A Santa Cruz native and Scotts Valley resident for over 15 years hopes to bring his passion for community service to his position on the board of trustees for the Scotts Valley Unified School District.
Corey Warner, who has been on the board since 2016, is up for re-election this November for a four-year term. Warner, who works full time as a senior procurement specialist for an electrical subcontractor company, has three children who all attend schools within SVUSD. Warner, 43, and his wife Heather have a 12-year-old daughter at SV Middle School, a 10-year-old son, and an 8-year-old daughter, at Brook Knoll Elementary.
“Having children that currently attend elementary and middle school in our district gives me a unique perspective and important voice in our school board that no other candidate can provide,” Warner said.
Prior to being elected to the board in 2016, Warner was on the planning commission for the Middle School construction project. According to Warner, his professional experience allowed him to give valuable input on the continued progress with the middle school. The experience also allowed Warner to get a taste for sitting on an advisory board.
It was his time on the planning commission that prompted Warner to run in 2016, replacing a vacated seat left by a board member who stepped down mid-term. Top priorities for Warner this coming term include upgrading school sites that need repairs, finish construction on the middle school, and to keep considering the possibility of using solar within the district. Warner also recognizes the importance of ensuring Measure A, the educational parcel tax, passes in this year’s election. “It is very important Measure A passes because it will drastically change how children grow up here,” Warner said. “It’s about making sure the teachers stay in the district.”
Warner continued to state one positive of his experience serving on the board of trustees is getting to build relationships with the teachers. “I see how much they care about the schools,” Warner said. Warner said he also enjoys being a liaison between the parents and the board. According to Warner, he said his time at soccer or tennis practice is often spent talking to parents who have questions or concerns. Warner said he takes concerns or questions he receives from parents back to the board or to SVUSD Superintendent Tanya Krause to try and address them.
“For example, a lot of parents think we have enough kids in the school right now and we do not need anymore,” Warner said. “But actually it is the exact opposite. When you have less students you have to remove teachers which then makes class sizes larger.”
Warner said he has and will continue to work on answering parents questions and making sure their concerns are addressed.
“I think I am a good proponent for the parents who have kids in the elementary and middle schools,” Warner said. “I love this community and am an emotional person. I want to be sure our schools prosper.”
Warner is one of three candidates running for the two available four-year term positions on the board. Fellow incumbent board member Roger Snyder and newcomer George St. Clair are also running for election on the board of trustees.
For more election coverage and to read about all the candidates for school board: www.pressbanner.com/elections.
