Re-Elect Kirk Seal for Buckeye School Board
empowering students to achieve their full potential
Re-Elect Kirk Seal for Buckeye School Board
empowering students to achieve their full potential
About Your 16 Year Incumbent - Kirk Seal
My Experience
Welcome. I am so glad you are here. I believe that education is the key to unlocking human potential. At Buckeye, we strive to create a learning environment that is inclusive, collaborative, and supportive. I am rerunning for the school board because I believe it is a pivotal time in our current culture with many complicated issues bearing down on education, teachers and children. I believe with a consistent board, we can continue to have the success we have enjoyed and work hard to further that success despite the many challenges we face.
Buckeye schools are among the highest achieving in the greater Sacramento region and in a recent survey, 94% of parents surveyed reported that their student's schools was good or excellent. My role on the board has been and would continue to be executing my fiduciary responsibility to the citizens of our district, maintaining a balanced budget in the out years, maintaining our high standards for education, keeping salaries competitive and providing guidance as we navigate through the current social issues facing our schools.
During my tenure, in collaboration with the board, I have overseen the implementation of the Valley View Charter, the adoption of the Mandarin Immersion Program, the acquisition of the new administration building and the expansion of the central kitchen. In 2018, I was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the El Dorado County School Boards Association for my boardsmanship. I am proud to say we were among the first districts in the state to bring our students and staff back to the classroom after the Covid lockdowns of 2020. Due to my concern for the safety of our students, we now have cameras installed at all of our school site locations.
Buckeyes greatest strength is and always has been our teachers and staff. The consistency of our administration is almost unheard of and has led to the cohesiveness of our board and the ability for the teachers, staff and board to collaborate for the best interests of our students. Our community support and parental involvement are a testimony to our teachers and staff. Our District and Board of Trustees has proven flexible and able to adapt to fiscal and other challenges which has allowed us to continue to thrive as a district.
The issues currently facing the district include social and political agendas, a potential fiscal crisis like that of 2008 when I first was elected to the board, pivotal curriculum adoption, declining enrollment, attendance issues, navigating state mandates not supported by our community and managing public opinion and perception while remaining focused on the priorities of teachers and students. Moving forward, the board needs to address the current labor shortage issues impacting the district such as a lack of bus drivers. I intend to continue to work collaboratively with teachers and administration standing firm for the integrity of all and working toward the best interests of students and teachers.
Unlike some running for this seat, my wife and I have lived in this community for 23 years and raised all three of our children through Buckeye. Between the three kids, we have experienced it all - the GATE program, IEPs, and all the sports you can imagine. In fact, our oldest son attended Oak Meadow the first year it opened. I am a retired San Jose Fire Fighter and currently work in surgery at Mercy General Hospital as an Electrophysiology Specialist with some of the top Electrophysiologists in the nation. Although I have a political opinion, this is a non-partisan position and I hope and pray it stays that way. Sadly, political agendas are seeking to push into this race which is why I have opted not to be beholden to any political endorsement. I am however, very proud to have received the endorsement of the Buckeye Teachers and Staff. They haven't endorsed anyone in over 20 years. However, in light of all that is at stake, they have decided to give me their full backing and for that I am truly grateful.
“We Are Buckeye” represents a culture that has been established in this district for decades. Many of our teachers were Buckeye students that returned to work in the district because of the great love and respect that this district exemplifies. “We Are Buckeye” stands for our pride in our academic achievement, staff and kids. Between my children's educations and my 16 years on the Board, I am proud to say, I AM BUCKEYE!
The past determines the future
What We've Accomplished During my Tenure
- Prioritized Teachers and their salaries to attract and retain high-quality educators, staff and administrators.
- Approved community and parent Curriculum Committee to ensure all interests are included in the Boards adoption of curriculum materials.
- Managed and maintained state-of-the-art technology footprint for students and teachers, including replacement of approximately 2,000 student Chromebooks and 200 front-of-room interactive screens to enhance teacher instruction.
- Maintained strong fiscal management of District Budget.
- Supported the implementation of Charter School options that have increased district enrollment.
- Launched after school programming to support economically challenged and/or disadvantaged families.
- Enhanced safety measures and initiated the installation of security cameras on all school sites.
- Supported installation of a sitewide power generator at Buckeye Elementary to ensure continuity of education to offset the increase in recent power outages.
- Increased District support for arts opportunities, such as Meet the Masters and middle school drama have additionally supported the purchase of instrumental band equipment and instruments.
- Approved the district modernization of the Blue Oak Elementary campus.
- Supported universal meals program, providing breakfast and lunch free of charge to all students.
- Implementation of the Valley View Charter Montessori.
- Adoption of the Mandarin Immersion Program.
- 4 National Blue Ribbon, 7 California Distinguished and 6 California Gold Ribbon Schools.
- Acquisition of the new administration building.
- Spearheaded the move to be among one of the first Districts to return to the classroom after COVID.
- Two campus conversions to International Baccalaureate World Schools.
- Expansion of the central kitchen.
- Received Lifetime Achievement Award from El Dorado County School Board Association in 2018.
- Established an end date on the Serrano Community Facilities District Mello-Roos Special Tax, thus limiting the future tax liability of homeowners in the Serrano Development while ensuring the facilities needs that serve Serrano are met.
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Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to continue the push to get our message out and keep Buckeye the amazing district that it is.
Past Success with an eye toward the future
