Candidate for
Board Member; San Mateo - Foster City School District; 2 Year Term

Highlights of beliefs, accomplishments, and areas of continued concern:

1. Schools belong to the community

• Actively listen and respond to community concerns--striking a balance among teachers, administrative staff, and community input, and remaining independent thinking.
• Foster community involvement and support of our schools.
• Foster cooperation with public agencies to provide improved/additional services.
• Support providing educational choice (opened magnet schools and single track year-round schools).
• Involved in initial discussion and set-up of the San Mateo/Foster City Education Foundation, Kids and Families First (community/interagency partnership), and Goals 2000 consortium (student technology standards and interagency collaboration).

• Support quality preschool education, preschool standards development, and pushed for pre-third grade checkpoints and supports in the Promotion/Retention Policy.

• Vote to keep dollars closest to the students and budget cuts away from the classroom.
• Monitor facilities modernization expenditures.
• Support community and legislative efforts to increase school funding.
• Advocate in Sacramento for funding equalization, PERS reduction, and the successful effort that resulted in reimbursement of mandated costs for Special Education.

• Focus upon additional support of and accountability from our low-performing schools.
• Focus and improve services to our English Language Learners and at-risk students.
• Strengthen and better define the GATE program.
• Support fine and performing arts, and sports activities for all students.
• Vote against measures that do not facilitate/improve student performance.
• Maintain and demonstrate the highest standards of ethical and collegial behaviour among board members. Introduce to the board, California School Boards Association (CSBA) governance standards for individual board members, the board as a whole, and the superintendent for discussion and incorporation into existing policies.
• Work to strengthen and maintain services to our Special Education students.

• WRONG question--To sprinkle or not to sprinkle (fire alarm system). RIGHT question--What students/staff health and safety issues need to be addressed by facilities modernization? This is now an integral part of the Facilities Master Plan.
• WRONG question--"Conceptual understanding" or "drill and kill" (math curriculum) RIGHT question--What different strategies and curricular approaches are utilized to support each student's learning style so that s/he will have the necessary skills and conceptual understanding to master state mathematical standards?

For two years, I have been part of a highly respected external evaluator team that has gone into low-performing schools to assess their strengths and barriers, and to make recommendations as to steps for improving student achievement. I have facilitated these school staff/community meetings and written action plans based on their discussions and our recommendations. Through CSBA, I have been involved on the state level and remain current on important legislative issues that affect public education. For twelve years, I have remained open and accessible, objective, and encouraged free debate of important issues. I will continue to maintain a reasoned and independent position, work with all board members and staff, and base my decisions on what I believe to be in the best interest of children.