currently working with our interim superintendent and Ron Bird, the chairman of the Facilities Committee, to jumpstart a project that (with the approval of State Allocation Board) could begin construction of a portion of a permanent Vasquez High school without asking the voters to pass a general obligation bond.
Finally, I've kept current in the ever-changing educational and facilities programs. I've maintained an active membership to several school organizations. I am a certified DSA (Masonry) Inspector and I am a member of the International Code Council (ICC).
I am active in both my community and my church. I am on the Board of Directors that is constructing a new Church in Palmdale which is scheduled to open in December 2005. I have a vocational teaching credential and have taught religious education to the children of our faith. I am the past president of our Church's Pastoral Council. I've coached baseball and soccer to the kids of our community. With your help and support, I would be happy to serve you for four more years. Thank You.
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