Under Bowman's leadership, Burbank Unified emerged from a state of financial disarray, moving on to a period of academic progress and overall stability that included the planning of several construction projects.
But the district now faces more fiscal uncertainty as Bowman, 66, turns over his post to Supt. Kevin Jolly with the threat of deep budget cuts that could force dozens of layoffs and program cuts over the next three years.
Despite the challenges facing the district, Bowman is confident that he leaves it in a position to succeed.
ZAIN SHAUK: Are you ready to leave?
GREGORY BOWMAN: Yes, I'm ready. You know, the end is less exciting than the beginning.
Q: Why is that?
A: I think when I started in the profession, I was a teacher, I was enthusiastic, there were so many unknowns. Now after 40 years I've experienced so much of the world of education, particularly in California where there are so many ups and downs and peaks and valleys. Many of those have been created by the Legislature and governors over the years to the point where stability of funding has been a continuous issue all along during the time I've been in public education.
Q: So as you're leaving, you've come to realize patterns that occur with education funding in California. Has that become a focus of yours?
A: Yes, there are so many aspects to this that if the populace of the state would just focus on education — I know it may seem self-serving to say that I think education is the most important function, but it is because it assures that there is going to be a future for the education of young people.
Q: Some politicians argue that public education receives too much funding for services that should not be a responsibility of the state. Do educators share the blame for the budget crisis because of overexpansion and an overconfident outlook on what the government should provide students?
