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USD 266 Maize school board, at large, unexpired term
Candidates for Maize school board
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Kip Bloss
Cost Accounting Manager / Internal Audit
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Amber R. Casement
Controller
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Cyndi Chapman
Nurse Practitioner
Comparison
- Biographical Information
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The Legislature may cut millions in education funding in the next two years to address state budget shortfalls. How should your school district scale back spending?
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Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, all students are expected to meet proficiency standards by 2014. How would you ensure student achievement in your district?
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If elected to the board of education, what would be your top priority?
Kip Bloss:
An independent review of past expenditures and proposed expenses must be performed to identify areas with risk of cost over runs, waste, and unnecessary spending. Risk items should be questioned and factual data obtained from Administration, Faculty, Parents, and Students to determine areas furthest away from the classroom and education fundamentals. If we are fiscally responsible with our spending, difficult and painful cuts impacting our children's education can be avoided.
Kip Bloss:
We must analyze our current state of proficiency and identify where we may fall short of the objective. Areas of weakness must be strategically and pro-actively addressed. I believe in the basic fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic. These skills prepare our children for communication and critical thinking that are severely lacking in our society. Slippage in these fundamentals will directly impact our children's success and ability to compete in a world-wide economy.
Kip Bloss:
I would strive to maintain and improve high academic standards which give our children tools to reach their fullest potential. I have a network of friends across the district including administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and students. I will bring objectivity & independent perspective to enhance the BOE's ability to make quality decisions. My priority is to find efficient, successful methods to focus on education fundamentals while being sensitive to children, educator, & taxpayer needs.
Age:
49
Education/Degrees:
B.S. Accounting and Business Administration
CIA - Certified Internal Auditor; CFE - Certified Fraud Examiner; CM - Certified Manager
Occupation:
Cost Accounting Manager, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation
Community Involvement:
Board, Evangel Assembly of God; Audit Committee, Via Christi Health Network; Wichita Chapter of Internal Auditors (Past President); Maize Elementary Site Council; Wichita Children's Home Foster Parent; Heart Walk; Maize Football Backers Committee Chair (2004-2007)
Children in school:
Youngest son (Carter) in second grade.
Two children Maize graduates. Chris plays football at Bethel College. Kelsey is a recent graduate with Elementary Education degree from Tabor College.
Political experience:
None
How long lived in district:
13 years
Campaign Phone:
316-721-6473
E-mail:
bloss_kipley@yahoo.com
Web site:
n/a
Social media (list any pages on Facebook, MySpace, etc.):
n/a
Amber R. Casement:
The Maize School District has taken a very pro-active stance in budget cuts, having formed committees in various areas. They will be making their recommendations to the Board and public in late March. I want to have an open mind to the recommended cuts and listen to the staff and administrator’s recommendations before I form strong opinions. I do believe our main focus has to be keeping the cuts as far away from the classroom as possible. We need to continue to provide a high quality of education and keep our classroom size small, especially at the elementary level.
Amber R. Casement:
Our test scores show that we are well on our way to excelling in our proficiency standards, especially at the elementary level. We need to evaluate why the proficiency drops at the high school level. It comes back to providing the best possible learning environment for our students. We have excellent facilities, state of the art technology, top notch staff, and supportive parents. Again, it comes back to keeping classroom sizes small.
Amber R. Casement:
First, I look forward to working with our new superintendent. Second, we need to define and set clear spending priorities of the district for the next few years. We are going through some difficult times with the tightness of funds, which has never been a major concern for our district. We have to be more diligent with how we spend funds now and in the future. Lastly, with the introduction of a second high school next year, we need to focus on keeping the district working together. We need to continue to improve our communication with the patrons and listen for feedback from our constituents.
Age:
38
Education/Degrees:
Master of Business Administration-MBA, Wichita State University, Bachelor of Science - Accounting, Emporia State University
Occupation:
Controller, J. Enterprises, Inc.
Community Involvement:
Maize Education Foundation Board Member, Foundation Art Auction Chairperson, Church Treasurer, Past Girl Scout Volunteer, Served on various Maize District Committees: Facilities Needs Committee, 2007 Bond Campaign (Co-Chair Finance Committee), Journey to Excellence-Stakeholder's needs committee, New high school planning committee, Patron group for Superintendent Interviews.
Children in school:
Son, Mitchael - Kindergarten, Daughter, Brittani - 6th grade
Political experience:
None, other than Student Government during college
How long lived in district:
Almost six years
Campaign Phone:
(316) 722-1628
E-mail:
acasement@cox.net
Cyndi Chapman:
There are always ways to cut unnecessary spending. My belief is to involve those that are directly affected in helping determine the most appropriate ways to cut from within. Then looking methodically at all the things in the district and start prioritizing. That doesn't mean the lowest would be cut, it may take cuts on everything to be fair.
Cyndi Chapman:
Again, understanding, studying and engaging the staff, students, parents to seek the best ways, the most underserved and the most effective ways to get the most out of all the students.
Cyndi Chapman:
Students education and student needs. That student is always my top priority, but to know the issues, research, not making rushed judgements without being informed.
Age:
50
Education/Degrees:
Masters Nursing;Bachelor of Science Nursing
Occupation:
Manager Pediatric Intensive Care
Community Involvement:
Sedgwick County Early Childhood Coordinating Council;Down Syndrome Wichita;Guardian for Starkey;Past offices held national, regional, local levels for Archdiocese Youth Organization
Children in school:
Jeffrey, 16 sophomore, Matthew 11, 5th grade, Cole 8 2nd grade
How long lived in district:
15 years
Campaign Phone:
316-729-0935
E-mail:
cchapman21@cox.net