Mark Austin

Name: Mark Austin
Running for: School Board

Statement provided by candidate:
Candidate Statement for Mark A. Austin
For Fillmore Unified School District Board of Education

Biography Summary:

• Occupation: Operations Officer/Principal for environmental consulting firm
• Age: 42
• Bachelor of Science, Natural Resources Management, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
• Master of Business Administration, California State University, Channel Islands
• Former High School Track and Field Assistant Coach
• Former Babe Ruth Baseball Manager
• Third-term Planning Commissioner, City of Fillmore

Candidate Statement

If elected as a Governing Board member, I will be dedicated to providing our children with a better education. In order to function in the world following graduation, our children should have a better education so they can attend their university of choice. If they choose not to go on to higher education, then we should prepare them for the work force. Every child should be provided with the opportunity to do well in life. If I am given the opportunity to serve as a Governing Board member, I will work towards these goals.
My employment background has provided me with the leadership tools needed to be an excellent Governing Board member. I can bring over 15 years of private-sector experience in building teams and organizations to the Fillmore Unified School District. In my existing role with Impact Sciences, Inc., I handle the day-to-day management of the firm’s operations. This includes assisting the firm’s management team to ensure that the goals are met and assisting in strategic visioning (alignment, purposes, strategies, resource management, and organization/operations). This is the role of a school board member in a nutshell —that is, to attend to the daily details while carrying out the long-term vision of the District: providing a quality education to each student.
My community service background has provided me with the experience needed to be an excellent Governing Board member. While serving on the City of Fillmore Planning Commission for the past nine years—for six of those years as Chairman—I have been placed in the position of making very difficult decisions that affect the community. I have made decisions that required independent judgment and the ability to listen carefully to the public, to ask clear questions, and to decide issues fairly. These decisions have required that I consider the pros and cons of each decision and do what I believe to be in the best interest of the community. This experience will enable me to act in the best interest of the students.

Top Priorities if Elected:

• Improve academic success within the District to guarantee student preparation for higher education
• Strengthen the working and communication relationship between the District and the City of Fillmore
• Ensure that the District operates under a fiscally responsible budget while sustaining a quality educational system

Key Endorsements:

• Steve Conaway, Mayor, City of Fillmore
• Scott Lee, Councilmember, City of Fillmore
• Patti Walker, Councilmember, City of Fillmore