Some of my opponents in the Davis School Board Race have
implied or even openly stated that I am “difficult to work with”. Of course,
many of my supporters and I disagree with that characterization. But some facts may help voters decide for
themselves.
Below is a synopsis, taken from the official online minutes
of our board meetings, of my voting record since I have served on the Davis
Board of Education. It reflects only those votes where I disagreed with the
majority of board members. More detail is available in the public minutes or recordings themselves which are available online at the following place: https://v3.boardbook.org/Public/PublicHome.aspx?ak=1000050
Please see for yourself whether these kinds of votes
support their claim.
Calendar
Year 2011
• January 2011 - Did not approve a payment to Cisco Smartnet Services for renewal of the District’s maintenance contract. Peter wanted to know if other contractors were looked at to provide the services and recommended it be reviewed at a later date so this information could be provided. District had let the bill lapse before bringing it to the board for approval.
• March 2011 – Did not approve the West Bountiful/Woods Cross CDA. Peter Cannon would like time to invite those who oppose the CDA to come and share their opinions with the Board. Peter expressed concern with all the money being spent on roads, there was only one map for the joint portion. He would feel better if he knew where the roads and streets were running. He was concerned with money being spent on monuments.
• May 2011 –Did not approve 2011-2012 Fee Schedules. Peter Cannon made a motion to postpone the vote on the Building Rental Fee Schedule until we have further data as to what it costs to use the facilities. This motion failed. He then proposed his changes to the fee schedule. Peter Cannon stated there is a value in making money. If there is anything we can do to encourage economic activities that doesn’t cost the District more, that is a good thing.
• June 2011 – Did not approve Item 6-6F-102 Building Rental. Peter Cannon proposed several substantive changes to the building rental policy. No second to his motion.
• June 2011 – Did not approve Negotiated Agreement with Davis Education Assn. Peter Cannon stated we are living in tough economic times, he wished we could do more for teachers and other employees. The Legislature couldn't provide additional funding, and we have done all we can as well. He is impressed the teacher's association recognizes the reality of our economy and are willing to work in spite of all the cuts. He cannot support a tax increase, as a result he cannot support the Negotiated Agreement with Davis Education Association.
• June 2011 – Did not approve Negotiated Agreement with Davis Education Support Personnel. Peter Cannon commented he feels this could be handled in a different manner without a tax increase. Because this is based on a tax increase, he cannot vote for it.
• June 2011 – Did not approve Adoption of 2011-2012 Tentative Budget. Peter Cannon stated he will not vote for the budget. Even though it is well calculated and the Business Administrator has prepared it with the preference of the Board, and accurately put into a budget many of the Board Members will support. He wasn't able to put into the budget the things that he wanted, because he was a minority. He thinks the District employees should have an additional 2% reduction in wages across the Board. This would save $6M. Instead we have a $8.5M tax increase. This is not fair to tax payers when they are hurting worse than the District employees.
• August 2011 – Did not approve Charter Schools / Replace current policy with a more general policy. Peter suggested to table action on this until next board meeting. He feels the wording suggested does not sound positive to charter schools.
• August 2011 – Did not approve Proposed 2011 -2012 Tax Rates. Only board member to vote against tax increase.
Calendar Year 2012
• January 2011 - Did not approve a payment to Cisco Smartnet Services for renewal of the District’s maintenance contract. Peter wanted to know if other contractors were looked at to provide the services and recommended it be reviewed at a later date so this information could be provided. District had let the bill lapse before bringing it to the board for approval.
• March 2011 – Did not approve the West Bountiful/Woods Cross CDA. Peter Cannon would like time to invite those who oppose the CDA to come and share their opinions with the Board. Peter expressed concern with all the money being spent on roads, there was only one map for the joint portion. He would feel better if he knew where the roads and streets were running. He was concerned with money being spent on monuments.
• May 2011 –Did not approve 2011-2012 Fee Schedules. Peter Cannon made a motion to postpone the vote on the Building Rental Fee Schedule until we have further data as to what it costs to use the facilities. This motion failed. He then proposed his changes to the fee schedule. Peter Cannon stated there is a value in making money. If there is anything we can do to encourage economic activities that doesn’t cost the District more, that is a good thing.
• June 2011 – Did not approve Item 6-6F-102 Building Rental. Peter Cannon proposed several substantive changes to the building rental policy. No second to his motion.
• June 2011 – Did not approve Negotiated Agreement with Davis Education Assn. Peter Cannon stated we are living in tough economic times, he wished we could do more for teachers and other employees. The Legislature couldn't provide additional funding, and we have done all we can as well. He is impressed the teacher's association recognizes the reality of our economy and are willing to work in spite of all the cuts. He cannot support a tax increase, as a result he cannot support the Negotiated Agreement with Davis Education Association.
• June 2011 – Did not approve Negotiated Agreement with Davis Education Support Personnel. Peter Cannon commented he feels this could be handled in a different manner without a tax increase. Because this is based on a tax increase, he cannot vote for it.
• June 2011 – Did not approve Adoption of 2011-2012 Tentative Budget. Peter Cannon stated he will not vote for the budget. Even though it is well calculated and the Business Administrator has prepared it with the preference of the Board, and accurately put into a budget many of the Board Members will support. He wasn't able to put into the budget the things that he wanted, because he was a minority. He thinks the District employees should have an additional 2% reduction in wages across the Board. This would save $6M. Instead we have a $8.5M tax increase. This is not fair to tax payers when they are hurting worse than the District employees.
• August 2011 – Did not approve Charter Schools / Replace current policy with a more general policy. Peter suggested to table action on this until next board meeting. He feels the wording suggested does not sound positive to charter schools.
• August 2011 – Did not approve Proposed 2011 -2012 Tax Rates. Only board member to vote against tax increase.
Calendar Year 2012
• February 2012 - Did not approve Policy 11IR-110 Family Educational Rights and Privacy (FERPA). Peter suggested we modify the wording to say that we may [not shall] disclose personal non-identifiable information.
• May 2012 - Did not approve School Fees, Fee Waivers and Provisions In Lieu of Fee Waivers. Peter Cannon voted against the proposed policy because it would have made fee waiver applications unauditable, thus making the system unaccountable. This policy allows families to have their fees waived even though their financial circumstances may improve
• October 2012 - Did not approve Maturation Textbook Adoption. Lengthy discussion with some citizens and board members. Peter Cannon made a motion to postpone the vote to look at an alternative program. Substitute motion died because there was no second.
Calendar Year 2013
• June 2013 - Did not approve 2013-2014 Tentative Budget. Peter Cannon thinks it is inappropriate for the Board to pass a budget of this magnitude and only ask for the public's comment just before a vote is taken on something that required public hearing.
• July 2013 – Did not approve North Salt Lake CDA – Did not feel good about voting for the CDA agreement when he had not seen it. Mr. Cannon stated it may appear he opposes the CDA. He likes the idea but feels they are rushing to approve it. He does not like the idea of a legislative body like the School Board approving a Resolution that later the School Board President alone has the authority to change.
• Aug/Sep 2013 – Did not approve Policy 41-202 School Media Centers. Peter Cannon made a motion that School Community Council be considered as the final approving authority for selecting of library resources acquisition into our school libraries. Board voted 6 to 1 against. Peter wanted to add to the criteria for choosing materials, supporting character education. Peter, Larry Smith and Burke Larsen voted for and balance of board voted against.
• October 2013 – Did not approve Policy 1B-030 School Board Meetings Patron Comment Period. Board voted 2 in favor and 5 against changing current procedure for parents speaking at board meetings. Opposing board members opinions regarding their "no" vote: Believe the new policy will be an opportunity for patrons to showboat and/or push a political gain. Feels this is a political maneuver against those running; prefer patrons call them personally to air their concerns.
• November – 2013 - Did not approve Centerville City CDA Resolution. Peter voted against the resolution because it provided $10M to upgrade housing in Centerville. This housing was in no way connected to the development area. Peter stated that the taxpayers of Davis County should not give up $10M of tax revenue to upgrade housing in any one city. Peter did support the idea of the commercial part of the project that would generate hundreds of new jobs.
• December 2013 - Did not approve Shortening of Board Minutes. A unilateral decision was made by board president and district superintendent to abbreviate the minutes and work on an alternative way to provide information for the public. Peter Cannon and David Lovato voted to hold approval of the minutes until the decision of shortening board minutes could be discussed in the retreat.
Calendar Year 2014
• January 2014 – Did not approve Clearfield CDA. Peter opposed the CDA because the 75% tax increment over a 20-year period was necessary to finance the two two-level parking garages. He opposed Federal and UTA pressure to build the expensive parking structures.
• March 2014 - Kaysville Flint Street CDA. Three voted against, 4 voted for. Peter opposed approving at that time because he wanted to see the Interlocal Agreement.
Additional
Disagreements Without a Vote
• March 2014 Peter
has always disagreed with the practice of feeding the board and central
administration staff a catered or boxed meal after the workshop meeting and before
the board meeting. The district does not buy a special meal for other employees
who work late. As a result, Peter has politely declined the meal ever since he
has been in office.
• After attending a conference of the
National Federation of Urban and Suburban School Districts in New Orleans,
Peter apologized in a public board meeting for wasting tax money to pay for
himself, five other board members and six senior district staff members to
attend the conference. He promised never to attend another such conference
unless attending as one or two representatives tasked with bringing back a
detailed report to other staff and board members.
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