FULL STATEMENT BY

PAT CAHALAN

PUSD BOARD MEMBER, DISTRICT 4

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As many of the Trustee Area 4 voters know, I've already announced that I won't be running for reelection for Trustee Area 4 in the 2024 election.

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I would like to announce today that I am endorsing Scott Harden in his bid to take over the reins for Trustee Area 4.

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I've known Scott for many years.  We both served together on the Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association board as block captains. Scott has a well established history of service, from is work on BHNA and Neighborhood Watch, to site PTA leadership in PUSD, up to his recent and ongoing work as Council PTA President.

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Scott has developed a strong understanding of the entirety of the district through both his volunteer work and from his assistance in the Strategic Planning process the district underwent in 2022-2023.

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Many parents get involved in their own school site, and through that experience learn what sorts of support any one school in PUSD needs to flourish and succeed.

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Scott's district-wide work has given him solid insights into the needs of every PUSD campus, which is vital in balancing and prioritizing the needs of individual schools with the needs of the entire district.  He has a collaborative approach that enables him to reach out to diverse stakeholder groups and maintain solid relationships across diverse interests, but he also has strong principles that will help guide him through the moments of tough decision-making that are necessary to participate in the governance of PUSD.  He's gotten to know the roles of district staff, site staff, parent volunteers, teachers, and how they all need to work together to improve the district.

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There are difficult times ahead for public education in the State of California, with the recent downturn in the economic forecast and the declining revenue at the state level.  PUSD will weather those times, as it has before, with the guidance of good people like Scott.