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Re-elect Vegas, Hampton to KHSD board
| Saturday, Oct 11 2008 7:11 PM
Last Updated: Saturday, Oct 11 2008 7:13 PM
Chad Vegas has become a lightning rod for controversy, much of it of his own making.
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Were the "In God We Trust" posters he championed worth all those Kern High School District dollars? Anyone who's noticed the mandatory posters actually hanging in high school classrooms -- they're really just hard-to-read, widely ignored visual clutter -- would resoundingly say no.
Was it central to the educational mission that the district restore the original, Christian names of the winter and spring breaks to Christmas and Easter? Hardly, but Vegas saw fit to carry that flag into battle.
But take away the social agenda, and Vegas has been a passionate, energetic trustee. Vegas seems to truly care about making California's largest high school district a better and safer place to learn. On the basis of that passion and potential -- in addition to evidence of actual districtwide improvement in the face of big challenges -- The Californian endorses Vegas for a second term on the KHSD board of trustees.
The Californian also endorses the race's other incumbent, Bob Hampton, for the district's second available seat. Hampton has given the KHSD 13 solid years of positive, student-first, common-sense direction.
The Californian has been very critical of Vegas throughout his four-year tenure -- with, we believe, good reason. Three things prompt us to look at him more favorably now, however.
* Gradual improvement in classroom measurables, some of which correspond closely with Vegas' tenure. Test scores have gradually improved every year Vegas has been on the board, and he has worked toward further classroom progress, quantifiable and otherwise. He has demonstrated a willingness to work with fellow board members on meaningful reform.
* None of the five challengers on the ballot has satisfactorily enunciated a clear, specific direction for the district under their guidance. All acknowledge the importance of vocational education and the challenges of socioeconomic diversity and parent apathy, but their solutions are vague. A few candidates seem to be running on the "I'm not Chad Vegas" platform.
* Vegas now seems willing to focus on district business that is central to the mission and eliminate the forays into "social" issues. He recently told The Californian's editorial board that he has no social engineering issues on his agenda and doesn't foresee any capturing his attention. He indicated he is disinclined to pursue issues that are not central to his mandate.
The Californian takes him at his word.
Vegas, a 35-year-old minister, says the media has focused almost exclusively on his two controversial proposals and downplayed or completely overlooked issues more directly related to student achievement. Perhaps so. But we hope Vegas has realized that he serves a public that favors concrete steps toward creating better schools over symbolic gestures.
We aren't saying Vegas must set aside his faith, nor would we expect him to. Vegas makes clear that his faith influences every aspect of his life, and we respect that. However, Vegas says fellow trustee Joel Heinrichs has asked him to put his time and attention into meaningful educational reform. We would ask the same thing -- and in fact challenge Vegas to do so.
Each of the other candidates running for the KHSD board have their strengths.
Bill Perry, a longtime educator who is well-qualified for a seat on the board, praises the district's ability to maintain socioeconomic diversity in most of its schools and cautions against micromanaging by the trustees -- specifically opposing Vegas' efforts to have board members sit in on personnel interviews. Perry's position on these interviews is the right one.
Charles Rodriguez, a retired businessman, says he would work toward improving graduation rates, minimizing truancy, engaging parents and improving vocational education opportunities.
Charles Cournyea, a minister, stresses the value of mentoring and hands-on community involvement over leadership "from behind a desk."
Larry Bly, a former financial analyst and vocational automotive teacher, emphasizes the life-changing potential of voc ed.
Vegas, Hampton and the rest of the board would be wise to tap these candidates' willingness to serve.