St. Vrain Valley school board election Q&A: Alexander Sharp, District B

E-mail: alexsharp@hotmail.com

Age: 46

Address: 7119 Dry Creek Court, Niwot

Family: Wife, Kathie; sons Aleksei and Roman; and daughter Vera

How long have you lived in St. Vrain Valley? Two years

Education: Bachelor’s of science degree from Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., in 1984; aviation safety officer qualification from Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, Calif., in 1991; joint professional military education from Naval War College, Newport, R.I. in 1993-1997; joint professional military education from Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va., in 1998; master of arts degree from Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2000

Professional background: Retired naval officer and helicopter pilot

Political experience: None

Who is your hero? My mother

Tell us something unusual about yourself that few people know: When I took off my uniform for the last time, it broke a 150-year continuous period of a family member on active duty.

What is your favorite Web site or blog? MSN.com is my home page.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? More patience.

What do you think are the district’s top budget priorities? And how would you engage the community in making tough decisions? Priorities were identified by passage of 3A (mill levy override) and 3B (bond) last November. The override will greatly help the district as state funds constrict. Superintendent and board are getting this message out to the community via multiple means. I would continue these communication efforts.

How do you think the district should move forward with teacher contract negotiations? Look at the big picture — 5.5 million Americans have lost their jobs in the last year, and millions more have taken pay cuts. The state is facing decreasing revenues now and in the next few years that will significantly impact district funding. I think the board has made a fair offer.

How would you work to continue closing the achievement gap? Align standards, curriculum and assessments. Focus the proper resources on the lowest performing schools, rather than penalize these schools by cutting funding. The district is working diligently on closing the achievement gap; I look forward to adding to their efforts.

What issue would you take up, if elected, that you think hasn’t been addressed by previous school boards? To better align curriculum with 21st-century job skill requirements.