Ed Porter Interviewed by Local Paper

Ed Porter was recently interviewed by a local paper to get the word out about his current goals, ideas of what a good board member looks like, and how our schools differ from most. 

Read below for an inside look at his response: 

Question 1: What were your past goals and how do they compare to your current goals? 

When I ran for the board nearly ten years ago, I wanted to create an environment of fiscal responsibility, administrative accountability and eliminate the environment of parental exclusion I felt was existent at the district.  I wanted to improve our customer service and have a better communication with the parents and with the students.  I wanted to increase our scores, have our school recognized as distinguished schools and get the credit for the wonderful students we had from various state and federal agencies.  I wanted our district to have better credit and financial abilities by which I meant that I wanted to increase our schools’ revenue and budget and to maximize our potential for receiving federal and state bonds, grants and other types of income and lastly, I wanted to build the NEW Vasquez high school campus and gym with the bond that the community had just passed and by receiving its matching portion from the state. 

As you know we ended up being one of only a handful of CA districts to receive a matching bond for NEW construction I am VERY proud to say that of these goals that I had set for the district and myself, I was able to see every single one of them come to fruition and come to reality.

I now have a new set of goals IF I am privileged to be re-elected and Chief amongst them is safety measures AND grants to make our campuses more secure and our children safer.  Another matter I care deeply about is the phase III construction of VHS presently underway and the pending renovations to Acton School in order to make room for our elementary students and relieve the overcrowded conditions at Meadowlark.  Lastly, apart from fostering an environment of administrative accountability and fiscal responsibility, I’d like to make sure that IF our community votes for another bond this November, I can be there to do my part in making sure that its proceeds get allocated in the exact manner that was promised to our community.

Question 2: In your opinion, what qualities make a good board member? 

 A good board member is a person who feels that his or her life is not complete without selfless service to the community and feels that ONE of the greatest ways to serve the community is by serving its children, knowing that the highest level of volunteerism in serving the future of our children is as a community leader on the governing board of a district.  He or she is a person who conducts themselves with integrity, critical thinking and a philosophy of inclusion.  A person who is without personal agenda, ego or personal insecurities to pick fights and taking matters personally.   A person who can use their life experience, intellect and heart to engage in the process of collective bargaining and critical thinking, hence representing and magnifying the voice of their constituents effectively. 

Question 3: What makes our schools different compared to most? 

Our children, our parents and our small town values.  The fact that MOST of our children have a strong family structure AND therefore benefit from the many attributes that come from such an environment.   Also, the fact that we are respectful and caring for our community and our country and embrace the values that our flag and our country represents.


You can view the interview on Youtube HERE