Tonight's debate made it clear that the incumbents have no solutions

Our sparsely attended candidate forum exhibited the distinct differences between myself and the two incumbents. I asked those in the audience to listen for what policies Mr. Sloan and Ms. Bohman had to offer to address the continuing decline in our school's funding. Their comments are indicative of their policies about which they declined to address specifically.

Richard at one point said there is no reason to have "anxiety" over the revenue crisis since "we have zero control over revenues." Odd, I guess he still hasn't had time in nearly 40 years on the board to read California Constitution Article 13D that specifically outlines the power of school boards and other local government bodies to raise fees and assessments. The Ross Valley Sanitary District just used it successfully earlier this year. Are our children not worth it?

It was no different with Denise whose strategy is to, as she urged us, to "hold tight and see what's next". She also apologized "If I seem vague."

Actually, her silence on the widespread cuts she has voted for in the past two years is not vague at all. She supports cutting teaching staff, classroom aides, shifting the costs of paying for teaching staff to the parents, and increasing class sizes. In other words, if we elect her we can expect more of the same.

Neither spoke about any policies to address the revenue crisis because their actions in the past two years are their policies. In fact, it appears that they belittled the idea that we have a crisis at all. They must be aware that the state has cut the billions of dollars in the past 3 years alone and may end up making further mid year cuts.

Last year, Richard urged my fellow Lagunitas Waldorf Inspired parents to split up the District by forming a charter school. The track record for charter schools would lead us to expect classes packed to the rafters, special needs students excluded, teachers prevented from bargaining collectively and taxpayers having little control while having to front the money for a tax funded privatized school. No wonder the teacher's union called for him to resign. So much for "collaborative relationships."

Not much different with Denise. She would rather continue to bleed programs she doesn't appear to like. In the past 2 years she has voted 75% of the time against the Waldorf Inspired program (LWIP) not to mention the other teacher and staff cuts mentioned above. No wonder she didn't bother to show up at our candidate's comment evening a few weeks ago.

Look out Montessori, Open and Middle School teachers, students and families. LWIP is the canary in the coal mine. If Richard and Denise are re-elected teachers will get ever growing class sizes, declining instructional support, eroding pay and our children, nephews, nieces and grandchildren will become just another statistic on a spreadsheet, a cost to be minimized.