Five candidates — trustees Skip Henderson and Jim Prescott, former trustee Chuck Zelnik, physician and professor Henry Sanchez and food server Maria Araujo — are vying for three positions on the San Bruno Park Elementary School District Board of Trustees. Trustee Russ Hanley decided not to run for re-election. On Tuesday, candidates were invited to visit the Daily Journal office to discuss issues facing the school district. Araujo opted not to participate. Spending wisely while focusing on achievement for all students were the main concerns for the four men.

In recent years, the district’s funding was changed from a per pupil method to strictly local property taxes. The shift helped the district through a tough budget cycle, but may not shield it from cuts in the coming years. Preparing for tough budget decisions came in different forms for each candidate.

Henderson relied on using interest gained from the sale of a Carl Sandburg Elementary School site in 2005. Last October, the district was given approval to use interest generated, an estimated $800,000 to $1 million annually. Henderson said setting some of the proceeds to a dedicated cost such as retirement costs will open up funds in the general fund. Looking at solar energy, Henderson said, could cut down electricity costs, currently about $260,000 annually.

Sanchez was interested in solar as well, something he thought could double as an opportunity to expand curriculum on campus. He thought the district should work more with businesses to cover costs and continue to build savings.

Zelnik pointed to a need to reevaluate allowing out of district children attend the district. The practice made sense when the district was receiving funds per child attending. However, now with a set amount of money coming in, the district’s per pupil spending decreases when such students enter the district. Currently there are 70, he said. While the Sandburg money will help, Zelnik cautioned against using it as a cure all since it is a set amount of money.

For Prescott, the answer was about simply being open to cost savings opportunities. Being fiscally responsible is one of the most important tasks for a board, he said, unfortunately the economic climate changes so frequently that long-term planning is difficult.

While money plays a big part of providing education, candidates thought providing educational opportunities for all students was a top issue.

Zelnik noted academic achievement could be lacking due to the distribution of the management’s time, something he felt should be re-examined. Focusing energy on projects like solar or building a new middle school are important but can be aided through experts rather than district administrative staff, he said, who could focus energy on ensuring academic opportunities and success.

Sanchez was interested in increasing parental involvement and breaking down language barriers to bring schools together as one community to guarantee success.

Prescott noted offering the best education while meeting federal mandates is the law, regardless of people’s position on No Child Left Behind. With that in mind, the district needs to focus on why some schools are not meeting those standards. In addition, coordinating efforts with the high school district to ensure students are getting a clear set of instructions and lessons from teachers as they progress is important, Prescott said.

Henderson explained the district has cut $4 million to $5 million in the past eight years. Interest generated from the sale of the Sandburg site has helped fill some of those gaps. He did feel, however, the use of administration was being used well.

Over the past year, parents came forward asking for the district to reconsider the way the schools are set up. Basically, should there be smaller schools that serve students from kindergarten through middle school or should middle school be expanded to include sixth grade? The latter was suggested with the caveat that a new school be built to meet the needs of students. The district began examining what such a school should include recently.

All candidates thought a bond measure would most likely be needed to help with the costs. But going out for one or speculating about one now is difficult without the specific information about what it will fund and the cost of doing so, explained Prescott, who wanted to see access to biotechnology aspects at the new facility.

Sanchez was in favor of a combination of funding, including looking to the community and local businesses for support and money from the sale of the Sandburg site.

Zelnik and Henderson were cautious about using Sandburg funds, noting the interest collected helps in other areas. Depleting the funds will decrease the ability of the district to use the interest.

When designing the school, Zelnik was concerned that traffic flow be addressed and building a new school needs to be the focus. The process needs to be inclusive of the elementary schools, since the new middle school will take one grade level from those campuses thus changing those schools as well.

A public candidate forum is scheduled 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Crestmoor Elementary School, 2322 Crestmoor Drive.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.