I strongly believe in providing the best, balanced education possible for all students.  It is important to focus on the big picture as we plan a return to in person school in a way that is practical and safe for everyone as soon as possible.  Templeton Unified School District is made up of public schools.  The primary source of relatively stable funding is tax revenues.  In a small district, these funds are somehow expected to cover the expenses of all facillities and programs of a larger school with less pooling of funds.  Templeton is a very generous community however the long term permant funding to pay teachers and staff as well as cover other costs like curriculum and maintenance has just barely been enough to get by.  While additional tax or bond funding could help, we have an exceptional set of distict employees and supportive organizations who have long found ways of supplimenting finances for specific projects with grants and fundraisers.  It may be time to harness those efforts for a common goal instead of working toward seperate goals.  This is something we should explore in the face of current and coming economic challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

My name is Matt Allison and I am running for TUSD School Board Trustee in the November 3rd general election.

My wife and I have lived in Templeton for the last 15 years and we are very fortunate to have all three of our children attend Templeton Schools. We feel so lucky to live here, from our beloved Saturday Farmer's Market to some wonderful eateries on Main Street, Templeton has just about all we need.

I can often be found coaching youth sports.  I have coached youth baseball, soccer, and basketball in Templeton over the last 8 years. This really is one of my favorite things to do and I can't wait to return to coaching when we can resume team sports.  I also love to surf, but admittedly am pretty rusty these days. When at home I like to garden but it seems like it always chasing away gophers and possums. 

For the last 16 years, I have worked for a large educational company in San Luis Obispo where I currently serve as the Director of Operations. In this role, I direct and oversee operational and logistical aspects of our organization. Within this capacity, I manage a large budget that extends across many departments and I am on the executive leadership team of the corporation. I am well versed in bringing differing opinions and strategies together to create a common path forward. I feel that all of these skills would suit me well as a member of the TUSD Board.

I have served as Vice-President of the Measure H-12 School Improvement Bond Oversight Committee where we audited and verified the use of the $35 million dollars that Measure H-12 provided to Templeton Schools.  I am also currently a member of LeadershipSLO which brings together a diverse corps of local leaders to advance the educational, cultural, health, and economic interests of SLO County citizens.

As your TUSD Board Trustee, I promise that I will always be prepared and will actively engage with all stakeholders: parents, teachers, staff, community organizations, and students.  I believe we can all do better if we take the time to listen and understand other's perspectives.  I would be grateful to hear from you and learn about the issues that are important to you. 

Thank you and remember to VOTE in November!!

Templeton Schools are the pride of our community and the envy of the county.  I feel so fortunate to live in Templeton and to be able to have my 3 children currently attend Templeton Schools.  If 2020 has taught us anything it is that we must be flexible and have the ability to adapt.  Our schools should continue to be a vibrant and energetic learning community that supports all students.  With effective leadership that is boosted by the support of the Templeton community we can fulfill this vision so that the district can continue to support strong academic progress, whole-child growth, and remain an effective and sought after learning environment.  As we move into the future, we should:

1. Embrace change and focus our efforts on the quickly evolving world that our children are growing up in.  

2. Adopt and implement the newest technology and resources for students and teachers.  

3. Invest in our teachers by providing pay in line with the rest of the county and state and by providing additional training and resources.  

4. District and school facilities should be updated to support the changing structure of our learning plans and to provide our students with a safe yet dynamic learning environment.  

5. Increase our partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and colleges to provide all of our students with enriching and valuable learning experiences and opportunities.  

6. Develop and institute new communication strategies to promote and encourage community engagement.  

7. Seek new sources of funding and support efforts to increase school funding.

There is no lack of issues facing our district today--COVID-19, increasing class sizes, older facilities, teacher pay, school safety, bullying, and more, but at the crux of all of these is funding.  Funding issues that have existed for decades are now exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Federal and state budgets are shrinking and the demands on our district are growing.  The board must maintain the district budget without losing sight of the district’s mission of preparing the whole student for the future academically, professionally, and personally.  In addressing these funding issues the board must be creative yet responsible.  The board should work with county and state officials to seek and pursue all possible funding.  Additional funds have been made in response to the current COVID19 pandemic and the board should actively lobby for and pursue additional funding support from county, state, and federal levels.