Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Hutcherson: board service not for the meek

One way or another, Jim Hutcherson will continue to keep his focus on educating youth.

Days away from completing a 16-year stint as trustee on the Fallbrook Union High School District (FUHSD) Board, Hutcherson, who was defeated at the pools November 7 in his bid for election for a fifth term, has endured a newspaper advertising campaign to malign his reputation but says he will not allow it to interfere with his commitment to the education of youth and will continue to “spread the enthusiasm” teaching at Sullivan Middle School, National University and University of Phoenix in addition to working on worthy projects like staff development for Bonsall Union School District.

“Board service is not for the meek,” Hutcherson said. “You have to have broad shoulders. Often, people come to board

meetings without really knowing all the facts and answers cannot be given to them in that venue.” Referencing restrictions placed on the board by the Brown Act, Hutcherson said the situation can be frustrating.

“Those who attend deliberately want to make it appear that the board or superintendent doesn’t understand the situation and we just have to sit there and listen to it; you have to understand how governance works,” he said. “Then, unfortunately, the comments appear in some newspapers, giving the impression that the district is in an uproar and it really is not in an uproar.”

Hutcherson said he wishes the three new board members, Bill O’Connor, Michael Schule and Marc Steffler, well and calls Dennis Allen and Lynn Colburn “good board members.”

“All three of the new board members are educated, good people,” Hutcherson said. “They will get some facts that will be real eye-openers.”

“They will have to look at what takes place in closed session,” he said. “There are going to be some issues right away pertaining to personnel and contracts that they will have to pull together on for the betterment of the district and community.”

“There are personnel issues they are going to have to deal with right away,” Hutcherson said. “I think they will be surprised when they see some of the things that we have been dealing with. These matters have to be dealt with under the law in order to protect the district, students and employees from lawsuits.”

When asked if personnel issues seem to be occurring more or less frequently these days, Hutcherson said, “In the last five years, there have definitely been more personnel issues. We have a very professional administration and they know they have to take certain steps when addressing these issues in order to protect the district.”

Quality communication with district administration will be the key to success, Hutcherson said. “They are going to be surprised how well Tom <Anthony> will work with them. He is a strong leader and a real professional who doesn’t try to malign anyone.” Hutcherson worked with three different superintendents during his four terms.

On the subject of salary negotiation with the classified and certificated staff, Hutcherson said, “Everybody wants more money. That could have been settled anytime in the last four months. Now the new board will have to address the stumbling blocks.”

Hutcherson said the current leadership team at Fallbrook High is “exceptional,” in his opinion.

“The three vice principals came up through the ranks and they are excellent,” he said. “And we are very fortunate to have the quality people we have in the district office.”

Hutcherson taught at Fallbrook High School from 1974 to 1986 before accepting a position with the Bonsall Union School District, where he is enjoying his 20th year.

When first elected to the FUHSD board, Hutcherson attended the California School Board Association convention and was the only board member to do so for three years.

“I wanted to be sure I had a very good understanding of both the role of the superintendent and of the board,” Hutcherson said. “To do your job correctly as a board member, you come to learn that you have to separate yourself from the whole picture and that doesn’t settle well with various groups.”

“You have to put things into perspective; it’s not for the meek,” he reiterated. “And you can’t deal with things in a spiteful, vindictive way.”

For Hutcherson, playing an active role in the continuing education of teachers is important, because he says it will lead to better education for the youth.

“The type of instruction that the teachers are engaging in is incredible,” he said. “We have seen a systematic change – a change for the better – a much stronger change – in staff development over the past 10 to 12 years. That and the continued careful analysis of test scores will help us build a stronger education system.”

 

Reader Comments(0)