The four candidates running for the two open seats on the Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Board of Education participated in last night’s (Wednesday) Carroll Chamber of Commerce Forum. During the course of the hour-long event, the candidates answered questions on a variety of issues, including what they would consider off limits if budget cuts were required. Incumbent, Duane Horsley, says this a topic that he and fellow board member, Jen Munson, are very familiar with. When they were elected to the board eight years ago, their very first meeting dealt with finding a half-million dollars in cuts. Horsley explains there are only a few areas where this can happen.
He adds the district has not had to make cuts since then, and that is thanks to sound financial forecasting and management from district administration and current and previous board members. Horsley says cuts, if required, would have to come from underutilized or noncritical classrooms with input from administration. Munson, who was elected to the school board at the same time as Horsley, remembers how difficult those cuts were, and she says she has and will continue to take steps to avoid situations where cuts could happen. As a former teacher, Munson says she will always try to prevent cuts from directly impacting education.
Being new to the realm of district budgets, Kristen Lundstrom says it is hard to say what she considers off limits, at least until she has more time to truly understand the complexities of school finances.
Sal Sani Saidou has a hardline position regarding budget cuts and does not believe they are ever necessary.
Voters in the district will cast their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 2, with the top two candidates receiving the most votes winning the seats. Wednesday’s Carroll Chamber of Commerce Forum in its entirety can be found included with this story on our website.
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