Cathy Parker is our harbor master

To The Editor:

Imagine the Port of Oakland, freighters arriving simultaneously, each with critical needs. Who's the harbor master? I'm guessing it requires lots of experience.

Being superintendent of schools is like being a harbor master: Navigating many school districts, incarcerated students' programs, adult education programs. So many moving parts! Our county superintendent works closely with California's Department of Education (CDE), who dictates learning outcomes for California's public school students. Many programs are mandated by strict laws. Tuolumne County can't ignore these mandates without paying huge fines. Our tax dollars should be spent on children's educations, not wasted on penalty payments!

Combined, Tuolumne County public schools make up one of the area's largest employment sectors. All those countywide paychecks are issued by the county office — every school secretary, janitor, library-tech, aide, cafeteria worker, bus driver, principal, counselor, teacher — all their paychecks signed and issued by the county superintendent. The superintendent also secures grant funding, helps negotiate health insurances, and coordinates with local public agencies, like CPS, public health — even the tax assessor. They do all this while balancing a $17.5 million budget!

Good superintendents provide effective leadership to manage organizations and institutional operations, while offering career and leadership opportunities, and supporting 6,000-plus students with individual needs. They also coordinate those local districts, to find chances for shared resources, such as bus services and insurance coverages. Then the supe advises county Board of Education trustees, who represent various regions of the county — all this while striving to help citizens understand the processes and responsibilities involved, and how priorities are set.

So, act like a good teacher: Research the issues. Visit www.tcsos.us. Learn everything the supe must do. Let's understand the entire job before we vote!

After doing the work, I chose my candidate for schools' harbor master: Cathy Parker.

BZ Smith

Sonora