NEW MEDIA!

Click on a selection to the right to listen to one of Pat's recent radio spots or appearances.

Fam2011

Dear Neighbor:

I'm Pat Higgins and I am proud to have represented you on the Anchorage School Board the past three years and would appreciate your vote April 5. When I ran three years ago, I stressed the importance of Career Technology Education, reducing the drop-out rate, increasing the graduation rate, and making sure every tax dollar is well spent. A lot has happened in three years!

  • Career Technology Education (CTE) is coming back! I have been the Board leader on expanding CTE and this April the public will be voting on a $17 million bond devoted to CTE in middle and high schools.
  • Administration Costs are down. The percentage of the budget spent on administration has gone done three years in a row.
  • Drop-out Rate has declined from 5.10 to 3.59 percent.
  • Graduation Rate has increased from 63.02 to 69.69 percent.

But more is coming! Board directives I initiated and the Board adopted unanimously include a program to track academic achieve annually for every student. Parents, teachers, and the Board need to know what is and is not working in our classrooms.

As Chair of the Board Audit Committee, we are now conducting effective management reviews. The recent purchasing audit will automate 80 percent of all purchases and cut administration costs further. On-going reviews of other administration programs will be looking for more improvements and cost savings.

The Board is changing. Four of the seven Board Members are in their first term and the other three will be termed out during in 2012. Staying the new course will require experienced Board Members committed to building up our schools, not tearing them down.

I'd appreciate your vote on April 5th. If you would like a street sign or would like to discuss any school issues, e-mail me at phiggins49@gmail.com or call me at 907-952-5871. Please download the Pat Higgins for School Board poster from www.pathiggins4schoolboard.com and place in your car or home window.

Together, we can achieve great things for our children. Thank you!