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As a parent of four, I had a child at each of the Templeton campuses last year giving me a broad perspective of the district. My oldest was a graduating senior and the youngest in kindergarten so I have a special appreciation for the challenges the pandemic has brought to education. As a third-generation north county resident, I attended Templeton and Paso schools. Both of my parents were educators. My father, Tim Alvord, taught and coached at Templeton High School for several years. My mother, Mary Beth Alvord, worked for a decade in Templeton Elementary School kindergarten classes as a teacher’s aide. Early on, I learned to value education and the importance of how teachers can shape children and by extension, a community, for better or worse. After graduating from Paso Robles High School, I received a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and Master’s degree from Ohio State University. I lectured at the University of Idaho and substitute taught in three districts including Templeton. . |
Templeton Unified School DistrictCandidate for Board Member
Mendi Swan
My Top 3 Priorities
- Facilitate better communication between the district and the community in strategizing a return to in person school.
- Work with the district and community in identifying funding to help cover unexpected safety costs related to the pandemic.
- Protect student access to quality teachers by ensuring the best compensation possible in the face of economic hardship.
Experience
Biography
Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
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.
