THE RACE FOR HUNTINGTON BEACH UNION HIGH SCHOOL BOARD

Angelique Flores

Susan Henry, 21-year resident in the district, has actively

participated in the education of her three children, who have all

attended the local public schools.

She has been involved in the classroom for 12 years and now serves as

the Education Foundation president.

For Henry, the most important issue facing the district is finding

balance between restoring and repairing the aging facilities with limited

funds.

“The schools’ facilities need structural upgrades and modernization .

. . and we must not forget the reason we are doing it -- the students,”

she said.

Equally important is maintaining student access to all of the current

programs, she said.

“Programs cannot and should not be cut or moved, and open enrollment

and school choice within the district must be maintained,” Henry said.

Henry said these challenges can be met through improved communication,

community involvement and teacher dedication.

A registered nurse, Henry earned her associate’s degree in nursing

from Santa Ana College. She also attended Cal State Fullerton and UC

Irvine.

BIO

SUSAN HENRY

* Age: 44

* Family: Husband Kim and three children -- Brian, 17; Sara, 16; and

Keith, 13

* Community Activism: President of the Fountain Valley High School

Foundation, member of the Huntington Beach Union High School District

Strategic Planning Committee, member of the Huntington Beach Union High

School District Curriculum Committee, director of the Orange County

Coalition of Public School Foundations, and former president of Courreges

Elementary School and Masuda Middle School PTAs

* Contact: (714) 841-4864 ando7 [email protected]

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SUSAN HENRY ON:

* THE DISTRICT’S BIGGEST CHALLENGES:In addition to restoring the

campus facilities, Henry said recruiting teachers from a limited supply

is also a big challenge.

“The statewide need for teachers as a result of class-size reduction,

the diminishing number of teacher graduates and teachers retiring from

our own district has added to the challenge of recruiting excellent

teachers.”

Another challenge is implementing technology, she said.

“The state-funded Digital High School grant offers a great

opportunity. The challenge is meeting the time constraints, coordinating

implementation during the modernization program and training teachers in

the effective use.”

Henry also hopes to improve community confidence in the board and

district administration’s management.

“This challenge can best be met by improving the communication among

all the stakeholder groups through open, honest dialogue and valuing of

all input.”

* PLANS TO DEMOLISH BUILDING NO. 300:

“If it cannot be economically upgraded and retrofitted to protect

students during earthquakes, it must be replaced.

“Demolition and construction are scheduled to move quickly to meet the

‘use it or lose it’ time restrictions of the limited state funds

available, but planning is incomplete and only replaces half of the

building.

“We need a comprehensive plan that addresses the safety of the

students and staff, the continuation of the highly valued programs housed

in that building, appropriate financial and economic issues, and the

impacts of disruption during construction.”

When all the effects, limitations and costs are defined, Henry

recommends a final economic comparison to the cost of saving Building No.

300.