Vote for Priscilla Myrick on Nov 2nd
…Experience you can count on.

Berkeley Daily Planet endorses Priscilla Myrick for School Board (click here for more):

“After giving a lot of thought, we’ve decided to… endorse Priscilla Myrick. Myrick seems to be unusually fiscally literate and detail-oriented, which are skills school boards seem to lack.  Just loving kids and supporting diversity aren’t enough any more–numbers count too.”
–Becky O’Malley, Editorial, Berkeley Daily Planet, Oct. 19, 2010

Dear Berkeley Voters,

Many of you supported my campaign for Berkeley School Board in 2008. Your encouragement has given me the impetus to run again in order to improve the quality of education for all Berkeley students.

During the past two years I have worked for improved school governance, the preservation of Berkeley High School science instructional time, and more emphasis on targeted summer school programs in our middle schools. During the 2010 summer school at Willard and Longfellow middle schools, I organized community volunteers to work one-on-one with failing students to improve their writing skills.

I will bring over 20 years of wide-ranging financial management experience to the School Board. I am a former controller for Genentech and a former chief financial officer in the bioscience industry. As treasurer of an organization supporting homeless families, I improved fiscal systems in order to create sustainable services for Berkeley residents who seldom have a strong voice in our community. This experience clarified for me the value of improving fiscal systems in our schools.

Ten years ago I helped establish a nonprofit that trains volunteers to coach students to improve their writing skills. For the past decade I have worked every week in Berkeley classrooms, helping students increase their writing and literacy skills. My understanding of our children’s abilities and needs has been transformed by these sessions.

I received a BA in Religious Studies from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Columbia University. I am a 26-year resident of Berkeley and parent of two Berkeley High graduates. My experience in the classroom and in financial management will provide a fresh perspective and results-oriented skills to the School Board.

As School Board Director, I will: (1) demand academic excellence to raise the achievement of all 9,000 BUSD students, and (2) improve BUSD accountability and oversight for spending decisions and fiscal management.

In tough economic times, our district needs a board member who can tackle the challenges of uncertain state funding and ensure effective spending of local parcel taxes and school construction bond funds. I am committed to open and strong oversight of tax and bond monies and will work to make school district decision-making transparent, inclusive, and data-driven. My proven financial management skills and ongoing commitment to the education of all Berkeley students is needed now more than ever.

Let’s make our schools a model for the future. Please vote for me for School Board Director on November 2nd.

Sincerely,
Priscilla Myrick