Battle for the board

Norman Pearson, incumbent on the Galt Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees, is being challenged by Kathleen Amos, Diann Kitamura and Connie Goethel in the November election.

Incumbent Gus Prouty, appointed two years ago to the board when former trustee Pat Maple resigned, is being challenged by Dennis Richardson for a two-year term.

Kathleen Amos

Kathleen Amos

When asked why she was running, Kathleen Amos said, "You can put down three words: equitable distribution of resources."

Amos, who lives a block away from Galt High School, said she supports the campus' football program and wants to see the stadium renovated sooner rather than later. Without a football stadium at the eastside new high school, Galt's field will be used every weekend, she said, adding that the city's master park plan reveals it is deficient in the number of football fields based on park guidelines that there should be one for every 15,000 residents.

Amos' son, James, graduated from Galt High in 2003.

"When he was there, things were not good," she said of her son, who played football and played in the school band. "The morale was bad among the students, but it was kind of reflective of what was going on with teachers and administration. The same things are happening again."

Amos, a family law attorney, was involved in athletic and band boosters while her son attended there, and prior to that was active in his classroom at Fairsite Elementary School. She moved to Galt from Iowa in 1985.

She would like to see some new blood on the school board. For the past two years, she said, the school board has been controlled by people who don't live in Galt. Instead, they reside outside city limits and hail from feeder school districts.

"They've been making decisions for this entire district," Amos said, adding that she feels board members are favoring their own pet projects.

She also wants to see a smooth transition to the new high school, and make sure Galt High gets renovated and is given sufficient resources in the meantime.

Amos has been active on other boards, including the Galt Parks and Recreation Commission of which she has been a member for four years. She also served on the new high school advisory board and ran for City Council two years ago.

"My whole life has been about kids," Amos said.

The oldest of 14, she grew up on a farm in Iowa. At the beginning of her career, she worked for a private social services organization for several years in which she insured children receive education at appropriate level. She said she helped many get their GEDs.

Amos, 57, earned her law degree from McGeorge and has a bachelor's degree in education from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Connie Goethel

Connie Goethel

Simply put, Connie Goethel is running for a seat on the school board because she wants to give back to the community, literally.

"I want to return the favor Galt High School did for my daughter. They treated her well," she said. "I want to give back to the community and to the kids. I feel this is a niche I can fill."

The candidate, who lives within city limits, wants to see fewer board members who reside in the feeder school districts and more who are part of the Galt community.

In the next four years, she sees the state's budget and its trickle-down effect as one of the district's biggest issues. If elected, Goethel said she will work to keep cuts out of the classroom and divvy the available funds up among departments based on need.

By working in classrooms, she has seen firsthand what the schools are up against and what they need.

Goethel, 54, earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Tennessee Technological University, but it was her associate's degree in risk management from the Insurance Institute of America that paved a 28-year career of working for insurance companies and insurance brokers. It is that work, she feels, that has prepared her for a seat on the school board.

Her position as a risk manager afforded her the opportunity to go into a situation, access the issues and determine how to deal with them head on. She said she has also played peacemaker between management and employees and is good at finding compromises.

"I can identify ways to get something done with less cost. I did that for 28 years."

She and her husband, Fred, who is running for the Galt City Council, have lived in Galt for five years. Their daughter, Christina, is a senior at Galt High School.

Goethel also taught night school at Purdue University in Indiana for a time.

Diann Kitamura

Diann Kitamura

Diann Kitamura, 49, has a strong educational background, a fact she feels makes her a viable candidate for the Galt high school board. She is currently the executive director of Systems Management for EDEquity Educational Consultants, which provides professional development services to schools throughout California.

"My experience in education and as a administrator in the Galt High School District affords me the ability to effectively lead a school district in the capacity of a school board member," she said. "My familiarity with the educational system and my experience in implementing the governance set forth by school boards have prepared me well for this role."

In addition, as a director and assistant superintendent, Kitamura said she has developed and maintained budgets in excess of $8 million dollars and feels she has a good working knowledge of the numerous funding sources for a school district.

She and her husband, David, have lived in Galt for 11 years. They have two children, Kenna and Kameron, both 13.

Kitamura earned a bachelor's degree in crop science from California PolytechnicState University, San Luis Obispo; teaching credential in agriculture from California State University, Chico; master's degree in school counseling from California State University, Sacramento; and an administrative credential from California State University, Stanislaus.

"I have been a teacher, school counselor, vice principal, principal, director of student services, and an assistant superintendent of educational services," she said of her personal success story.

"The opportunity for me to complete my undergraduate and graduate degrees and pursue a doctorate continues to amaze me, the daughter of a poor, second-generation American father who was only able to complete the 8th grade in his native Hawaiian home."

Norman Pearson

Norman Pearson

Norman Pearson, certified public accountant, is hoping to be re-elected to continue what he started in 2004.

"Four years ago, I saw some distress on the board and people's agendas, so I ran (for trustee)," he said, adding that he feels like he has worked to bring peace to the board after fallout among former members.

Additionally, he said, the district is so close to getting its new campus open — a project Pearson would like to see to the end. Liberty Ranch High School opens next fall.

In the next four years, he sees budgeting as one of the biggest issues. With projection figures leveling off and even heading toward a decline, districts across the state are grappling with funding, since schools are paid based on the number of students enrolled.

"That's significant in the changes it brings about. We will get through it," Pearson said. "With the current state of the economy, I really see finances as our challenge. The budget is looking great in new construction ... but we may have to delay as we go along," he said.

He feels his financial background is a boon to this issue.

Additionally, he wants to see the district continue working on student achievement goals. "Just trying to provide a well-rounded education to the children of our community," he added.

Pearson, 42, is single and has never been married. Though he doesn't have any children, he graduated from Galt High School in 1984. He and his family, including mother Jean Pearson, who serves on the Oak View School board, moved to the area in 1979.

Pearson earned his Master's Degree in taxation from Golden Gate University and bachelor's degree in accounting from California State University, Sacramento.

"Over the last four years, I've worked on bringing the board together to focus on our common goals to move the district forward," he said. "I think that needs to continue."

Gus Prouty Jr.

Gus Prouty Jr.

Incumbent Gus Prouty Jr. wants to make sure the opening of a new high school and running the old one are handled "properly," he said. "I feel it's a great time of opportunity in the district."

He was appointed to the school board in June 2007 and is running for the balance of the four-year term, which expires in 2010.

The candidate said he was disappointed in previous board members who couldn't work together.

"There's a lot of positive energy on the board now," Prouty said, hinting he'd like to keep it the way it is. "The past was a disservice to the students."

Over the next couple of years, he said balance is going to be one of the biggest issues.

"We're going to have to get Liberty Ranch up and running while continuing to run Galt High and Estrellita."

Part of this will include finding new leadership for the campus, including hiring teachers who can not only teach but reach out to more kids, he said.

Prouty wants to ensure students are engaged and learning how the subjects they study play into future careers.

The 1983 Galt High graduate wants to continue searching for money to upgrade that campus.

Before being appointed to the school board, Prouty served as president to the Junior Warriors and worked on the Galt High Boosters Club, where in just a few months, he helped rewrite the by-laws and increase fundraising money.

"I've demonstrated over the last six to eight years what I've done for the youths of Galt. I'm the person who can put the bodies together to get things done."

Although he only returned to Galt eight years ago, Prouty and his wife have lived in Lodi and Acampo. They have two children who are both Galt High students.

He earned a sociology degree from California State University, Chico, and a Master's of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in Sacramento. The 43-year-old is currently a manager of a telecommunications company.

Dennis Richardson

Dennis Richardson

Dennis Richardson, who served a four-year term on the board until 2006, is seeking a new seat there. He is running for the two-year term against Prouty, who is the current appointed incumbent.

During his first tenure, Richardson served one year as president and one year as board clerk. "I have the leadership experience and skills to work with other board members to get the job done," he said of his decision to run again.

"I have the knowledge of the laws, policies and regulations to ensure the board operates with honesty and integrity. Most of all, I have a sincere desire to serve the parents and children of Galt and work hard on their behalf."

Over the next four years, he sees the biggest challenge of the school board to be working within the budget allocated by the state, and said he will ensure all budget decision are based on sound judgment and financial principles.

If elected, Richardson said he will be the voice for all students and their parents.

"I will bring integrity and honesty to a board that is currently guided by special-interest money and an agenda that does not value the needs of all students and programs," he said, hinting to past missteps by members. "I will inform the public about district issues, and eliminate back room deals and board member misconduct."

The retired criminal investigator has 10 adult children and is married to Susan Richardson, who is currently running for re-election on the Galt elementary school board.

Dennis Richardson, 59, has lived in Galt since 1997. He has two bachelor's degrees, one in criminal justice administration and one in child development.

The candidate has also served on the Galt High School Board Policy Committee, Sacramento County School Boards Committee, Galt High School Safety Committee, Galt High School Site Council and the City of Galt Youth Committee.

Contact reporter Jennifer Bonnett at jenniferb@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

Pat Maple wrote on Oct 17, 2008 1:42 PM:

" I have to agree with Smokeater8...Richardson is a PROVEN leader. Amos thinks from the perspective of a child and parent and Goethel could be the Board swing vote. If you want more of the same...lower test scores, teacher cuts, classroom cuts, cuts, cuts, cuts, except for the Ag programs...then by all means vote for the incumbents. "

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smokeater8 wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:00 AM:

" Amos, Richardson and Goethel for the Board...they are the only ones to get us out of the messes we find ourselves in now! "

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