Mail-in Ballots are here! Todd Maddison for School Board!

As we’ve heard so many times, elections have consequences.  That’s true nationally, but even more true in our community.

Why vote "Todd4Kids" in your local School Board election?

We need someone on our Board who understands what parents want for their kids, is willing to listen to those parents, and will stand up for their interests to our District.

I've already been doing that for years.  As a leader of the Parent Advisory Committee, as a co-founder of Oceanside Parents 4 Kids, and as a member of the El Camino High site council.

We need someone on our Board willing to push for the priorities parents and teachers think are important to get our District to pay attention to them – instead of what is important to the District themselves.

I've been doing that for years.  I've taken the initiative to stand up and speak to our Board at least 40 times. Not sitting silently while our District ignores our parents and teachers, but standing up and saying something about it. 

We need someone on our Board who understands how to manage the budget of a large organization in a way that is both responsible and provides what the customer – our parents - want.

I managed the Service division of a billon-dollar national retailer.  I know how budgets work – in reality, not in theory.  I was the first Parent Representative in Oceanside Unified’s Local Control (budget) committee.  I know how our school district’s budget works, and have presented to our Board frequently showing them why their financial management is a disaster.   

Because they often choose to spend our money on themselves, not our kids.

My opponent in this race has been on the Board TWELVE YEARS.  Class sizes are up, test scores are flat or down, parents are choosing to take their kids out of our district in droves because they’re unhappy. 

The District has been on the verge of bankruptcy and possible state takeover more often than not for many years.  Cutting programs and services from our kids to avoid that.

In recent times our District has cut bus services from the poor Latino neighborhood of Crown Heights, counseling services, the College Bound program, Special Resource Teachers, Teachers on Special Assignment, and other programs designed to help struggling kids. 

Because we “can’t afford" those things for our kids.

Meanwhile last December they could afford to give everyone extra raises.  Raises above and beyond normal scheduled increases.  That cost the district $5 million – on top of a $7 million deficit.  

Those raises included increases for district administrators, a group with a total median compensation of $158,000/year. 

My opponent voted in favor of that.  As he has always voted to approve every administrative raise.

And our budget for the future?  Projected to need cuts of $10 million and $36 million in the next two years.  Undoubtedly from programs and services for our kids.

And my opponent was quoted in the Coast News as saying "We are on solid ground going forward for the coming fiscal school year, all things considered.”

"Solid ground...."?????

Meanwhile I’ve pushed for financial responsibility, so we can keep programs that help our kids, not cut them.

It's time for change

The question is not "why vote for change....?"

The question is "why not?"

For more details, visit my website.  I’d be happy to speak directly with you as well – send me an email and we can set up a time to talk!  I want to hear from you.

If you’d like to help put Kids First!, please forward this email to friends, share on social media, send out a note via text, make your voice heard!

And of course if you want to be part of our democracy and would like to volunteer, sign up at http://todd4kids.com/volunteer!

Vote Todd Maddison for School Board in this election!