Rudinsky, Jones vie for school slot

Christine Jones has tossed her hat in the ring to challenge current board vice chairman Steve Rudinsky for Position 3 in the school board election on May 15. The position carries a four year term.

Forty-six-year-old Rudinsky moved to Sisters in 2001 with his wife and three children, two of whom attend Sisters Middle School. His youngest child is a student at Sisters Christian Academy. Rudinsky holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance and has experienced a 25-year career in sales and marketing for Fortune 500 computer companies. Rudinsky was appointed to the Sisters School Board in August 2005 to fill the vacancy created when Tom Coffield resigned.

Jones is a 54-year-old mother of two boys who attend Sisters schools. She and her husband moved to Sisters in 2003 when they left their jobs at the World Bank in Washington D.C. Jones holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University. While a member of the Peace Corps, Jones taught high school math in the Congo, after which she spent 20 years working as an economic policy advisor to developing countries.

When asked to define excellence in education Rudinsky said: "An excellent school system allows every student to learn at their own rate and level and actually challenges all students, even the highest achievers."

For Jones a truly excellent school system challenges "students to the limits of their abilities to acquire knowledge and think independently." In Jones' opinion such a school system inspires a "passion for learning."

Neither Rudinsky nor Jones feel that Sisters schools have attained excellence. Rudinsky suggests that the district is "on the road from good to greatness." He is looking to the new superintendent to move the district into excellence in the near future. Jones feels that although the district has "many great teachers, programs and features," it can do more to "foster a culture of high expectations for all students and do better at meeting the needs of all our learners."

Rudinsky believes that excellence is achieved by lowering class sizes and providing a variety of electives, including foreign languages in the elementary and middle schools and more AP classes at the high school. He also sees the need to "reward exceptional employees exceptionally."

Jones feels excellence is achieved by adequately challenging those who are not "challenged by the standard curriculum, those who are not motivated by traditional teaching approaches or those who have strong interests in certain fields of study that are underrepresented in the curriculum."

She also feels excellence is attained through improvement in performance on state tests.

The candidates were asked to outline the three goals each hopes to accomplish, if elected, during his or her first year of service. Rudinsky's goal is to continue his work of the facilities committee and launch a community-wide task force to develop a 10-year and 25-year district facilities plan.

He also wants the board to move away from "inserting itself into the executive and operational aspects of running the district," allowing the new superintendent to do her job. Finally, he wants to raise the "contingency or ending fund balance" of the district's operating budget to 5.7 percent from one percent to assure a financial cushion in case of an economic downturn.

Jones' first goal is for the district to offer both the diversity and quality of programs that are necessary to provide an excellent education to every student. Her second goal is to see if the quality of the district's education can be improved by re-allocating dollars. Finally, she wants to form a long-term facilities committee to address the issues of district expansion.

Rudinsky states he should win taxpayers' votes because he offers "a different perspective with a more fiscally conservative approach. I am not afraid to ask the tough questions, nor am I afraid to vote against the majority when it is needed. The school board needs someone with conviction, not another rubber stamp."

Jones asserts that she should gain taxpayers' votes because "I'm well-versed in public policy making, an economist by profession and training, a former teacher, a classroom volunteer and a mom with two boys in the district."

Rudinsky and Jones see the role of the school board differently. Rudinsky contends that a school board's role is as an advisor and policy-maker. Jones sees the board's role as one of acting as a team united around a vision of excellence, insuring that the maximum educational impact is obtained from taxpayers' dollars. Jones states that "the board is responsible for managing those dollars prudently, transparently and in accordance with state policies."

Rudinsky contends his strength is his analytical approach to problem solving.

"I am results oriented and reward honesty, integrity and performance. I encourage risk-taking and learning from one's mistakes, and therefore I also believe in giving people second chances," he states.

Jones lists her strengths as "intelligence, integrity, great analytical capacity, many years of professional experience in public policymaking and budgeting, a great sense of humor and a thick enough skin to weather the inevitable difficult times. I'm a good team player, a good listener, and I like to get things done."

The candidates were asked to add any additional information they would like for the public to know.

Rudinsky states: "In the winter, I am also a ski racing coach with MBSEF (Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation). I love to work with young kids, helping them to enjoy competition, team work and going fast on snow."

Jones, an enthusiastic quilter, states that she is also a "bicyclist doing my best to get ready for Cycle Oregon this year."