A Letter to the Editor authored by very well-known community members in January discussed the importance of the school board election. The letter stated our schools are “in need of strong, mature leadership from people who understand how to work within a budget, people who have worked with parents, and have personal experience in working with children and their needs”. The letter went on to call for someone “who makes and keep commitments and bring real work experience to the role”.
I have had the privilege to serve our schools twice as an interim school board member and nearly twenty years working as a volunteer in the district. I have come to learn that it takes more than just saying what one can do or citing a resume, one must really be able to back it up by “walking the talk”. This election comes down to one incumbent and three other candidates vying for two seats. While the community knows the incumbent and his quality service, the voter should analyze the remaining three candidates’ true backgrounds in-depth and compare it with the needs called for in the letter. For me, Charlene Tabet best fits that role.
Charlene is a life-long resident of Burbank. Professionally, she has worked as a teacher and businesswoman. She has twenty years experience working within our schools, serving in the PTA at the elementary and middle school levels and currently is the PTA President at Burbank High. She additionally has worked alongside teachers, staffs, and parents on school site councils and other related projects. Through these efforts, she has consistently been involved and made aware of the issues that our schools are facing This includes budgeting, changes in academic testing, and strict oversight of the Measure S bond to name a few. All while not compromising the quality service our staffs are delivering to our children. For those reasons, she is in the best position of the three remaining candidates to provide a shared vision and balanced leadership from the proper perspective.
Charlene has put her three children through Burbank schools. She is committed to doing what is right because it is right and making the right decision, not the popular one with the best interest of the district in mind. Charlene will follow through on her assignments and not walk away from unfinished business where others may have. I am convinced she is not looking for the next office nor carrying any special agenda. Lastly, she is not for the privatization of our campuses in any way. She is here to learn from our past, work with the present, and help guide to the future.
John Dilibert
Current School Board Member
Could not have said it better
myself. Charlene is the real deal. She is not a professional politician. She is
a citizen, a parent, a neighbor. She is you and me. But she has the benefit of
years of experience working within our schools, with our school district, and
with the school board. Her commitment to quality public education and to the
welfare of our children shows through her time as a teacher and as a volunteer
and advocate with the PTA. She is uniquely qualified to work on behalf of our
children. She has my trust and she has my vote.
Could not have said it better
myself. Charlene is the real deal. She is not a professional politician. She is
a citizen, a parent, a neighbor. She is you and me. But she has the benefit of
years of experience working within our schools, with our school district, and
with the school board. Her commitment to quality public education and to the
welfare of our children shows through her time as a teacher and as a volunteer
and advocate with the PTA. She is uniquely qualified to work on behalf of our
children. She has my trust and she has my vote.
I am glad to read about Ms. Tabet and her background. Seems like all we get to here is about Mr. Ferguson’s connections to politicians and all. I have been skeptical about his true intention when I read about political endorsements for a local community election. To me, Ms. Tabet has my vote as she has a real-life experience and background from a variety of
angles and with true volunteerism.
I am glad to read about Ms. Tabet and her background. Seems like all we get to here is about Mr. Ferguson’s connections to politicians and all. I have been skeptical about his true intention when I read about political endorsements for a local community election. To me, Ms. Tabet has my vote as she has a real-life experience and background from a variety of
angles and with true volunteerism.
Thanks for clearing up the point on the privatization of schools. I found it hard to beleive that someone being involved in the community and schools that long would want to give them away. I think the mailer was something that really was not here. Maybe Dobson, but her background just does not seem to match the mailer’s intention.
What is up with the infomation on Steve Ferguson’s campaign people stealing signs of other candidates? Heard there have been incidents where people have been caught. Now I am hearing that he has not really done everything that he claims he has. Seems like there are too many unanswered questions.
Tabet has at least my vote.
Because nobody asks for favors after spending thousands of dollars on your campaign. At best Tabet and Dobson want to privatize our schools, and at worst they stop asking questions the moment someone brings up writing a check.
Thanks for clearing up the point on the privatization of schools. I found it hard to beleive that someone being involved in the community and schools that long would want to give them away. I think the mailer was something that really was not here. Maybe Dobson, but her background just does not seem to match the mailer’s intention.
What is up with the infomation on Steve Ferguson’s campaign people stealing signs of other candidates? Heard there have been incidents where people have been caught. Now I am hearing that he has not really done everything that he claims he has. Seems like there are too many unanswered questions.
Tabet has at least my vote.
Because nobody asks for favors after spending thousands of dollars on your campaign. At best Tabet and Dobson want to privatize our schools, and at worst they stop asking questions the moment someone brings up writing a check.
I’m so happy to see specifics about Charlene rather than speculation and innuendo. School Board is more than a doorway to becoming a professional politician, it’s too important to be treated that way. So it’s nice to hear that Charlene will use the office to improve the schools and not further her own political goals. I’ve met Charlene and when she answers your question, it’s real, not jargon. When she says she’s against the privatization of schools I believe her. I feel the same consistency in message with Charlene as I do with David Dobson. They are both coming to this race from a personal perspective as parents and with real time experience. I can’t say that about the other candidates. I confess, I don’t know that much about Mr. Applebaum, but what I’ve seen at school board meetings has not filled me with confidence. All I know about Mr. Ferguson are the allegations about underhanded activities by his campaign workers. When the first story came out about the lawn sign theft he said he would take corrective action and I believed him. But then it happened again and again and always by the same worker. That doesn’t say corrective action to me. Mr. Ferguson is continually seen with this man, Scott Trinidad, by his side as recently as Thursday morning at the BAOR forum. If I can’t trust him with something this obvious how can I trust him to make decisions that will impact my child. I have interacted with both Charlene and David Dobson through PTA and I’ve always found them to be insightful and I’ve admired their integrity. Integrity is what we need in School Board, not immaturity, (Ferguson), or ineffectiveness, (Applebaum). Ms. Tabet and Mr. Dobson have my vote and those of my friends and neighbors.
I’m so happy to see specifics about Charlene rather than speculation and innuendo. School Board is more than a doorway to becoming a professional politician, it’s too important to be treated that way. So it’s nice to hear that Charlene will use the office to improve the schools and not further her own political goals. I’ve met Charlene and when she answers your question, it’s real, not jargon. When she says she’s against the privatization of schools I believe her. I feel the same consistency in message with Charlene as I do with David Dobson. They are both coming to this race from a personal perspective as parents and with real time experience. I can’t say that about the other candidates. I confess, I don’t know that much about Mr. Applebaum, but what I’ve seen at school board meetings has not filled me with confidence. All I know about Mr. Ferguson are the allegations about underhanded activities by his campaign workers. When the first story came out about the lawn sign theft he said he would take corrective action and I believed him. But then it happened again and again and always by the same worker. That doesn’t say corrective action to me. Mr. Ferguson is continually seen with this man, Scott Trinidad, by his side as recently as Thursday morning at the BAOR forum. If I can’t trust him with something this obvious how can I trust him to make decisions that will impact my child. I have interacted with both Charlene and David Dobson through PTA and I’ve always found them to be insightful and I’ve admired their integrity. Integrity is what we need in School Board, not immaturity, (Ferguson), or ineffectiveness, (Applebaum). Ms. Tabet and Mr. Dobson have my vote and those of my friends and neighbors.
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