School Board Candidate Profile: Bonnie Weidel

Benicia Patch has asked each City Council, school board and mayoral candidate to fill out a questionnaire to give residents information about his or her background. We will feature the answers from one City Council candidate and one school board candidate each day. The mayoral candidates will both be featured Friday, Sept. 16. Next week we will feature answers to reader-generated questions.

What is your full legal name?    

What name do you prefer be used in our coverage?  
Bonnie Weidel

Where do you work and what is your job title?   
I am owner/director of Art For Kids, a studio on Tyler Street in Benicia Arsenal

When and where were you born?   
Seattle, Washington

Spouse or domestic partner?  
Two, both deceased

Children: 
Two sons

Education:
BA in General Studies with focus on philosophy, creative writing and French language; Associate in Early Child Education; MA in Early Child Education; teaching credential in art and English.

Military Service: 
Only as wife of Navy fighter pilot.

Have you or a business you owned or had a principal interest in ever filed bankruptcy? 
In April of 1999 I filed for Chapter 7 to clear three credit card accounts for which it became apparent I was paying interest on interest for some time. I decided this was not a process I wanted to continue.  The total was $14,413. Since that time I pay as I go, carry no debts and pay no interest for loans on loans.

How long have you lived in Benicia? 
Since 1978. Is that 32 whole years????

As an adult, have you been convicted or charged with a crime other than a minor traffic violation? If so, please explain and include dates and locations.
None

Campaign information: 
No website, but working on it
No campaign manager  

Previous Elected Office:
Incumbent as trustee with Benicia Unified School Board

Unsuccessful campaigns for public office:
None

This Campaign

What is the primary reason you are running for this office?
As an incumbent, there are many projects I would like to advance which are based upon my experience as an educator in the classroom and in the community. I also feel that times are tough with changing technology, fund potentials, educational methods in debate. Teachers and administrators are both under much pressure to meet standards set by legislation, and this is a time for teamwork. I have learned much about our district's needs and look forward to being further involved in useful and productive solutions.

What will be your top three priorities if you get elected and why?
Three only? 

1) Finding a better use for the historically significant Primary School: Currently the Primary School is used as storage for maintenance.   possibility is that this historic building could become a center for vocational studies and be part of a district-wide upgrade of vocational learning, which could include adult education — something BUSD used to offer in the '80s.

2) Establishing a K-5 integrated visual arts program at the four elementary sites: We are concerned about vocational education and options for students that include more than college. I know that the choices of vocation and citizenship stem from the experience we have early on — the visual arts involve brain development, rudiments of math and writing and symbol recognition, relationships and proportions, cause and effect, planning and comparing, all the cognitive skills we want each child to develop and which help them learn about their world and their potential in that world.

3) Develop better communication and public access to school programs: Underfunding is partly due to lack of public understanding of the role of education in the life of the child, the future of our citizenry. Our school district has much to do to keep the public informed on school programs and achievements. Involving the public, especially locally, is critical to maintaining and funding our schools.

What sets you apart from other candidates? 
My 40 years of involvement in education at college, high school and preschool levels; working with curriculum committee to establish a district-wide articulation of subject; 30 years in Benicia working to establish programs that bring the arts and history to the forefront; teaching studio art to children ages 2 through 12, as a basis for learning about cognitive development; and through it all involving parents in the learning process, networking with cultural organizations both local and countywide to connect programs and provide networks.  Experience in education itself.

About how much money do you expect your campaign to raise? None

About how much money do you expect your campaign to spend? 
Looks like it might involve a couple of hundred, but that's steep.