KLCC Candidate Guide: Fern Ridge School District

Six Candidates are running for three positions on the Fern Ridge School District Board.

Just one candidate, Andrea Larson, is an incumbent running to retain her seat. Larson is being challenged by WC D Grover.

David Voltz, Mark Gent, David Alsup and Brian Kirkpatrick are running for open positions.

Fern Ridge School district has nearly 1,400 students enrolled, according to Oregon Department of Education data from the 2023-2024 school year.

KLCC reached out to each candidate who had filed to run for a seat in the district with a questionnaire for its KLCC Candidate Guide. Two out of the six candidates responded.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Andrea Larson and WC D Grover did not respond to KLCC’s questionnaire.

David Voltz

Tell us a little bit about yourself: 

I'm a father and husband first, but I'm an electrician by trade. I'm an artist and musician that believes in the power of community. I have faith in the power of caring and compassion, two things that our current school board stands to lose if we don't prioritize kindness and inclusivity in our schools.

Why do you want to run for school board?

I don't want to run, but I really feel like I have to... I'm really busy. I'm already on a few boards locally and am a Veneta City Councilperson.

I feel like I've witnessed a lack of decorum and procedure in our school board meetings and [believe] they will continue to deteriorate without someone with board experience, patience, and a firm understanding of rules. I'm afraid that it would cause stress on our already precarious education system in Fern Ridge.

School districts across the state have struggled with budget issues in recent years. Many have laid off staff and eliminated programs. The Trump administration has moved to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, or cut funding. If you are elected to the school board, how might you approach local, and larger scale funding challenges? 

Working with the surrounding cities and communities to support school bonds. Reaching out to local nonprofits and organizations to support arts programs and support staffing levels.

Students across Oregon are struggling to read, and many are behind in math, according to ODE data. What do you think your district should be doing to ensure all students are proficient in reading, and math?

I think that we need to reevaluate our curriculum and how we teach students. I think we need to give teachers more time and flexibility to use what they have learned in training and experience, to help our kids find a connection and love for learning. If kids aren't excited about the things that they can learn and do, they won't strive to do better or seek to educate themselves.

What do you believe is the number one issue facing schools in your district?

In addition to the funding struggles mentioned earlier, we need to keep an eye on teacher burnout. I think that having a staff person dedicated to teacher satisfaction and retention will help our districts find and retain the best, most excited teachers. This would result in a cost savings long term and improvement in overall satisfaction and pride.

Mark Gent

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I was born & raised in Wales. After secondary school I served in the Royal Navy where I worked as an intelligence analyst & an Arabic linguist, attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer. My wife and I met on a joint, US/UK, counter-narcotics operation in the Caribbean. We were married in 2008, and I emigrated to the US in 2009 where I joined the Coast Guard Reserves, which expedited my citizenship.

I served with the San Diego PD from 2011-2015 before transferring to the Eugene Police Department where I currently work. My wife and I have been married for sixteen years. We have three children in the Fern Ridge School District, and next year they will all be at the middle school.

Why do you want to run for school board?

I'm running for the school board because my children are affected by the policies being set by the board, and will be for the next 5-7 years. I'm not convinced that the decisions of the current school board are being made with the best academic interests of the children of Fern Ridge in mind.

School districts across the state have struggled with budget issues in recent years. Many have laid off staff and eliminated programs. The Trump administration has moved to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, or cut funding. If you are elected to the school board, how might you approach local, and larger scale funding challenges?

I believe some funding issues are products of the status quo, and others are products of state mandates which have no direct bearing on education. If elected to the school board, I would strive to align our district's budget with our district's academic goals by questioning whether or not there is a better way of allocating resources to achieve our goals, and seeking a means to stop state mandates on public schools that are not relevant to academics.

Students across Oregon are struggling to read, and many are behind in math, according to ODE data. What do you think your district should be doing to ensure all students are proficient in reading, and math? 

I think we need to turn to others and look for best practices elsewhere. Districts and states that have shown increases in proficiency, and learn from them. What's working? Is it an evidence-based curriculum? Specialized tutoring or coaches for students and teachers? A third grade promotion gate? Whatever we do, it can't just be continuing to do what we're already doing, because that isn't working.

What do you believe is the number one issue facing schools in your district?

I think the number one issue facing our district is lack of trust. There's been a breakdown in reciprocal, open communication. Parents don't feel heard. It feels like there's a lot of contention in the community. I think if we find a way to rebuild trust, where parents feel secure knowing the school isn't circumventing them in any way, and the teachers feel secure knowing parents respect them, have faith in their abilities, and support them, I think that would pave the way for some real change to happen.

David R Alsup and Brian Kirkpatrick did not respond to KLCC’s emailed questionnaire.