School Board Member District 2

John Davis

John Davis
2717 Barnsley Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34744
407-348-0485
electjdavis@aol.com
website.com
Non-Partisan
Age: 59
Occupation: Architect
Total Monetary Contributions To Date: $5120
Total Monetary Expenditures To Date: $3025.51
Download 1st Quarter Financials
Download Financials as of 7.18.08

Previous/Current Elected Office:
None

Previous Campaigns for Elected Office:
None

How Long have you lived in Osceola County?
11 Years

What is your history of community service?
Board of Directors of the Osceola Boys & Girls Club, Member of the Business Advisory Board for TECO Educational Center & Member of Kissimmee Bay Rotary Club

Why are in you seeking this office?
With two encumbents electing not to run for re-election the School Board will gain two new members. With the current reduction in funding and on going poor test scores, the new board members need to have an understanding of the educational laws and funding issues that are facing the School District. I have the educational and business experience to help the new School Board address the issues with integrity and honesty.

What makes you the best-qualified candidate?
I have worked with three school districts in the state of Florida as a Consultant and staff member for over twenty-three years. I retired from the Osceola School District as Chief Facilities Officer after eight years of service with the district. I have worked closely with the staff and elected officals of the Cities of Kissimme and St. Cloud as well as Osceola County. I understand the issues that have been raised with concurrency and I can work with other elected officals to ensure the growth in Osceola County is coordinated with all Planning Departments and elected bodies. I have prepared annual and long range finacial budgets and understand the laws that effect the spending of local and state educational funds.

Current or former elected official you most admire and why?
Harry Truman; because he was a truthful and honest man that was not afraid to do what was right and best for the nation.

If additional revenue becomes available where would you spend it?
The function of the Osceola School District is to educate the children in a safe and nurturing enviroment for both the students and teaching staff. It is the responsibility of the School Board to provide adequate funds for the proper instruction of the students. I would direct as much funding as possible towards this end.

If revenue falls short, what are the areas you would target for cuts?
I would look for reductions in administration, non-direct educational spending and department budgets first. Because of the way school districts are funded the various funding sources come with limitations on how they can be spent and therefore limit some shifting of funds from one budget to another. The last area that I would recommend spending reductions would be in the classroom.

Under what circumstances would you raise taxes?
I would only investgate additional taxes if the quality of the instruction in the classroom declined due to lack of qualified teachers and/or shortage of supplies and instructional materials and only after an independent citizen task force recommendation to raise taxes.

What does Osceola County School system do well?
The vast majority of the Osceola School District staff are trying to perform their jobs to the best of abilities under adverse conditions. The district has some excellent programs that are working well, a couple of examples are the TECO Educational Center and the Baccalaureate Program at Gateway High School. These type of programs need to be expanded in other locations to include additional students.

What does Osceola County School system do poorly?
The current School Board , Superintendent and some upper level administrators are not providing a productive working enviroment for the district and school based staffs to perform at their best. For the district to improve, this has to change.

How would you help businesses in Osceola County?
The School Distirct of Osceola County spends a lot of money and purchases goods and services in a wide range of expertise and these monies need to be spent in Osceola County as much as possible. The current construction program is spending millions of dollars and almost all of that money goes to firms outside of Osceola County. Policies and proceedures need to be reviewed and modified to allow local firms to participate in providing these goods and services.

Rate the job performance of the Superintendent.
Because the Superintendent is retiring, this is a mute point.

What is the top issue facing Osceola County Schools?
School Funding and student performance, these are related issues.