FERNDALE - The Ferndale School Board is poised to make decisions this school year on district facilities and the budget that will affect district's direction.

In the Nov. 8 general election, board members Stuart McKay and Tim Ballew II are facing challenges from, respectively, Jeffrey Marks, a district parent and employee of the Skagit County Assessor's Office, and Hugh Foulke, a former Ferndale High teacher and Ferndale Education Association president.

These are the only two school board races with challengers in all seven Whatcom County school districts this fall. For all other seats, only one candidate filed for election.

McKay, a planner with the BP maintenance department, was first elected as the representative for district 2 in 2003; Ballew, who works in the administration of Lummi Nation and operates a commercial fishing boat, was appointed to the district 3 seat during the summer, filling the unexpired term of Bernie Thomas.

The following comments were excerpted from their answers to a Bellingham Herald questionnaire. McKay did not submit answers to the questionnaire.

Question: What are your views on the Facilities Advisory Committee recommendations that include moving sixth grade to middle school and closing an elementary school? What are other options?

Ballew: "There are millions of dollars needed to cover the cost of repairs and maintenance of our Ferndale Schools. The FAC recommendations are the most immediate solution to this problem. ... The Board will only consider it if the community supports it. The next option could be cutting school programs and services such as: sports, music, all day kindergarten, etc. This is not a desirable option because these all add value to the District and the community. Another option could be a levy. But in the current economy the District does not want to ask taxpayers to provide more than they already are paying."

Foulke: "I oppose closing Custer Elementary School. Everything good about local interest in a local school is true about Custer. If the building structure at Custer is not safe, it should be fixed to make it safe. ... Overall Ferndale Schools are experiencing a decline in student population. This could allow the middle schools to take on sixth graders. If this move were coupled with teachers teaming to take a group of 25 students from 6th grade through to 8th grade, there might be great merit in that especially if teachers tracked the success of those students and the District developed criteria for that measurement."

Marks: "The school board solicited volunteers for this study, the members reflect the good cross sample of the community, and their recommendations should be followed. From my personal experience having one child complete sixth grade in an elementary school, and one child complete sixth grade in a middle school environment, I think the additional year in middle school better prepares the student for high school. ... Demographics indicate the district has too much classroom space. Well, perhaps the better statement is that the classroom space is laid out in configurations that fail to meet the needs of current enrollment. Closing an elementary school seems like a first step in changing the entire facility make-up of Ferndale School District."

Question: If the economic troubles continue, what cuts would you make, where and why?

Ballew: "The Ferndale School District budget is already stretched thin as it is. It is uncomfortable to think that we would have to cut any more than we already have. We had to reduce the amount of certified and classified staff already. Rather than cut we would like to lobby the state legislature to provide more support and find more efficient ways to provide education that includes both the basic needs and the services that the community finds important."

Foulke: "First, all budget makers, even those at the Federal level, have to prioritize. Closing one school may do it. Coming down from the Federal government 'Stimulus High' given to the District will make cutting hard. The recently approved teacher pay increase will make cutting hard. The Board needs to place emphasis on basic education and those programs that encourage the employability of graduates. The Board ought to publicly support the development of the Gateway Pacific Terminal which will eventually help our tax base. Ferndale has already cut administrative staff in response to shrinking resources from Olympia. If more cuts are called for, they must NOT be made at the expense of classroom basic education, the District's first responsibility and mission."

Marks: "The economic trend shows little sign of changing in the immediate future, and the easy cuts have been exhausted. The only cuts left are programs or staff. I would like to see research on potential outsourcing. While this may not result in huge savings, it could result in 'ongoing' savings for when we reach strong economic times."

Question: What other issues do you see in the district and how would you address them?

Ballew: "The main concern that I and all other parents have is that Ferndale remains a school of excellence. I see that the Board's duty is to set goals that provide the administration with the guidance to provide our students with the best education possible. This includes being responsible with the budget available and meeting the needs of all students. As School District Director I will continue to work with my fellow board members and district staff to provide a safe environment that students can learn to their potential."

Foulke: "As a Ferndale School Board member I will want to see that Ferndale Schools place sufficient emphasis on: Consumer Math/Life Skills ... Social Studies (specifically) Constitutional Principles of the Founders and the culture that produced the Declaration, the Constitution and a very productive and dynamic and free society of self restrained and self directed people. ... Vocational Education, especially FFA and the introduction of marketing education and technology education. ... Cost Savings. Education for the children of legal residents only. ... Accountability. Refresh the purpose of education and lower the drop out rate. As a Board Member I will examine and or visit other schools that have good reputations for fewer drop outs and good initial success of their graduates."

Marks: "Communication. Somewhere there is a breakdown between the Administration office and the final end user group, the parents. I am confident that Superintendent and Board are trying to strive for transparency, yet the parents continue to state "I was unaware of this committee, that meeting, the topic being discussed". While it is certainly not the sole responsibility of the district, if the Administration is being transparent, then the breakdown must be happening at the individual school level. Surprisingly, when talking with community members, I repeatedly hear, "I wish the communication were better" or "why bother calling anyone at the district, they never return calls". I am personally aware of folks waiting for return calls that were promised two or three years ago. Accountability has to become the climate within the district, yet I am not sure how we achieve that climate."

ELECTION COVERAGE

Check Bellinghamherald.com/elections for news on the November election, including:

• The entire Q and A's used for this story, plus those from candidates in contested races across Whatcom County;

• Links to candidates' websites;

• Recent articles on the local races;

• Headlines on races and measures across the state and country.