Candidate Commentary - Raising Expectations

By Lee Winocur Field

Let's compare our schools to the best public and private schools in the nation.

LBUSD is ranked as one of the top 100 school districts in the U.S. as reported in Offspring magazine (Coastline News, 9/15/2000.) According to the report, this ranking was achieved through a formula combining the district's academic performance with the community's sound economic base. While this ranking is a credit to the hard work of the district's teachers, students and administrators, a closer look at the student performance data alone reveals that we can do much better. Laguna deserves to have a world-class school district - one that offers every student a learning environment second to none.

To achieve this, I propose that we begin by raising our expectations. Let's compare our scores to those of the best public and private schools in the nation. Instead of being satisfied with approximately 50 percent of our high school students scoring above the 75th percentile on the Stanford 9 language, science, social science, math and reading exams, let's move to 66 percent of our students scoring at this level and, in seven years, why not 80 percent? This happens in a few select schools nationally; it could happen here. For the sake of the children, we must "benchmark to the best" -- measure our success against the best and the brightest.

As a member of the school board, I bring my thirty-five years of public education experience to bear on moving our schools forward academically. I will hold schools accountable for success but make certain that we provide staff with the facilities, tools and support they need for doing so. I will work to continue class size reduction, support higher salaries for our teachers, provide incentives for additional national teacher and principal certification, and provide training opportunities at all levels. And I will support the implementation of a comprehensive high school graduate follow-up study to learn if our students are adequately prepared for their college courses and the number that successfully achieve a university degree.

I will also work to ensure that our schools have the best curriculum. Skills should build at each grade level, and curriculum must be consistent across classrooms at the same grade level. We must look into programs that integrate reading, math, writing, speaking, listening and thinking. We must also expand programs that promote the Arts, protect the environment, and coordinate Service Learning. To serve the needs of all students, we must offer pre-school, after-school and adult education programs. The success of these programs will require increased community involvement. As a coalition builder, I welcome the opportunity to work closely with representatives of other local agencies and businesses to improve our offerings.

I will support programs that spark the average learner, teach tolerance and promote inclusiveness, and motivate every student to gain the skills needed to be successful in a complex, highly diversified, technological world. Classrooms must have up-to-date computers and software with on-line access coupled with superior teacher training and technical support. Distance Learning presents a viable solution to the problem of how to offer a wide-range of courses in a small school district with limited funds. Effective use of this 21st Century technology holds great promise for providing a more personalized program by which each child can meet graduation requirements. Our teachers must be trained and encouraged to use these strategies effectively.

To accomplish these goals requires sound management, fiscal responsibility and a clear vision for the future. I have believed in and have worked to improve the public schools all of my adult life. I would like to continue to do so as a member of the LBUSD School Board. I am experienced both as a former teacher, school administrator, state evaluator of school programs and CEO of an educational corporation. I have overseen large contracts, school renovations and fiscal turn-around.

We need board members who look critically at data presented to them to discern its importance. We need board members who anticipate the long range consequences of their decisions and the effect these decisions will have on the system twenty years from now. We need board members sophisticated in the ways of governing schools and moving them forward. I believe I am that person and am committed to working in partnership with this community to build the best public schools in the country. Laguna's children deserve the best. Vote for Lee for School Board on Nov. 7.

Lee Winocur Field