Political Philosophy for Debbie L. Golden

Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Ventura Unified School District

I'd like to ask you to vote for me in the November Ventura School Board Election. I have learned a tremendous amount during the last year and a half as an appointed School Board member. Even though I have been a volunteer in Ventura schools for over 15 years, there was much to learn. I would like to continue on the board. I take my position very seriously and consider it a huge responsibility and an honor to represent my community. I believe I am an effective policy maker and that I work well with my fellow board members. My involvement in my three children's schools has made me accessible to parents and has given me insight into their concerns. I want to make a difference in my community and a good way to do this is through helping our children.

I was campaign coordinator for the Measure M $81 million school bond passed by 75% of the vote in 1997. I learned what can be accomplished when a community works together to do the right thing for children. My experience helped me see exactly what our schools need. I would like to continue to help ensure that our bond money goes where it is most needed.

We have a good school district, which can become even better through community efforts. We should update our schools from the "factory model," which was organized around a central authority that flows down from the top. Local schools should gain more decision-making authority and bring teachers, parents and other experts into the process.

Just as students learn in different ways, different teaching styles and respect for diverse learning need to be built into our system. Instruction needs to be based on individually defined academic goals. Teachers need to be accorded respect for their professionalism and students need to be expected to attain certain levels of proficiency. Some students need additional time to meet standards. This time should be available through supplemental computerized instruction, peer tutoring, strong before and after school programs, summer school and community based collaborative programs. Schools are certainly the center for learning, but it takes an entire community to embrace ideas and make them work. Partnerships between school and family greatly increase student motivation and achievement. When schools make special efforts to bridge cultural and social gaps and enlist parents as allies, that partnership can overcome barriers of family structure, race, social class, parent education and income. We need to reach out to our parents.

We must also forge community partnerships. School success requires more than formal, specialized services. Our children need helping networks, including collaboration with our city, county and community to provide youth development programs, mentoring, recreational opportunities, family support services and strong bonds with adults. Partnerships can help ensure that student needs for non-academic services are provided by experts other than teachers.

This is an exciting time to be a local policy maker in public education. The new administration in Sacramento is focussing on education. Representative Hannah-Beth Jackson is committed to quality public education. Ventura County Supervisor Susan Lacey has revolutionized local children's services. With strong state and local leadership our schools will improve and our children will be better prepared to lead us into the 21st century. I want to help provide that leadership. Please consider voting for me in the November election.

Thank you.