Three candidates are seeking the one seat to represent Trustee Area 5 on the Orcutt Union School District Board of Trustees.
Running for the four-year term are Shaun Henderson, incumbent; David Morgan, rental property manager, and Whitney May, mother. The top vote-getter in the Nov. 3 election will win the race and take office in December.
Trustee Area 5 is generally the northwest corner of the Orcutt district and only voters in that area will vote to fill the term. A map of the OUSD voting areas is available by clicking here.
Two incumbents, Mark Steller for Trustee Area 3, and Melanie Waffle for Trustee Area 4, did not face challengers so those races won’t appear on the ballot. Their new terms also will start in December.
Shaun Henderson, incumbent
Question: Why are you running for Orcutt Union School District School Board?
Henderson: I am running for the Orcutt Union School District Board because I believe in giving back to the community that has been my home for more than 33 years. I have had the honor of serving as a school board trustee for the past eight years, and I am proud of the progress we have made working together to support our students and staff.
This district is personal to me. My three children attended OUSD schools, and I have been involved as a parent, volunteer, school site council member, and community supporter. I have also served our community through the YMCA, Rotary, Orcutt Children’s Arts Foundation, the American Heart Association, and coaching youth sports.
My professional experience in management, human resources, financial and operational management, and the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing industries has provided me with experience I bring to the board. I also completed the Master’s in Governance Program to better understand and fulfill my responsibilities as a trustee.
I am running because I believe I still have something valuable to contribute and want to continue working collaboratively with this board to provide our students with safe schools, strong educational opportunities, and a positive environment in which they can succeed.
Question: What do you think are the three most pressing issues the Orcutt Union School District faces over the next four years? How would you address these issues?
Henderson: I believe the three most pressing issues facing the Orcutt Union School District over the next four years are student safety and behavior, maintaining strong educational achievement while being financially responsible, and managing technology and artificial intelligence responsibly.
First, student safety and behavior. Every student and staff member deserves a safe and positive learning environment. I would continue supporting strong safety plans, secure campuses, appropriate staffing, emergency preparedness, and consistent behavioral expectations while providing students with the support they need.
Second, academic achievement and financial responsibility. We must keep students focused on reading, writing, math, and preparing for life beyond school while being responsible with district resources. We have expanded instructional time for English and math, provide additional support for students who need it, and challenge advanced students to reach their goals. We invest in teacher professional development and programs such as Illustrative Mathematics, Career and Technical Education, and our Early College Cadre Program. I would continue supporting programs that improve student achievement while carefully managing taxpayer dollars.
Third, technology and AI. I support reasonable limits on cellphone and screen use while using technology when it genuinely improves learning. We must also teach students to use AI safely, responsibly, and ethically.
Question: What experience and expertise would you bring to the school board?
Henderson: I bring more than eight years of experience serving as an OUSD Trustee, along with more than 33 years as a member of this community. I have completed the Master’s in Governance Program, which has provided me with additional training in school board responsibilities, governance, and the challenges facing public education.
My professional background includes management, human resources, financial and operational management, and experience in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing industries. These experiences have taught me how to manage budgets, evaluate information, work with different groups, solve problems, and make challenging decisions.
I also bring the perspective of a parent. My three children attended Orcutt Union School District schools, and I was involved as a school site council member and volunteer while they were students. I understand the importance of strong communication between schools, families, and the community.
Throughout my career and community involvement, I have learned the importance of teamwork and giving back.
I believe my experience, training, financial and operational background, and commitment to our community allow me to bring a practical and team perspective to the school board.
David Morgan, rental property manager
Question: Why are you running for the Orcutt Union School District Board of Trustees?
Morgan: My own child attends school in the Orcutt School District so I have a vested interest in the success of our schools. I want the same things you want for your own children: a quality education in a safe learning environment.
I am concerned about teachers not being allowed to enforce academic standards, severe behavioral issues by a small number of students interfering with the ability of others to learn, repeated incidents of violence perpetrated by some students against other students and staff, too much reliance on technology in the classroom, too many combination classes, and the lack of transparency or responsiveness in how school administrators deal with parental and staff concerns. The current board has been in place for at least eight years but these issues remain unresolved.
These concerns are shared by teachers and school staff as well. I am the only candidate running for the Board of Trustees that is being endorsed by the teachers’ association and the classified employees’ association. I met with their members and asked them about their concerns. We never discussed their salary or benefits. They want to see real change from the board with respect to working conditions and the effect they have on student learning.
Serving on the Board of Trustees will be my way of giving back to the community. I do not intend to take the salary nor will I vote to increase the board’s salary during my tenure.
Question: What do you think are the three most pressing issues the Orcutt Union School District faces over the next four years? How would you address those issues?
Morgan: Some examples of what has happened: Less than 50% of students are proficient at or above grade level in math and English. A teacher was told by a principal that he/she can’t fail a student that didn’t meet the academic standard. A classroom aide was attacked by a student then questioned by the principal as to whether it was “really all that bad.” A principal told staff that suspending unruly students is frowned upon by school leadership. 25% of the students were absent at OAHS the day after a shooting threat because leadership failed to address parents’ safety concerns.
Solutions include empowering teachers and principals to enforce academic and behavioral standards without regard to how it will affect district standing in state reporting. Some students need to be removed from regular classrooms. Their right to a free and appropriate public education shouldn’t come at the expense of everyone else’s safety or education. Additional resources should be focused on grades K-6 to reduce the learning deficiency. Combination classes should be reduced or eliminated as they are very difficult to teach and one grade usually suffers. The board should direct school leaders to lean into parental concerns and provide the maximum amount of information allowed by law to parents during threats to school safety rather than the bare minimum. We should increase the amount of time allocated for history and civics after it was cut by 33%.
I am willing to ask tough questions during open meetings and demand answers and accountability.
Question: What experience and expertise would you bring to the school board?
Morgan: I have over a decade of volunteer experience serving on the Santa Barbara County Fish & Wildlife Commission, managing a large budget and making recommendations to the County Board of Supervisors for its dispensation, and am familiar with the Brown Act rules governing public meetings.
Additionally, I have over 30 years of business experience, culminating in the last sixteen building my own business from the ground up. This has given me experience negotiating multimillion dollar contracts, managing construction projects, purchasing equipment and materials, budgeting, and accounting. The Orcutt School District has a budget in excess of $70 million dollars and needs someone that can break it down into its constituent parts with a keen eye for detail and the understanding that those funds are your tax dollars.
Lastly, I went through all of the training required to get a teaching credential as a biology teacher, including doing my student teaching at two local high schools. While I ultimately decided to go a different direction in life, this experience has given me a unique insight into the demands of being a teacher. I understand that teachers and staff need to feel supported to be effective in the classroom. Working together with input from teachers, school staff, and parents we can make changes to school policy that are effective and embraced by all. Solutions to complex problems can’t just be handed down from above; they need to involve the people that must deal with them on a daily basis.
Whitney May, mother
Question: Why are you running for the Orcutt Union School District board?
May: I believe families with elementary and middle school-aged children deserve strong representation in our district. Currently there are no members of the board with children attending K-8 schools. As a mother of three children (ages 14, 12, and 9) I have firsthand experience with the challenges facing students and families today.
With my own children, I have seen the dedication of our teachers as they cope with classroom challenges such as student behavior and underfunding. I want to bring a parent’s perspective to the board and help find practical solutions to the issues impacting our schools.
I also decided to run due to the current board’s decision to increase its stipend by nearly 400%. As a parent, I found this deeply disappointing. As much money as possible should be reserved to improve our children’s educational experience. I will not accept any stipend or health insurance benefits. I believe those resources are better kept in the district budget and used for the benefit of our students.
I am committed to listening to parents, teachers, staff, and students, to work collaboratively and address challenges, strengthen our schools, and ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Question: What do you think are the three most pressing issues the Orcutt Union School District faces over the next four years? How would you address these issues?
The most pressing issues I would like to address over the next four years are student behavior, the use of technology in the classroom, and access to enrichment and electives.
Student behavior has become increasingly difficult to manage in a post-COVID world. My children have often come home and shared stories of classrooms being evacuated because a student is throwing things or causing harm to themselves or others. Teachers have had to take leave due to injuries caused by student behavior. OUSD is working to address these challenges by increasing access to mental health professionals, but more can be done. We need to collaborate with parents, provide additional teachers and instructional aides, and ensure administrators, teachers, and staff have comprehensive training and support.
Technology is another area where greater balance is needed. Technology is a valuable educational tool, but it should enhance, but not replace, hands-on learning and meaningful teacher-student interaction.
Finally, I intend to expand access to enrichment opportunities and electives. At the junior high level, elective classes are currently offered only every other day. I will advocate for restoring daily access to these courses, giving students more opportunities to explore their interests, develop their talents, and build confidence.
Question: What experience and expertise would you bring to the school board?
I have a degree in Business Management and Community Health, providing a strong foundation for the public-facing responsibilities and business administration required of a school board member.
Still, I believe my most valuable qualification is my experience as a mother of students in this district for the past decade.Through my children’s education, I have developed strong relationships with teachers and administrators and gained firsthand insight into the challenges facing our district. I understand the importance of listening to those directly involved in our schools and bringing a practical, parent-focused perspective to the board.
I want to ensure the parents and families have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their children’s education and school experience. I will bring my professional experience, community perspective, and knowledge as a parent to the board, with a commitment to listening, asking thoughtful questions, and working collaboratively to make decisions that put students and families first.
Editor’s Note: These answers have been lightly edited for style and formatting.
Read more about local candidates and issues in Noozhawk’s Elections section here.
