ROYAL CITY - The Royal City community is well known for coming together and overcoming difficult odds to achieve success, said Royal School Board Position 4 candidate Michael Noftle.

"Nowhere is this 'Royal spirit' better exemplified than amongst our students," he said. "It would be an honor to represent them and their families as a member of their school board."

Noftle wants to give back to the people who supported his family during some difficult times. He currently has five children in the Royal district and is an active volunteer and coach. He said his decision-making experience, including multiple terms on Royal City Council, would be an asset to the district.

If elected, Noftle plans to lead the effort to unite district stakeholders - including teachers, administrators, the community and students - in both cause and principle. To do this the board must seek input from other members of the educational community.

"We must encourage staff and other stakeholders to have an open and honest dialog with school board members and administration concerning issues or problems without fear of any negative retribution," he said. "Our teachers and staff are professionals and we can place confidence in their judgments in their areas of expertise."

Eliminating gang activity within schools requires a multi-faceted approach, Noftle said, including educating and supporting families while continuing to provide extra-curricular sports and vocational programs to help keep youth engaged.

The district is generally a wise steward of financial resources, but Noftle said there is always room for more efficiency. When aging facilities need repair he said resources should be spent in a manner that factors in both the up-front expenses and the long-term costs of ownership. When training staff and teachers, the district should assure they'll receive the greatest benefit possible without allotting more human and financial resources than necessary.

If more budget cuts are required Noftle said the district should conduct a review of all programs and positions added in the past five years to determine their necessity and look for ways to streamline as necessary.

"We have a responsibility to ensure that our resources, both financial and human, are being employed to the greatest overall benefit of our students," he said.

Currently, the greatest need for the district is space for continued growth, Noftle said.

"We are already overcrowded and lack sufficient space in our cafeterias, hallways and classrooms," he said. "Creating this space requires difficult decisions and community input and support."