Pemberton, Bart
Meet the Candidate
Running For:
School BoardDistrict:
Catalina Foothills Unified School DistrictPhone:
(520) 329-1741Age:
55Occupation:
OptometristEducation:
University of California at Berkeley, School of OptometryBiographical Info:
Bart Pemberton is a long-time Tucson resident and third-generation Arizonan. The Catalina Foothills is his home. Bart and his wife met here and raised their children, and he owns a small business here. They chose to settle in the Catalina Foothills largely because of the reputation of the Catalina Foothills School District.
Bart moved to Tucson in 1997. He has seen firsthand how an education can change a familys socio-economic situation, having earned a bachelors degree in biology at U.C. Riverside, California, Riverside and a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree at U.C. Berkeley.
In 1999, Bart joined a Tucson optometry practice and eventually became a partner in what is now known as the Edmonds, Husz & Pemberton Eye Center. Being a trusted member of the local business community is very important to Bart. He earns his strong reputation every day by providing first-rate primary and state-of-the-art specialty eye care.
All the Pemberton children attended Catalina Foothills School District schools. Their oldest daughter, Ella, started at Manzanita Elementary School, proceeded through Orange Grove Middle School, and last year graduated from CFSD High School. In addition to the academic programs, she loved the music program. The music and band programs are second to none.
Bart participated in the Family Faculty Organization (FFO) at Manzanita Elementary School, and he founded the Handy Helpers Committee there, which assisted in various projects that would come up. He was a member of the Site Council there as well. He was also a supporter of the Band Boosters at the high school.
Bart is a Past President of the Arizona Optometric Association. This, along with his years in private practice and a small business owner, has allowed him to learn what it takes to meet the needs of stakeholders of a large organization.
He is an active member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church and the Knights of Columbus. At St. Thomas, Bart has served as both an usher and Sunday school teacher. He is the Scoutmaster for a local Boy Scout Troop (Troop 007), and he is proud that his son Zachary is following in Barts footsteps and will be earning the rank of Eagle Scout soon.
Statement:
I Need Your Vote. Why?
CFSD is a great school district at risk and in decline because the current board doesnt just want to help educate your children. It wants to raise your children, and its members think they know how to do that better than you do. Nothing good can come from such a practice and mindset. It can only lead to declining academic performance and social discord.
To reverse this trend, I want to be elected and have the Board:
Partner with Parents (that means being pro-student, pro-parent, and pro-transparency) to maximize student achievement. In other words, it needs to be pro-family. That means:
Building an effective partnership between parents, teachers, and other school personnel to provide the most effective learning environment for all students. This will improve student achievement and promote excellence in academics and the arts.
The governing board needs to rebuild trust between parents, teachers, and administrators by listening to parents concerns. Sadly, some of our leaders refuse to do this.
When a large number of parents or community members have the same concerns about an issue affecting our children, place the item on the agenda and have an open discussion.
Improve School Safety for all Students, Faculty, and Staff
Add school resource officers where necessary
Review campus access at all CFSD schools
Expand background checks to ensure sex offenders and those with a criminal record are identified prior to being hired (two CFSD teachers made the news lately with regard to this, one who was fired and one who worked there the 2022-2023 school year and was arrested recently in the greater Phoenix area).
Enforce the existing zero-tolerance policy on bullying to combat the violence and threats that have increased at our schools
Make CFSD Teachers the Highest Paid in the State
CFSD has great teachers. Making them the highest-paid in the state will help keep them and attract more (especially math and science teachers, who are in short-supply).
Survey
Response Legend
- SSupports
- OOpposes
- *Comment
- −Declined to respond
- Declined to respond, Position based on citation
Question | Response | Comments/Notes |
---|---|---|
1. Requiring district and charter school officials, including teachers, to inform parents about their child’s social, mental, emotional, or physical health. | S* | No one cares more than parents (or guardians) about raising their children. They must be kept as fully informed as possible. |
2. Allowing parents to opt their children out of activities or lessons that offend their personal, moral, or religious beliefs. | S* | The wishes of the parents or guardians when it comes to topics such as these must be respected. |
3. Increasing state and local taxes to provide more funding for schools and school facility projects. | O* | Any increase in taxes for school purposes should be subject to the approval of the voters who live within the school district. |
4. Requiring signed permission from a parent before a student may participate in any sexuality related instruction, activities, or clubs. | S* | The wishes of the parents or guardians when it comes to topics such as these must be respected. |
5. Allowing all parents to use tax credits and publicly funded empowerment scholarship accounts to enable their children to attend any private, homeschool, or online academy of their choice. | S* | The parents or guardians have the duty and responsibility to place their child in the school which best meets that childs needs. ESAs make that more affordable and practical. |
6. Making available books and instructional materials that include sexually explicit images and themes in school classrooms and libraries. | O* | How does exposing childrens minds to such things improve their excellence in academics and the arts? |
7. Acquiring parental consent for school faculty and staff to refer to students by pronouns that do not align with the student’s birth sex. | S* | No one cares more than parents (or guardians) about raising their children. Their consent is crucial. |
8. Allocating teacher pay raises based upon merit rather than providing uniform salary schedule increases based upon years of teaching or additional credentialing (e.g. master’s degrees) | S* | If we want to attract and keep the best teachers, they need to be paid accordingly. |
9. Implementing policies to allow students and faculty to use the restroom, locker room, and shower room based on self-identification rather than biological sex. | O* | The physical and emotional safety of all the children and staff must be of paramount importance. |
10. Teaching what is known as diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI); social, emotional learning (SEL); or critical race theory (CRT) in public schools. | O* | DEI and SEL may sound good on paper, but in reality they are the enemy of merit, family and social harmony, and excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts. |
11. Requiring each district and charter school to post online a list of all curriculum and instructional materials being used in the classroom. | S* | There should be 100% transparency in all curriculum and instructional materials being used in the classroom. |