Candidate for
Board Member, 4 Year; Brea Olinda Unified School District

• We must increase support for the fine arts which has never been treated fairly. Studies show that when students are enrolled in fine arts programs, specifically music, they perform better on tests like the SAT. With our current district leaders, the program has come a long way however we have much farther to go.
  
  
• Quality employees deserve quality salaries. Simply put, this school district must have a salary schedule that is competitive with similar school districts so we can continue to attract and retain quality teachers and classified staff.
  
  
• District leaders must guarantee safe working and learning environments. Our School Board's number one goal is to "Maintain safe, healthful and orderly campuses..." (Board Policy 0200a, emphasis added). As you are well aware, several months ago we had an incident in Brea dealing with safety on our campuses. Two individuals threatened to shoot a teacher and the Board expelled the students. However the Board later suspended the expulsions and allowed the students back on campus with behavioral contracts. People have asked me what I would do if I were a Board Member.

1. I would have sought a way to get the victim's perspective on the issue.

2. I would have listened to the recommendations of the administrative panel that conducted hearings on the issue.

3. Based on the facts the public was presented with in this particular case, I would have voted to expel the two students.

4. Finally, I would have voted NO on the suspension of the expulsions.

This school district must guarantee safe working and learning environments and district leaders, specifically the School Board, must show its staff and students that it truly cares about their safety.

• We must increase technology on our campuses. According to the California Department of Education (CDE), our school district is far above the county average of students per computer at the junior high and high school levels. CDE's Ed-Data shows Orange County had an average of 5.4 students per computer at the junior high level and 4.5 students per computer at the high school level. Brea, on the other hand, has an average of 10.8 students per computer at the junior high level and 13.8 students per computer at the high school level. For a school district that prides itself in having the first California school with internet access, this is ridiculous. We must increase the amount of technology on our campuses to ensure every student has the opportunity to acquire skills absolutely necessary to succeed in today's world.

  Technology by School Type, Brea Olinda USD (04-05)
  Students per Computer

	District	County
Elementary	5.3	5.5
Middle	10.8	5.4
High	13.8	4.5
Continuation	2.0	2.7

• The great school district-city relationship that once existed must be restored. When the Brea Olinda Unified School District and City of Brea worked together, we saw amazing things. The best example is the building of Brea Olinda High School. The great working relationship the two agencies once had must be restored because it was in the best interest of not only the school district's staff and students but the residents of the City of Brea, as well. As a Board Member, I will work to restore this great working relationship so we may once again work in the best interest of everyone in Brea.