Name: Julie Hunt

City of residence: Post Falls

Date of birth: Aug. 12, 1964

Highest level of education: bachelor's degree in business administration, CPA license

Current occupation: part-time accountant/semi-retired, certified stress reduction specialist

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff writer

POST FALLS — Julie Hunt wants to continue to serve on the Post Falls School Board because she likes making a difference in the lives of students and staff.

"If there's a question, we talk about how it affects the kids," said Hunt, who has served for five years. "I love that and I don't want to see that focus go away."

Hunt is the incumbent on the school board's Zone 5 seat, which serves the area east of Highway 41 and east of Greensferry to Mullan in the Ponderosa Elementary area. She is being challenged by Carol Goodman.

Hunt has one child who graduated from Post Falls High and two others are students at the school. She was involved in parent-teacher organizations during her kids' elementary and middle school years. She has also helped coach youth sports teams, served on district hiring and planning committees, helped organize the senior drug-free graduation party and is an advisor for PFHS Key Club.

"I've been involved in schools since (my kids) were in the first grade, and I haven't left," she said. "I know a lot of parents and I can see the good and what needs improved on."

Hunt believes her accounting background is an asset to the board, especially come budget time.

"I understand budgets, accounting and business," she said. "When I look at a financial statement, I know what it means."

But Hunt said she wants the budget to be more than numbers and the bottom line.

"It's easy to get tunnel vision, but it's really a multi-faceted approach that requires an understanding of the big picture," she said. "School is not just about teaching English and math, but building character traits and leaders."

Hunt would like the district to look into expanding professional-technical opportunities at the Kootenai Technical Education Campus (KTEC) in Rathdrum.

"It would be nice to bring in more professions to KTEC," she said.

Hunt believes the district does what it can with the funding that's available. It has one of the lowest supplemental levy rates in the region. Despite tough economic times recently, the district still has programs for students to get caught up and activities to complement their education.

"My fear is that some people may only see the dollar signs and take away the extra things that give students an edge in life," she said.

Hunt believes technology needs to be integrated more into the elementary and middle schools.

"There's opportunities to learn more in depth with technology," she said. "It gives kids the ability to do more hands-on learning."

Hunt was endorsed by Balance North Idaho, a political action committee created to promote candidates in local non-partisan elections, and is supported by the Post Falls Education Association, the teachers' union.

* * *

Name: Carol Goodman

City of residence: Post Falls

Date of birth: Nov. 4, 1951

Highest level of education: associate’s degree in business administration

Current occupation: owner of Full Throttle Auto repair shop in Post Falls

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff writer

POST FALLS — Carol Goodman has never let learning curves slow her from pursuing interests.

When she started at Sony in California, she didn't know a lot about electronics, but that never deterred her from growing in her job as regional manager of the company's government systems division that sold audio/video systems.

And, after she moved to Post Falls several years ago and couldn’t sit still in retirement, Goodman started Full Throttle Auto repair shop, not your typical female startup venture.

“I like challenges, and I don’t like to fail,” Goodman said. “When I take on a challenge, I put a lot of energy into it.”

She said her experience at the business of stretching a budget through tough times and her willingness to help those in need would be among the attributes she’d bring to the Post Falls School Board.

“My pricing (at Full Throttle) is fair and, as people have struggled, my salary has gone down in the past few years,” Goodman said. “I’m coming from a business perspective as opposed to with an educational background. But I’d bring a fresh eye to things.

“Post Falls has been good to me, and I’d like to give back by serving on the board.”

Goodman is challenging incumbent Julie Hunt for the school board’s Zone 5 seat, which serves the area east of Highway 41 and east of Greensferry to Mullan in the Ponderosa Elementary area.

Goodman, who was endorsed by the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans, said her business has survived on referrals, which illustrates people’s trust in her.

“One of my biggest strengths is that people have trusted me,” she said. “When you’re not overselling, you learn to live within a budget yourself.”

She said she decided to open an auto repair shop based on listening to others on what was needed in the community. She said she’d also apply those listening skills if she’s elected to the school board.

At Sony, Goodman said she came in under budget while exceeding department goals.

“I’ve managed to keep doors open in tough economic times,” she said. “I know how to stretch a dollar.”

Goodman said she wants to learn more about the school district and its budget before recommending specific ways to tighten the belt. One of the first things she’d do, if elected, is to meet with stakeholders to see how she could best serve them as a board member.

Goodman said serving on the board would be a way for her to give back to the community. She has served with the Post Falls Kiwanis and Kootenai County Republican Central Committee.

Goodman, whose grandkids attended Post Falls schools, said she has concerns of what’s being taught in schools on a national level such as sex education, and she wants to help protect Post Falls schools on such subject matter.

“Nationwide, there’s a lot of parents more concerned with social engineering than teaching the basics,” Goodman said.

Goodman said she believes there’s a growing disconnect between students and their history.

“They’re not learning enough history of what made this nation great,” she said. “Kids need to feel pride in their country.”

She said it’s important for students to be taught values such as work ethic and responsibility because those are important later on in life or at a job.

Goodman said she’s more interested in protecting Post Falls education and what it has than advocating change.

“I want to help our schools maintain their level of excellence,” she said. “I’d like to protect the district from outside influences. I love the small-town feel and I hope it doesn’t go away. These kids are our future and we have to be good stewards of their future.”