Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Long Beach Unified School District; Trustee Area 4

Point 1: All students should be fully literate. The greatest indicator of academic achievement is the ability to read. Efforts must be made to foster reading programs that extend beyond the elementary years into secondary education. We need to ensure that all students become lifelong readers.

Point 2: As an active Governing Board Member I will work together with the Superintendent and other district personnel to develop a plan to create new neighborhood elementary, middle and high school sites to alleviate overcrowding in District schools. We will use Bond money wisely, making certain that every dollar spent goes for what voter's intended.

Point 3: I will advocate televising all Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education meetings. This will ensure that elected officials are accountable to the public. This action will bring about the necessary openness afforded to citizens in other districts.

Point 4: Reduce class size maximums in all grades. As a teacher in a neighboring school district (ABC Unified) that boasts some of the lowest class size maximums (33 in grades 7-12) in Los Angeles County, I know the direct benefits of having smaller classes. Smaller classes equal greater student achievement.

Point 5: Create a position for one police officer at each Middle and High School site. Being able to have the preventative presences of a uniformed officer, whose sole responsibility and duty is to keep each campus crime free is of paramount importance for Long Beach schools. Being proactive instead of reactive concerning school safety is the approach that Long Beach Unified School District should adopt. This program would ensure that all secondary school sites are safe and crime free.