Easy Reader Newspaper

By Marilynn Merritt Holcomb

Unedited answers to MBUSD candidate questions from the Easy Reader Newspaper.

Length of time residing in Manhattan Beach: 11 years (South Bay native)

Civic involvement (commissions, organizations, volunteer work): I am an AFSCME Local 575 member and former negotiations team member, and local church outreach programs implementation facilitator.

Endorsements (by Manhattan Beach employee groups, school board members or other civic leaders): I have received endorsements from the Manhattan Beach Unified Teachers' Association and school board member Joe Loverich.

Are you endorsing any of your fellow school board candidates? No, I am still considering each of them.

Why are you running for school board (in 80 words or fewer)? (Time and Opportunity) I am at a point in my life where I have the time to give back to the district that began educating my family in 1953 and will still be doing so for at least the next 18 years. When I read the article about the three open seats on the board, I decided it was time to stop standing on the sidelines concerning district issues and to instead become an active member of the team.

What are the most important issues facing the school district (in 80 words of fewer)? (Communication, Well-rounded Education, and Budget)
-The board needs to do all it can to encourage and promote good communication between all stakeholders.
-All students deserve an opportunity to receive a well-rounded education (including choral music and physical education in primary grades).
-While maintaining a collaborative balanced budget, all stakeholders need to know the district is looking at their concerns and issues.
-The board needs to seek ways to receive additional funds for the district (e.g. community/corporate grants/sponsorships/gifts).

What would you like to accomplish as a school board member (in 80 words or fewer)? (Listen and Act) At the end of our term, I want stakeholders to be able to say, "They listened to us."
-They encouraged communication and improved relationships between all stakeholders including the special needs families.
-They reinstated choral music, physical education, and classroom aide positions in our elementary schools.
-With community input, they found ways to fund the building of new performing arts and library facilities, and the updating of classrooms and the gym at our high school.

What is your position on differentiation of instruction at the elementary level and time banking (in 80 words or fewer)? (Assessment and Collaboration)
-Unsure...does this language arts program "make something specialized by modifying it" or "establish more differences" between our students? Why do different studies show different results from this program especially regarding the lowest level groups? Are the different results due to different assessments or different types of students? We need the "pilot" program assessment(s) used by MBUSD to be complete, unbiased, and particular to MBUSD students to make a well-informed decision.
-Time banking appears necessary to the program.