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Five candidates vie for seats on GUHSD board
By Lori Bledsoe
The Alpine Sun
EL CAJON — The Registrar of Voters has
released the names and statements of the candidates who are
running for the upcoming open seats on the Grossmont Union High
School District board of trustees. On Nov. 4, voters will be
asked to choose two from this group of five candidates,
including two incumbents.
Each candidate must provide qualifications to the
Registrar in order to be placed on the ballot. The
qualifications include the Jurisdiction Name, the Office Title,
the Candidates Name, Age, and Occupation. Also, the candidates
can provide any endorsements, accomplishments, education and a
brief statement as to why the voter needs to vote specifically
for them.
The following are the candidates that will be running
for the board:
Incumbent Larry Urdahl, who is 63, is a life long San
Diego County resident, living in Alpine. He is an involved
Community leader who is a member of the Alpine Planning Group,
the Alpine Kiwanis Club, and the East county Gang Task Force. He
is also the current president of the GUHSD board.
He is a proud parent of a recent graduate from the
Grossmont Union High School District and a member at Skyline
Church. Congressman, Duncan Hunter, State Senator, Dennis
Hollingsworth, Former Assemblyman, Jay LaSuer, County Supervisor
Dianne Jacob endorse him, along with GUHSD board of trustees
Priscilla Schreiber and Dick Hoy. Also on his list of
endorsements, he includes the Vice Mayor of La Mesa, Ernest
Ewin.
Urdahl’s accomplishments include implementing a
Strategic vision Plan for GUHSD, Introducing the Bond
Performance review, the Bond Advisory committing and expanding
the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee. He brought professional
bond Managers to GUHSD, which resulted in savings for the
taxpayers.
Urdahl is determined to maintain a safe learning
environment, committed to providing life-long learning skills.
He is dedicated to providing quality academic, career, and
vocational programs. He feels that he is accessible; he listens
and responds to the concerns of parents, teachers, and all
Community Stakeholders.
Dr. Gary Woods is 58, and another candidate running for
the board. Woods is an experienced educator, a Director at EBI
Leadership Development and has a Doctoral Degree in Educational
Technology ad learning. Woods serves as a community leader and
chairman of the El Cajon Planning commission, and is involved in
business-community partnerships for vocational training and
jobs.
Woods is endorsed by former Assemblyman, Steven
Baldwin; El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis and City Council members
Jillian Hanson-Cox, Gary Kendrick and Bob Me\McClellan. Current
GUHSD board of trustees, Jim Kelly and Robert Shield, also
endorse him. Santee City Councilman Brian Jones and school board
members Dan Bartholomew and Allen Carlisle are among his
supporters.
Woods is passionate about student-centered learning. He
wants to improve student scores and graduation rates by
strengthening the arts and sports programs. He wants safer
schools with more parents’ rights and involvement.
Woods is committed to community values and fiscal
responsibility. He has been married for 22 years, has two
children, and attends Shadow Mountain Church. He supports
Proposition 8 defining marriage as one and one woman. He also
supports Proposition 13, which protects homeowners.
Carol Boone, J.D., M.S.W. is a Facilitator, mediator
and organizer. She says that citizens in our community are tired
of “wedge” issues that divide us.
“The education of our children is suffering: We need
change that is based on finding common ground and respecting
differences. Open and respectful dialogue can lead to positive
solutions. I know because I have been part of building consensus
among parties with diverse interests and values. I will lead by
listening and responding to citizens, parents and teachers.”
Boone says she will represent with fairness and dignity
as her experience as a facilitator, a mediator, and community
organizer provides skills to build solutions based on consensus
and convergence of interests and values. Boone is a lawyer who
has worked for 30 years in Washington State and local government
programs, which includes community development, conservation and
public health. Her responsibilities have included overseeing
staff, funding, grants, program activities and local providers.
She knows that it is possible to find common ground. She is
ready to represent on the board and bring change.
Meg Jedynak, 38, is also running for a position on the
board. She is a parent and a journalist who has experience in
radio and television journalism. She includes in her experience
a San Diego State University Bachelor of Arts as well as
experience as a news writer for NBC 7/39 and a short time as a
columnist for The Alpine Sun in the last decade. She works with
Children’s Hospital as well as Parents Active for Vision
Education. She is a proud member of the Daughters of the
American Revolution and the Mayflower Society.
Assemblyman Joel Anderson and Former Assemblyman Steve
Baldwin endorse Jedynak; as well as GUHSD board members Jim
Kelly and Robert Shield, former members of the GUHSD board Gary
Cass and Evelyn Wills. El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis and City
Council Members: Bob McClellan, Jillian Hansen and Gary
Kendrick; Santee City Councilman Brian Jones as well as Santee
school board members; Dan Bartholomew and Allen Carlisle are
among her supporters.
Jedynak is opposed to tax increases during these tough
economic times and supports Prop. 13. She believes she will
improve student academic achievement and vocational training.
She wants to protect parent’s rights and oppose special interest
groups that advance radical agendas. She supports teachers in
the classrooms and encourages patriotism and the appreciation of
U.S. history.
Jedynak has been married for 14 years. She has three
sons in public school and attends Skyline Church; she is a
school and community volunteer and a PTA member.
Incumbent Priscilla Schreiber, 55, an incumbent of the
Grossmont Union High School District is also on the ballot. She
is a businesswoman and a parent in the district.
Schreiber is endorsed by Congressman, Duncan Hunter,
State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth, County Supervisor Dianne
Jacob, Former Assemblyman Jay LaSuer, GUHSD trustees Larry
Urdahl and Dick Hoy, Grossmont-Cuyamaca College District
Trustees Deanna weeks, Rich Alexander and Bill Garrett. Pastor
Jim Garlow is also on her list of supporters.
Schreiber is a life long San Diegan and East County
resident. She and her family attend Shadow Mountain Church and
support local charities and ministries. She works along side her
husband in the family construction business.
Schreiber is committed to quality academics, career and
vocational programs, safe and modernized campuses, efficiently
utilizing taxpayer’s money, teaching excellence, improved test
scores, aligning educational standards with sound business
practices and parent’s rights and involvements.
Her accomplishments include hiring Gafcon-Harris as the
School Bond Program Manager. She expanded membership on the
Citizens Bond Oversight Committee and created the Bond Advisory
Commission for transparency. She instituted tying school board
agenda items to district goals and implemented governance
standards. She is a part of the California School Boards
Association as an elected assembly delegate and has a Masters in
Governance Graduate.
She says that you can count on her to continue proven
leadership with verifiable accountability and utmost integrity.
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