Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

Jane moved to Henderson County in 1986 with her husband and two daughters. She grew up in Minnesota and attended public schools, Kindergarten - 12th grade. Jane attended Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and graduated from San Diego State University in1970 with a California Secondary Teaching Credential. Coming from a family involved in community service and social concerns, she has been involved with several non-profit organizations and has been active in her church. Her daughters attended Henderson County Public Schools and graduated from the University of NC at Chapel Hill. First elected in 1998 to the Henderson County Board of Public Education, Jane is currently completing her third term of office.

She is part of a seven member board elected at-large in a non-partisan race for four-year terms. The board's major role is to set policy for the school system, oversee that those policies and the policies of the state are followed, prepare a yearly budget and hire the Henderson County school system's superintendent. They do not have taxing authority. Funds to operate the school system are primarily from three sources, the federal government, the state government, and the Henderson County Board of Commissioners to whom they submit a yearly current expense and capital expense budget.

While serving on the Henderson County Board of Public Education I was involved in establishing the school system's Mission Statement, Vision Statement, Guiding Principle, Core Values, and Strategic Plan in November of 2000. This is a working Strategic Plan that is carefully reviewed yearly and that is used to guide board decisions. I am proud of our accomplishments over the last 12 years. These include district accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and Council in Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS-CASI), major remodeling and additions at 4 schools, the building of 4 new elementary schools, plans for coordinated maintenance of our schools, lowering class size, encouraging teachers to become National Board Certified Teachers, collaboration with businesses to build an auto mechanics shop at Balfour Education Center, with Blue Ridge Community College to establish an Early College program, with Henderson County Health Department and Blue Ridge Community Health Services to increase the number of nurses and health care for students.

My concerns and desires for the future are:

• working with the county commissioners on continued good funding for schools
• continuing to review and update our Strategic Plan
• providing our students with excellent teachers and staff
• continuing to reduce the drop-out rate
• maintaining low teacher/student ratios
• offering equal opportunities for all of our students
• providing technology to ensure our students are competitive
• maintaining our school properties

I have enjoyed working collaboratively with board members, staff and the community. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to continue my service to the students, parents, and community and to the future challenges for the school system.