The greatest physical need for our district is space. We need to provide space to existing teachers and programs that lack sufficient accommodations. We must also account for the space required for the growth of our district.

We lack sufficient space in our cafeterias, hallways, and classrooms. Many students eat their lunches outdoors because of the lack of cafeteria space.

The cafeteria at the elementary school is meant to accommodate a maximum of 240 students at a time. We currently feed more than 800 students in that location. To get everybody through, the youngest of our students eat their lunch as early as 10:45 a.m.

We have teachers without classrooms who are forced to roam from one classroom to the next with all of their teaching materials in tow. Faculty rooms, hallways, and offices have been converted into makeshift classrooms for small group instruction and testing.

Creating needed space requires difficult decisions and community input and support. Despite our uncertain economy, the most timely solution would have been to pass our bond and commit to our students the financial means to optimize their learning environment.

The fifth-grade building was originally designed to be a full school with a cafeteria, gymnasium, and additional classrooms. At the very least, we need to reconsider passing a bond that would allow for the completion of that building.

This would adequately address the burgeoning populations in both our elementary and middle schools.

Even if we come together to pass a bond measure in the near future, it appears we are currently destined to add portable classrooms. At a recent school board workshop that I attended, it was determined that the district needs a minimum of four additional classrooms for the 2012-2013 school year, and portables appear to be the only timely solution.

I hope that we can find a better long-term solution and rid ourselves of portables as quickly as possible.

Another major concern for our district is finances. With budget cuts in place and others looming, we need to have a plan to address any shortfalls.

At a recent Community Communication Committee meeting, a discussion was held regarding the government's likelihood of eliminating the levy equalization funding. If the funding is eliminated, it would represent a loss of $1.3 million to our district.

It is important that we develop several contingency plans depending on the depth of future cuts. The first thing to determine is where we absolutely cannot make cuts.

Our teachers and other school employees are our most important asset. I appreciate them for the work they do on the front lines of our children's education. They are professionals and we can place confidence in their judgments in their areas of expertise.

Protecting those who directly impact the learning experience of our students through direct classroom instruction and extracurricular programs must be a top priority. I do generally feel that the district overall does do a decent job of being wise stewards of our financial resources.

We have been able to maintain some surplus funds, while many other districts around us have not been able to protect their teaching staffs.

When our facilities need repair and maintenance, we need to spend our resources in a manner that factors both the up-front expenses and the long-term costs of ownership. It is best to fix things correctly the first time.

Our buildings are aging to the point where this is a significant concern. If more budget cuts are required in the future, I advocate a comprehensive review of any programs or employment positions that have been added to our district in the past five years to determine their necessity and to streamline those that are deemed necessary.

Additionally, each of our district employees, from top to bottom, should take an introspective look at how they approach their job responsibilities to ensure that they are being as effective as possible.

If we all do that individually, then act collectively, we can overcome whatever challenges lie before us. We have a responsibility to ensure that our resources, both financial and human, are being employed to the greatest overall benefit of our students.

I encourage each of you to be active in the process of choosing those who will lead our schools by casting your vote. I would appreciate your vote and would work hard to honor that trust that you would have placed in me.

I look forward to the opportunity to enhance the educational experience of our students by serving them on the School Board. If you would like to contact me personally to discuss how we can best achieve success in the Royal School District, I can be contacted by phone at (509) 989-5955 or e-mail at mnoftle@centurytel.net.