Romoland School Board Candidates Address Key Issues

Updated story includes a correction of Derek Rouch's previous status with the Romoland School District. He taught two years in the district as a full-time credentialed employee.

The two candidates for the Area 5 trustee seat in the Romoland School District greeted parents of local students and answered questions during a public forum Friday night.

Held in the Heritage Lake clubhouse, the event provided an opportunity for residents to learn more about incumbent board member David Fox and challenger Derek Rouch.

Fox was appointed to the board two years ago and is seeking election for his first full term in area 5, which serves Ethan A. Chase Middle School, Boulder Ridge Elementary School and Mesa View Elementary School. He cited his experience on the board and his familiarity with the students and staff as strong points in his bid for election.

"When I was appointed two years ago, I didn't have an agenda," said Fox (left). "I still don't have a personal agenda; it’s all about the kids.

"I don’t have any backers that have a particular political agenda or a personal agenda. I have a grandson in this district. Whatever advantages he has in this district, I want every kid to have in this district."

Rouch worked as a credentialed, full-time teacher in the Romoland School District for two years and now teaches full-time in Lake Elsinore. While admitting he left to pursue a better benefits package and hopes to see improvements in teacher salaries and benefits in Romoland, he expressed a love for the students of this district and stressed his familiarity the staff.

"Being competitive with benefits and salary is important," said Rouch. "But I'm here to support the people. I’m not really a political person, but I did have amazing experiences with the teachers in this district. And I care about the kids."

Both candidates spoke about the need to support staff in improving student performance and meeting the challenges of a small district.

"We are what’s considered a starter district, where people come, they gain experience and what do they do? They move on to a bigger district," Fox said. "We can’t continue to operate like that. We need to pay our administrators a little more money so they will stick around. I want to keep people around and you've got to pay them to do that."

Fox supported the decision to have both a superintendent and assistant superintendent, as many other small local districts do. Rouch said he could see a reason to reduce the administrative staff to open up other financial possibilities but isn't committing to a position on the subject.

"Some districts around us are really small, too," said Rouch (right). "It’s hard to defend having five different superintendents with five assistants for those districts all around us.

"I would certainly imagine one would suffice. I’ve seen research in Colorado (his former state of residence) where they don’t have more than one superintendent in a district of 17,000. I’m not saying that’s my plan, but it’s hard to endorse."

Fox said the district office and board of trustees play important roles in the success of school sites, but he emphasized that it takes everyone working together.

"As an individual, I can’t do that," he said when asked how he could bring up performance results in local schools. "No individual board member can do that. It sits on everyone’s shoulders. But it starts here ... and I don’t do things halfway. You might not agree with me, but you know where I stand."

Friday night's event was sponsored by the Romoland Teachers Association.