Candidate for
Board Member; Grossmont Union High School District

1. Please state your reason(s) for seeking election and your qualification(s) as a candidate.

I'm seeking a position on the GUHSD Board of Trustees because I believe that is where I may be able to do the most good for our students and our community. I have devoted most of my adult life to bettering the opportunities for children in the East County. As a 22 year resident of this community and with my two sons recently graduated from Grossmont High School as National Merit Scholars, I now have the time and the desire to do this job properly. I'd love to realize that we have high schools that are safe and attractive to students and passers-by alike, and that are known for the outstanding quality of the education they provide.

I'm an accountant and work for my husband in his tax-accounting practice. My CPA background will provide an excellent basis for making sound financial decisions for this school district.

I have a record over the last 16 years of many thousands of hours of active involvement in East County public schools volunteering with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community organizations for the benefit of children. In addition to volunteering in the classroom and after-school at the elementary and middle school levels, I've served the Grossmont District in the following ways:

· I've worked on many committees of the Grossmont District including: candidate interviews for Asst Superintendent of Business, Guidance Task-Force, District Advisory Council, Boundary Committee, and Parent Involvement Policy.

· I've served as Treasurer and President of Foothills Council PTA (the Council of PTAs of the Grossmont District) for two terms each. During that time I dramatically increased the number of people involved and revamped the Parent-Teen Connection, an annual workshop for parents and, now, middle and high school students, about issues of importance, including School-To-Career opportunities.

· I headed up the effort by parents to convince our current school board members to support an adequate, passable bond for our District by distributing evaluation questionnaires to thousands of parents at our high schools, and by inviting and accompanying board members on school facilities tours, and making many public and private pleas.

· I've attended most of the Grossmont District Board meetings for the past 8 years in an effort to remain aware of what is going on in the District, respond if necessary, and to be able to pass along that information to other parents and community members.

· As the author of the PTA website (http://www.foothillscouncil.org) I provide information of importance to the community regarding the GUHSD and teen and parent issues.

· I compelled an awareness of the deplorable state of student restrooms that has brought about many improvements.

· I've been an active volunteer for 7 years at Grossmont High School on the WASC Accreditation Committee, the Staff Development Committee, Swim Team, Grad Night, and PTA.

2. What are the three most critical issues currently facing the Grossmont Union High School District Board of Trustees?

1. Student Safety-- Teen shootings and suicides; bullying; depression; drugs and alcohol; student-to-counselor ratios of 700-1; overcrowded, dilapidated, buildings; long, dangerous drives to school--These are not issues that we want our teens to have to confront but they are the reality of our teens' lives today. High schools must continue to improve the safety of our students so that they have a better chance to concentrate on their studies.

2. Student Achievement-- Very soon the requirements to graduate from the GUHSD are going to become much tougher. And while the result of meeting these standards will be better for students, the process of meeting them is proving difficult for a good number of teens and too many may want to give up and drop-out. That's why the schools must be innovative in their approaches to helping students succeed by providing plenty of ways for them to do so. Getting them to school every day is just the beginning.

3. Funding-- Providing real safety and achievement for students is costly. Funds that are available need to be spent wisely, and additional sources of funding should be sought. A facilities bond must be passed, federal funding for programs must be accepted, private and government grants should be pursued. Collaborative efforts with businesses and private and public programs to share resources must be expanded. And students must come to school every day to receive the benefit of the state funds allocated for their education.

3. What are your goals to influence the quality of education in Grossmont District schools?

· Improving access to counseling programs for the health and well being of students is crucial to their ability to concentrate on classes.

· Improving facilities, including libraries and science labs, and eliminating overcrowding will make our schools more welcoming to students and allow more effective instruction and learning.

· New higher State and district standards will increase the need to explore innovative and varied means to help our students succeed on the High School Exit Exam and other graduation requirements. Students' expectations can be raised for themselves and their schools if they experience progress and success.

· Better communication with parents and students around the district about the academies and career pathways offered at different high schools--programs that may be of interest to students in another school attendance area. Students should have some opportunity to transfer for that reason. Examples are: fire science at El Cajon Valley, tourism at Mount Miguel, computer science specialties at Granite Hills, Grossmont, and Steele Canyon, various agricultural specialties at El Capitan, etc.

4. With the perception that poorly maintained school properties have a direct influence on property values, how do you propose to hold the school district accountable to achieve a responsible allocation between facility maintenance, teacher salaries and administrative expenses to keep the public's valuable school assets maintained?

· Teachers' salaries and benefits should be competitive with other opportunities available to them so that our district has a chance to employ the best. The allocation of funds for teachers doesn't necessarily have to be based on a strict student-to-teacher ratio if innovative ways for structuring the school year, the school day, and class sizes are used.

· Administrative positions should be kept to the minimum necessary for the smooth operation of the district and it's programs. But sufficient funds should be allocated for administration, to allow the district to employ high quality personnel who will find many different ways to get the most bang-for-the-buck.

· Passing a facilities bond will greatly reduce the need to spend general funds on band-aid repairs at our schools and allow the money that is spent on facility maintenance to have more long-term value. More modern facilities and equipment will also allow for decreased spending on other overhead expenditures, such as electricity.

5. Do you support the current Board of Trustee's vote to place a bond measure on the ballot with a 2/3rds vote requirement? Please explain your answer.

My first choice would have been a $220 million Prop 39 bond that included a new high school and only 55% voter approval. My second choice would have been a $220 million traditional bond that included a new high school. My third choice is to enthusiastically support a $199 million bond that will require 2/3-voter approval and will not provide a new high school. Our community needs schools we can be proud of. Many of our high schools are currently an embarrassment and a hazard. A facilities bond is the only way that we can hope to upgrade our school facilities to a standard that is acceptable to the community.

6. What do you believe are the best methods of preparing students to achieve the practical knowledge they require to prepare them to compete in the job market?

The Districts EDLR's (Expected Districtwide Learner Results) call for students to be effective readers, competent writers, articulate speakers, quantitative problem solvers, and prepared for life-long learning in order to graduate. These are the very qualities that will make them successful at work. So getting students to attend school and graduate from the GUHSD will prepare them well for the job market. The emerging academies and career pathways are one way to provide more interest and fun in classes and therefore encourage student attendance. More ROP classes are being offered during the day to high school students. These efforts should be expanded and more broadly advertised to achieve maximum effectiveness.

7. How can the business community play a role in improving our schools?

The business community should keep abreast of new directions the district takes and encourage those that are positive. Business people should get involved on district committees whenever possible. Business partnerships with school academies, career pathways, and student internships are invaluable to the success of students in school, and ultimately to our community as a whole.

8. With the shootings that occurred at Santana and Granite Hills High School, what would you propose the District do to identify at-risk students (e.g. bullying, loner, etc.) to avoid these types of violent incidents? What is the role of parental involvement to resolve these types of problems?

Often teachers are the only adult contact students may have at school. So teachers should be given sufficient training and resources to identify problems and refer students to available counseling. With student-to-counselor ratios of 700 to 1, it may be time to consider reorganization of the many aspects of counseling that are currently available. Creative ways of providing necessary counseling resources for staff, students, and parents must be fostered. An example is the new program at Grossmont High School that is a collaboration of counseling services offered by non-profit foundations and San Diego County agencies on school grounds. In some areas, nearby off campus counseling facilities might better serve the community and encourage increased participation by parents who may be leery of going onto high school property. Whatever services are available must be thoroughly communicated to students and parents at each school. On-campus Sheriffs/Police and campus security personnel continue to be crucial and should be considered a necessity.