Herbert challenges Stokke on CKSD board

Lawrence W. Herbert

Age: 42

Residence: Brownsville.

Occupation: Business owner operating a $280,000 budget.

Spouse: Rosemarie Herbert.

Son: William, age 15, Central Kitsap High School.

Daughter: Bernadette, age 11, Brownsville Elementary School.

Son: Patrick, age 10, Brownsville Elementary.

Daughter: Annemarie, age 8 Brownsville Elementary.

l Why are you running for CK school board?

Improve the quality of education. I want to make changes to the WASL by making the WASL encompass the curriculum instead of vice versa. We must meet the needs of the children academically to become good citizens, not waste our time on an unnecessary test. I will promote volunteers with an adopt-a-school program. I will push the government to make lottery money go to education. which will get funding without levies. As a PTA member I will make the parents and teachers voices heard. I am an advocate of the teachers. They are the mentors of today and we need to value their input for tomorrow.

l What skills do you bring to the table?

As a successful business owner, I bring leadership, budgeting and people skills. As a retired Navy veteran, my proven leadership and managerial skill culminated in the development of all facets of curriculum from technical to craftsman for the Navy submarine force. My testing skills developed an innovative way to test the instructors and students, saving $20,000 per course. I don’t believe in “that’s the way we always do things.” I have mentored students in professional development and personal excellence. I have also provided guidance and counseling, emphasizing self-esteem and respect for others.

l If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your term?

I will ensure the best education our children can get. Central Kitsap County needs four new schools and I will make it happen without any levies. Like I said before, the lottery should be for education not the general fund. I have and will continue to write our lawmakers including Mr. Bush. Someday they will be tired of hearing from me and I will get what we need. I will promote more volunteers in our schools with my adopt-a-school program.I will make changes to the way we do the WASL.

l What are the top issues facing public education today?

Money is the top issue. Teachers are underpaid; sports equipment is expensive, and so are books, and new schools. Our schools are overcrowded. We have too many unfunded and underfunded mandates concerning education at both the state and federal levels. These are our schools and we should control what is important for our children’s education. We need more volunteers in the classroom. I am tired of hearing how other county’s education is better than ours. This is the United States of America and we should have the top students in the world. Central Kitsap students will be the top students in America.

l Other information you would like the voters to know about you:

I own my own business. I am a United States Navy submarine veteran. I just got back from two weeks in New York and realized how much I love my community here in Kitsap County. I am a driven community leader and team player, a loving parent of four children, happily married for 16 years, and I am a patriot. I belong to the VFW, American Legion, Fleet Reserve Association and Disabled American Veterans.

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