Salem-Keizer School District 24J
Director, Zone 3

BENJAMIN ARK

OCCUPATION: General Manager, Sir Speedy Printing

OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUND: Restaurant Manager, Sales Rep

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: South Eugene High School, Chemeketa Community College

PRIOR GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE: None

The Salem-Keizer school district has gotten off course and needs some fresh ideas and strong leadership in order to right itself. In recent years we have seen budget shortfalls, inappropriate relations between teachers and students, and a nutrition program in crisis. The district mission statement reads: In partnership with the community, we ensure that each student will have the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes to be a lifelong learner, a contributing citizen and a productive worker in a changing and increasingly diverse world. I believe that in order to uphold that mission our schools need fiscal responsibility, a safe learning environment and healthy food choices.

If a few of the higher paid teachers are allowed early retirement several new teachers should be hired to maintain optimum teacher to student ratios. Our classrooms are over-crowded and our teachers are working longer hours to accommodate the extra students.

While most of our educators are professionals with a great degree of integrity, a few deviants have been allowed to slip into our schools and harm our children. The documentation of complaints needs to be transparent and easily accessible in order for parents to feel informed and administration to swiftly take corrective measures.

In our schools, 44% of the students receive free or reduced price lunches. For some students this may be their only significant meal of the day. Yet the food choices we offer them have a lower nutritional value than a fast-food meal. It is unfathomable that we would allow 56% of our students to pay for calorie, fat and sodium laden meals five days per week. It is a crime that we feed these meals to 44% under the guise of charity!

I have a middle school student and one soon entering school. I want better for them, so Im running.