Top 5 Issues
I have many ideas about how I'd like to spend my time on the School Board, but five clear priorities drive me:
Each of my hot-button topics revolve around my platform of Curriculum. Safety. Equity. In each case above, and for all those issues I'd like to tackle in addition to these, I see the approach being one of stakeholder workshops and Board presentations. Our Board meetings are typically celebrations and rubber stamping. I'd like to see more presentations of programs, more stakeholders held accountable for results, more questions being asked by Board members, less answers from only the Superintendent, and more Workshops held before Board meetings for community involvement.
The Board meetings need to be used more often for information gathering, discussion and debate.
We do a great job of celebrating successes in this district. Now it's time to uncover the challenges and begin the work of meeting education's 21st century needs.
- Inter-district Transfer Students (Equity)
I want to see a decrease in the number of inter-district transfer students into our district. With a decrease will come some expected and unexpected outcomes, so I'd like to see some transparency from the district about both. How will fewer students impact the budget, traffic, national rankings, test scores, curriculum? - Fundraising Practices and LAEF (Equity)
We ask our parents for too much money. As families in this district, we have opted for public education which ensures a free education. But this district pushes for money like they don't receive any funding. Where does all the money go? We are asked to pay for books, sports, technology, classroom supplies, field trips -- year in and year out. Additionally, the school you attend shouldn't drive your access to funding; a more equitable solution to fundraising dollars needs to be developed. I'd also like to see a full, transparent accounting of LAEF practices and financials; it is my current understanding that not all money raised goes to our kids. I want some "truth in advertising" or a drastic change in their marketing approach. The organization needs to be less misleading and more forthcoming. - Sports and Arts Operating Procedures (Equity)
Lots of rumors circulate about how the sports and arts programs are run, paid for, and filled at the high school. I'd like to see transparency in their operating procedures and a Board willing to stand firm on Board Policy about travel and financing for these programs. - Traffic and Safety (Safety)
Our district has done a great job of putting safety measures in place on our campuses over the past couple years. I would like to suggest a few more: secure fencing around all sites, bullying prevention efforts, traffic minimization, and uniform discussions. - Classroom Instruction (Curriculum)
Our teachers need more in-service on 21st century teaching techniques. I'd also like to see the elimination of summer homework across all curricular areas, or at least the elimination of assessments on day one of instruction. Additionally, the responsibility for our schools to meet the needs of ALL students, including not just the high achievers, but also the career-bound, military-bound, and those with special needs.
Each of my hot-button topics revolve around my platform of Curriculum. Safety. Equity. In each case above, and for all those issues I'd like to tackle in addition to these, I see the approach being one of stakeholder workshops and Board presentations. Our Board meetings are typically celebrations and rubber stamping. I'd like to see more presentations of programs, more stakeholders held accountable for results, more questions being asked by Board members, less answers from only the Superintendent, and more Workshops held before Board meetings for community involvement.
The Board meetings need to be used more often for information gathering, discussion and debate.
We do a great job of celebrating successes in this district. Now it's time to uncover the challenges and begin the work of meeting education's 21st century needs.
