EXPERIENCE, LEADERSHIP, PASSION
Join us in supporting Claudia Powers as she runs for the Bandon School Board. Together, we can create a brighter future for Bandon's kids!
Elect Claudia Powers for Bandon School Board
CANDIDATE’S STATEMENT
Hi, I am Claudia Powers. I am running for Position 3 on the Bandon School Board. I am a graduate of the Bandon Public School system, grades 1-12. I am a former teacher, and a curriculum designer for a national career education pilot project. I am a retired energy and environmental lawyer, and during those 43 years, I spent a good deal of time teaching other lawyers, agency regulators, and consultants about environmental and energy law. I have never been far from teaching and education in my professional career.
I decided to run for the Bandon School Board to defend the educational foundation of my professional life, the one I received from Bandon public schools. I oppose the assaults on academic freedom and the threats to public education like those embodied in recent Executive Orders issued by the current administration and its dismemberment of the U.S. Department of Education. On the contrary, I support strong financial and community commitments to public schools, particularly small, rural districts like ours. I believe in teaching kids how to think critically, and I believe in exploring new ways to prepare them for post high school success in a complicated world.
I am here to fight for students and teachers because I believe every child deserves a free, quality public education like the one I was given. But I need your help to ensure that teachers and kids get the resources and support they need.
Do I have your vote?
Fill out and return or drop off your mailed ballots as soon as you get them to ensure your vote is counted on May 20 for this important election!
GOING FORWARD
The Bandon School Board needs to up its game to meet existing problems and prepare for an uncertain future. 43% of our students are economically disadvantaged. A little over $1.1 million in our 2024-25 adopted school budget is provided by federal funds, and those funds support everything from school lunches to teachers, teacher aides, and a program director. Future federal monies are no longer assured, and Bandon could lose most, if not all, federal funding under mandates telling us what we can and cannot teach and what policies and practices we can employ to ensure that everyone is included in the opportunity for a public education. I don’t like bullies, and I do not accept bad checks, a woman’s place, the arms race, a man’s role, or wrong-headed mandates. After all, I was a rodeo queen.
I also am concerned about our students’ graduation rates and post-high school opportunities. Bandon is a small, rural district with a big heart that does well, but we can do better.
We need a strong voice to send a message to, and through, organizations and elected officials that advocate for our kids. The Oregon Rural School Boards Caucus, the Oregon State School Board, the Oregon Department of Education, the Oregon School Boards Association, and the Governor need to hear that we expect them to press hard politically and legally for federal dollars. At the same time, we need to compete effectively for a larger share of the State School Fund.
We need the community’s robust involvement in school funding by making the School Board Budget Committee’s work more visible and understandable. Parents, kids, and the general public need to be involved in contributing ideas, suggesting priorities and proposing workarounds for revenue shortfalls.
Bandon’s on-time graduation rate last year was 86%. The state rate was 81%. Although Bandon is above the state on-time graduation rate (GO TIGERS), I believe the school board needs to examine why the rate is not 100% and set policies to achieve it.
Finally, the school board needs to enhance community-based career education through internships with public and private businesses and seminars for aspiring entrepreneurs. The board needs to explore expanding dual credit classes with SWOCC (taught at Bandon High School) to include more technical and vocational training, increase student participation in SWOCC Works – the Construction & Heavy Equipment Operator Pre-Apprenticeship Program, and find ways for more students to access Oregon BOLI Apprenticeship Programs in Coos County. Let’s get this done.
Please give me your vote!
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