Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District

Schools in a Democratic Society

Schools are challenged to meet the educational needs of all students in our community. The gap between a student's performance on California's standardized tests and an adequate performance must be narrowed. Indeed, how well we meet this challenge is an indicator of our success. All of our schools must look for innovative solutions to serve all students well. School trustees are the only elected policy makers charged with seeing after the needs of all California's children, their education and removing the obstacles to their successful futures.

Indeed, their future is our future. California and the nation are dependent on an educated citizenry to keep our economic engine running smoothly. We need skilled workers in all areas and modern careers most often require post high school training. Gone are the days when a high school drop out could easily find a job paying well enough to provide a secure future. Our public schools must provide a rigorous foundation for all students. Our "product" must be a young adult, college bound or not, prepared for a career or ready for future schooling leading to a career.

Further, our vibrant democracy depends on an educated electorate. Thomas Jefferson said, "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." To "ignorant" I would add "unquestioning" and "unskilled." Citizens of today and tomorrow must be able to evaluate the options for medical treatment proposed by their physician as well as evaluate the options proposed by politicians to heal what ails our country. Spirited debate of the issues is a vital part of our democratic process. An unskilled adult has a very difficult time enjoying the "blessings of liberty" secured for us by the founding fathers. Critical thinking skills are a basic part of a K-12 education.

Livermore now has the opportunity to enhance opportunities for students after quite a few years of major cuts. My experience will serve the District well in establishing priorities as we move ahead.