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Opinion
I’m glad the phrase “family values” is a campaign slogan for a school board candidate because it presents an opportunity to discuss the phrase.
In our modern world, “family” can be described in many ways: multi-generational, single parent, two working parents, two same gender parents, foster, adoptive, come to mind. Family is personal, and not always genetic.
“Values” is an even more complicated word to define. One definition states:” A person’s principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life.” (Oxford Languages)
I’m sure you, dear reader, can make your own list of influences on a person’s “values”:1) cultural, including nation or region of origin, 2) religious or spiritual practices, 3) ethnic or racial identity, 4) gender identity, 5) political affiliation, 6) financial and 7) occupation.
Each of these influences molds our perception of the society in which we live, and affects how we interact with our community. One family’s values may not be identical to another’s.
I invite you to consider, however, where values are likely to overlap. For instance: responsibility, respect, helpfulness, generosity, fairness, integrity and kindness.
Perhaps we can expand the phrase “family values” to “community values” and discover where our personal values intersect community wide, and work towards using those principles and behaviors to build a vibrant, tolerant and unified community family.
Kate Schmidt-Hopper lives in Hidden Valley Lake, California.
In our modern world, “family” can be described in many ways: multi-generational, single parent, two working parents, two same gender parents, foster, adoptive, come to mind. Family is personal, and not always genetic.
“Values” is an even more complicated word to define. One definition states:” A person’s principles or standards of behavior; one’s judgment of what is important in life.” (Oxford Languages)
I’m sure you, dear reader, can make your own list of influences on a person’s “values”:1) cultural, including nation or region of origin, 2) religious or spiritual practices, 3) ethnic or racial identity, 4) gender identity, 5) political affiliation, 6) financial and 7) occupation.
Each of these influences molds our perception of the society in which we live, and affects how we interact with our community. One family’s values may not be identical to another’s.
I invite you to consider, however, where values are likely to overlap. For instance: responsibility, respect, helpfulness, generosity, fairness, integrity and kindness.
Perhaps we can expand the phrase “family values” to “community values” and discover where our personal values intersect community wide, and work towards using those principles and behaviors to build a vibrant, tolerant and unified community family.
Kate Schmidt-Hopper lives in Hidden Valley Lake, California.
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- Written by: Kate Schmidt-Hopper
The Kelseyville School District has always been important to our family. Kirk served on the school board for several terms and enjoyed his work there immensely. All three of Kirk and Quincy’s daughters — Sabrina, Caitlin and Megan — attended K-12 in the district and graduated from Kelseyville High School, well prepared to get undergraduate degrees.
Father and daughter duo Kirk and Caitlin coached basketball at the high school and Caitlin was a substitute teacher.
She also stepped up to be a member of the oversight committee for Measure U, which provided $24 million for modernization projects which are almost completed — on time and on budget.
And when two of us returned to Lake County to start businesses in downtown Kelseyville, we were grateful to find a well-educated workforce, courtesy of Kelseyville Unified, to help us in the shops.
All four of Kirk and Quincy’s grandchildren are now starting their Kelseyville Unified journey (we’ve got a first grader, a kindergartner, and two preschoolers on our hands!).
Our love for our family and for Kelseyville Unified fuels our desire for maintaining a strong School Board.
We are impressed that despite the major disruption during the 2020-2022 school years, the board stayed focused on keeping students, staff, and the community as safe as possible while staying in compliance with the required statewide public health regulations.
With the upheaval that many other school districts went through these past few years, we are even more impressed with the Kelseyville Unified School Board.
The Kelseyville Unified School Board Board instituted Zoom access to their monthly meetings so that parents could engage without attending in person.
Since schools have reopened, the board has given all staff salary increases, hired additional staff to focus on turning around learning loss and supporting students’ wellness needs — all while maintaining good financial control.
We give a lot of credit to long-time Board Chair Rick Winer. His 33 years of experience as an educator working in many diverse leadership positions has provided him with a wealth of knowledge on which he can draw to meet the challenges of the moment, including the upcoming selection process for a new superintendent. He shows up on campuses and engages with staff, students and parents.
The Andrus family wholeheartedly recommends Rick Winer’s re-election to the Kelseyville Unified School Board, along with Allison Panella who is also running for reelection after completing her first four-year term.
Please cast your vote to ensure the stability of the Board continues as they build a lasting future for the Kelseyville community.
Kirk Andrus, MD, Sabrina Andrus, JD, Caitlin Andrus and Megan Andrus live in Kelseyville, California.
Father and daughter duo Kirk and Caitlin coached basketball at the high school and Caitlin was a substitute teacher.
She also stepped up to be a member of the oversight committee for Measure U, which provided $24 million for modernization projects which are almost completed — on time and on budget.
And when two of us returned to Lake County to start businesses in downtown Kelseyville, we were grateful to find a well-educated workforce, courtesy of Kelseyville Unified, to help us in the shops.
All four of Kirk and Quincy’s grandchildren are now starting their Kelseyville Unified journey (we’ve got a first grader, a kindergartner, and two preschoolers on our hands!).
Our love for our family and for Kelseyville Unified fuels our desire for maintaining a strong School Board.
We are impressed that despite the major disruption during the 2020-2022 school years, the board stayed focused on keeping students, staff, and the community as safe as possible while staying in compliance with the required statewide public health regulations.
With the upheaval that many other school districts went through these past few years, we are even more impressed with the Kelseyville Unified School Board.
The Kelseyville Unified School Board Board instituted Zoom access to their monthly meetings so that parents could engage without attending in person.
Since schools have reopened, the board has given all staff salary increases, hired additional staff to focus on turning around learning loss and supporting students’ wellness needs — all while maintaining good financial control.
We give a lot of credit to long-time Board Chair Rick Winer. His 33 years of experience as an educator working in many diverse leadership positions has provided him with a wealth of knowledge on which he can draw to meet the challenges of the moment, including the upcoming selection process for a new superintendent. He shows up on campuses and engages with staff, students and parents.
The Andrus family wholeheartedly recommends Rick Winer’s re-election to the Kelseyville Unified School Board, along with Allison Panella who is also running for reelection after completing her first four-year term.
Please cast your vote to ensure the stability of the Board continues as they build a lasting future for the Kelseyville community.
Kirk Andrus, MD, Sabrina Andrus, JD, Caitlin Andrus and Megan Andrus live in Kelseyville, California.
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- Written by: Kirk Andrus, Sabrina Andrus, Caitlin Andrus and Megan Andrus
I am a proud graduate of Kelseyville High School and a mother of identical twin boys in fifth grade at Riviera Elementary.
As an active parent and volunteer in the school for the past four years, I am supporting the reelection of Rick Winer, long time board chair.
Rick is present at most school events, interacts with the students, and cheers on the staff. This year, as usual, he visited Riviera Elementary during the first week of school going from class to class to check in with teachers and students. He is present and takes his role seriously.
Rick observes and listens as you can see in the blog of his first week school visits on his webpage. Rick’s focus this year is helping to ensure that the district concentrates on the learning loss and social emotional impact caused by the pandemic which is important to us all.
While a student at Kelseyville High, I was an office aide for several years working with then-Vice Principal Dave McQueen. This gave me an inside view of school office activities and politics, so I understand the vital importance of having a board member with extensive experience working in schools. I also value the long standing positive culture Superintendent Dave McQueen and Rick Winer have established together.
With the retiring of our long-tenured superintendent, continuity is important. I feel confident in the ability of Rick to continue the assets of our district — strong relationships and student-focused learning.
I strongly support the reelection of Rick Winer to the Kelseyville School Board.
Amber Leiferman, a parent of Riviera Elementary, lives in Kelseyville, California.
As an active parent and volunteer in the school for the past four years, I am supporting the reelection of Rick Winer, long time board chair.
Rick is present at most school events, interacts with the students, and cheers on the staff. This year, as usual, he visited Riviera Elementary during the first week of school going from class to class to check in with teachers and students. He is present and takes his role seriously.
Rick observes and listens as you can see in the blog of his first week school visits on his webpage. Rick’s focus this year is helping to ensure that the district concentrates on the learning loss and social emotional impact caused by the pandemic which is important to us all.
While a student at Kelseyville High, I was an office aide for several years working with then-Vice Principal Dave McQueen. This gave me an inside view of school office activities and politics, so I understand the vital importance of having a board member with extensive experience working in schools. I also value the long standing positive culture Superintendent Dave McQueen and Rick Winer have established together.
With the retiring of our long-tenured superintendent, continuity is important. I feel confident in the ability of Rick to continue the assets of our district — strong relationships and student-focused learning.
I strongly support the reelection of Rick Winer to the Kelseyville School Board.
Amber Leiferman, a parent of Riviera Elementary, lives in Kelseyville, California.
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- Written by: Amber Leiferman
Please join me in voting to re-elect Rick Winer to another term as board member to the Kelseyville Unified School District's Board of Education.
I had the honor to serve alongside Rick as a board member for seven years. During this time, Rick always advocated fairly and passionately for students, families, teachers and administrators.
Whether it be in negotiating salaries, updating board policies, addressing new curriculum requirements and changes, maintaining Kelseyvilles educational excellence under strict fiscal regimen, selecting a successor for superintendent or working on two district bond measures, Rick was there. He didn't miss a beat!
A school board needs members who have experience and are willing to think through complex issues. Rick has these qualities and his track record speaks for itself! Most importantly Rick LISTENS!
To see what Rick has been up to, check out his blog post www.rickwiner4kvusd.com.
Taja Smith Odom lives in Kelseyville, California.
I had the honor to serve alongside Rick as a board member for seven years. During this time, Rick always advocated fairly and passionately for students, families, teachers and administrators.
Whether it be in negotiating salaries, updating board policies, addressing new curriculum requirements and changes, maintaining Kelseyvilles educational excellence under strict fiscal regimen, selecting a successor for superintendent or working on two district bond measures, Rick was there. He didn't miss a beat!
A school board needs members who have experience and are willing to think through complex issues. Rick has these qualities and his track record speaks for itself! Most importantly Rick LISTENS!
To see what Rick has been up to, check out his blog post www.rickwiner4kvusd.com.
Taja Smith Odom lives in Kelseyville, California.
- Details
- Written by: Taja Smith Odom
