Carla Wright learns importance of education in U.S.

Carla Wright learns importance of education in U.S.



By MARCIA LANE
marcia.lane@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 07/31/08

District 5 School Board member Carla Wright learned her lesson about the importance of education while growing up in South America.

In Argentina, where compulsory education was in place, there was a large middle class and a distribution of the wealth. When her family moved to Peru, where there was no compulsory education, she found a country of the very rich and the very poor, with no middle class.

"The difference was because of the education," Wright said. "This county could be a Third World county without our compulsory and free education system."

That belief in education plus an interest in where her tax dollars were going led Wright to seek a seat on the school board in 2001. She was appointed to that first year in office by then-Gov. Jeb Bush after a board member resigned.

Wright, 68, won in her own right in the 2002 election, then won again in 2004.

She still doesn't like the fund-raising part of campaigning, but she does believe campaigns "bring out the issues. There's so much misinformation, and it gives you a chance to correct that."

This year has brought a funding crisis for education that may continue for several years throughout Florida. Passage of Amendment 1, millions less in state revenue and a slowing economy are all being felt on the local level. This year's budget will be anywhere between $11.3 million and $15 million less than last year.

"We need to keep academics high despite all the budget cuts," said Wright, who is serving as board chair.

She's opposed by Dr. Jan Herrmann and former principal Skeeter Key.

In addition to keeping up academic standards, Wright wants to see the arts in schools protected as well.

"It's been proven children do better academically when there are the arts ... and those courses may keep a child in school," she said. "The arts can give children the incentive to come to school. They learn other subjects in the process of the teaching of artistic endeavors."

She calls the arts "awfully important" and says they keep kids in school, increase the graduation rate and reduce dropout rates.

Another goal is to see St. Johns schools continue to improve academically. The St. Johns school system ranks as No. 3 in the state based on academic testing.

"I want us to become No. 1," Wright said. "We went to No. 3 from No. 5. There's no reason we can't continue to improve."

The budget cuts facing the system will have to be addressed, she said.

"I don't know what we're going to do," Wright said, pointing to numerous cutbacks and job freezes already initiated.

The board has been told to expect more cuts within this budget year. Schools can't charge fees, and they're limited by law in ways to raise money.

She thinks this is where parents and school supporters can make the difference.

The response is already starting, she said. A grassroots parent group calling itself 50th No More has formed with a primary goal of restoring funding for public schools to the level required by the Florida Constitution.

The name comes from Florida's rank of 50th in funding out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

"If that takes root, it could be the answer to all our problems," she said.

Despite increased involvement at the state level, the board has not been able to effect change. It's going to be up to people to make the difference she believes.

She credits much of the system's success to Superintendent Joe Joyner.

"I said on his evaluation he was born to be a school superintendent, and that's true," she said.

Wright thinks the current school board works well with him and together that has made a difference.

"Now is not the time for change," Wright said, adding the current budget crisis is a major reason she's decided to run again.

"I did not want to leave the school board in the lurch. ... We have a lot of work to do and some heavy decisions to make. (This board) knows each other, and we work well together. I'd hate to disturb that," Wright said.

A professional ballet dancer, Wright was born in California and grew up in South America where her father was a chemical mining engineer for an American firm. She first came to St. Augustine to gain a needed half credit at Ketterlinus High School so she could attend Florida State University.

She has danced as soloist with the Peruvian Ballet and taught ballet in Ft. Lauderdale and the Houston Ballet Foundation. She's had a second career as a graphic designer and art director.

In 1987 she returned to St. Augustine, where she opened Studio Printing and Advertising Co., later selling it. She worked for the Historic St. Augustine Preservation Board for four years and has served as chair of the St. Augustine Preservation Advisory Committee and the Historic Architectural Review Board.


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