The three candidates vying to represent the coastal stretches of the San Diego Unified School District answered questions submitted by the public and read by a moderator during a May 13 forum at La Jolla High School. Six-term incumbent John de Beck, 80, joined challengers Scott Barnett, former PTA president and taxpayers advocate; and Michelle Crisci, a school psychologist. The candidates took turns answering questions about their goals and priorities, hiring teachers based on seniority, managing budget cuts and school finance, granting more autonomy to local clusters and prioritizing funds for early, remedial and gifted education programs. Citing what he described as 36 years of experience, de Beck said he is best qualified to improve student achievement, maintain a balanced budget and attract and retain a talented staff. The Bay Park resident proposed initiatives backed by research, he said, including whether class size reductions really do improve performance and, if so, how many fewer students contribute to the effect. “I ask hard questions and I push hard, and I think the community wants that,” de Beck said. “I’m not an establishment person and I’m not a union person. I’m my own person and I think I have a few more years to go.” Barnett, 47, posited his financial background as integral to restructuring the district’s budget while deflecting the negative impact of federal and state cuts, which have increased for the last three years. With two daughters in the district — one at La Jolla Elementary School and one at La Jolla High School — Barnett also advocates increased authority for individual schools, clusters and sub-districts to determine priorities, curriculum and activities. Barnett said he also plans to eliminate waste and redistribute those funds to needs in classrooms and music, arts, sports and supplies. “It’s pathetic that this district has no handle on where its money is,” he said. “This board has been reactive instead of proactive and that needs to change.” If elected, Barnett said he will address necessary changes that did not take place under de Beck’s watch and “focus like a laser” on management and accountability. A third-generation San Diegan with two children in Point Loma schools, Crisci, 42, emphasized her support for expanding the district’s five-year technology plan known as i21. Crisci said the plan proposes more efficient ways of customizing learning in advance for different types of students. She also expressed support for a decentralized system of authority, allowing cluster communities more autonomy for making decisions. “I’m not a politician and I have no desire to be one,” Crisci said. “I’m not going anywhere and what sets me apart is my connection to this system. I’m just a citizen trying to effect change where I’ve seen the need.” La Jolla Elementary School parent and La Jolla Cluster board member Sharon Jones, who was present at the forum, said her primary concern in this year’s election is the budget. “This community is among the lowest-funded and a lot of the issues go back to the money,” she said. “Our schools are down to the bare bones and it’s important to have autonomy. The board can control where the money goes.” De Beck ran unopposed in 2006 and enjoyed the support of the influential San Diego teachers’ union in 2002. This year, Barnett has the backing of the 8,000-member teacher’s union. Crisci has called herself a fan of de Beck’s and said she hopes to emerge as one of the top two vote earners in the June primary in order to keep Barnett out of November’s race. The primary elections take place June 8 and the top two candidates will compete for office in November.