Higley USD candidates talk about preparing to be on board

By Tom Blodgett
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Twitter: @sp_blodgett

This is the sixth in a series of questions asked of Higley USD Governing Board candidates. Voters will decide among these four candidates for the two open four-year seats on the board.   

What steps are you taking to prepare for serving on the governing board? 

Brooke Garrett, homemaker, volunteer 

The biggest thing I am focusing on right now is listening. Engaging with voters and community members to establish connections so we can work together in the future. I feel that if we are better connected we can work together as a community more efficiently. I know I have much to learn, and I'm excited about that. 

Roy Morales, operations support manager 

I am in the process of reviewing the following:  

1. HUSD Meeting videos and agenda on BoardDocs Pro;
2. Reviewing and analyzing the current and past budgets and bond proposals;
3. Review materials and courses relating to job requirements of a school board member;
4. Reviewing past news articles on HUSD matters;
5. Speaking with constituents within the community;
6. Reviewing materials within the AZED website.

Anna Van Hoek, financial and accounting analyst 

I have taken the time to dig into the budget, spending and curriculum. I've attended the board meetings online to see what is being discussed and done a lot of candidate training through many different organizations. 

Amanda Wade, stay-at-home mom, applying to school 

I have talked with parents, students, teachers, support staff, administrators, and community members without ties to schools to ask them what matters to them when it comes to our schools. I have taken the time to look into their concerns and learn how these areas are impacted by decisions made by board members. Ultimately, there are a lot of ins and outs to being a board member, and I will rely heavily on my ability to reach out and talk to people to better understand how a specific decision on the board impacts them in order to make the most informed decisions possible. 

Tom Blodgett
Senior News Editor | Gilbert
@sp_blodgett

tblodgett@iniusa.org

Meet Tom
Tom Blodgett joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2022, when the company acquired Community Impact Newspaper's Phoenix-area properties. Raised in Arizona, he has spent more than 35 years in journalism in the state.

Community: He has served as an instructional professional in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication since 2005, and is editorial adviser to The State Press, the university's independent student media outlet. He also is director of operations for an 18U girls fastpitch softball team from Gilbert.

Education: Arizona State University with a BS in Journalism. 

Random Fact: He lived in Belgium during his freshman year of high school.  

Hobbies: Tweeting enthusiastically about ASU softball (season-ticket holder) and grumpily about other local sports (pessimistic fan).