Responses to Questions Posed by the North County Times

By Sharon Jenkins

The candidate answers questions on the district budget, land acquisition, student achievement, specific programs, and challenges the district faces.

The actual figures for the 2005 + 2006 school year reflect no deficit. The current school year does have an adopted budget deficit of $1.1 million. Once the final state and federal revenue numbers are incorporated into our budget it is possible that this number will be less. The district should look at increasing revenue by encouraging sites to increase their student attendance rates and seeking grant opportunities at both the district and site levels. In addition, we must carefully review all expenditures including our largest expense of salary and benefits. This is an increasing expense item that was recently "opened" for negotiation purposes. It is imperative that the Board continue to seriously consider the long range impact of such increasing costs.

2. Do you agree with the district's plan to acquire the land for the 11th elementary school site (Oleander) through eminent domain? Why or why not?

If I had my choice I would never want to acquire land through hostile eminent domain proceedings. My preference would be to always purchase through a willing seller. The district has made several offers to the previous and current property owners of the site. Eminent domain would be a last resort in my mind. The Board will need to evaluate the facts + the property is vacant and, thus, no homeowners would be displaced; the school would be in an area that would reduce bussing costs and, thus, provide more money to the classroom, and ensure there are no other appropriate sites in the area.

3. How well do you think Brand's "Partnership for Success" will do even though the board did not approve financing for a coordinator for the program this year? Also, what other ways can the district improve its number of college-bound students?

The district is continuing to move forward with all aspects of the program. The "Partnership" is a collaborative effort between Cal State University San Marcos and the San Marcos Unified School District. Bob Henricks, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services, has coordinated efforts for the Partnership since its inception and he will continue to do so. In the absence of a permanent coordinator, the middle and high school principals have been developing plans for counseling support of the program. The coordinator position, along with several other new positions, will be brought back to the Board in January once we have more accurate revenue figures. The district sincerely appreciates the generosity of the Stensrud family in their desire to provide financial assistance for deserving college bound students within the program. Their collaborative effort to support kids along with the Solutions organization to provide additional counseling support is a valuable resource to our community. I fully intend to continue to support this program for our San Marcos Unified students.

I believe all students in our district should be encouraged to go to college. While we can give all students the opportunity we must also be realistic in that not all students want to go to college. Counselors, teachers, and parents should continue to encourage students to participate in classes that leave all doors open to college. We will be able to provide additional support in this area with the funds that we have been promised from the state for counseling services. I believe we must prepare students who make the choice to not go to college right out of high school to be able to succeed in the workforce.

4. Do you think the district has been responsible with its handling of financial resources? Why or why not?

Absolutely. The district has had one year in the past six that has experienced an actual deficit. Staff has been very frugal in managing the limited resources that it receives from the State and Federal governments. In many cases, the government has not lived up to its promises when it comes to funding mandatory programs. The district has one of the safest reserves of any school district in the county.

5. Do you agree with the district's decision to demolish the FFA site on Discovery Street and San Marcos Boulevard and rebuild only the horticulture part of the program at San Marcos High?

While the new horticulture facility has been in process so that students will have a better classroom environment there has been discussion for several years about a location change for the animal portion of the program. Recently the Board asked staff to further study the issue. They will explore all options, evaluate the facility and curriculum needs, and determine exact costs. Once we have all the facts we will be able to make an informed decision.

6. In your opinion, what does the district need to do to improve secondary level test scores, which have been consistently lower than primary level test scores for years?

We already took our first step by restructuring Instructional Services to include a Secondary Curriculum Director and providing staff development over the recent summer. We are also in the process of developing benchmark assessments to determine student needs. In addition, hourly certificated teachers will be hired to assist the most at risk students. We need to pursue all options to provide the most effective educational leadership at the secondary level. One option that I think staff should review would be to consider restructuring the traditional high school level administration so that one individual is responsible for only instructional leadership leaving the managerial tasks to others.

7. Do you support the district's long-term plan to make San Marcos Elementary School a "model school" through the use of student teachers and a new administration?

Yes. San Marcos Elementary is our least successful school and a program improvement school. I believe all students deserve the best education possible. The is a great opportunity to create a collaboration with CSUSM to reduce class sizes, provide additional individualized instruction to students, and bring college professors onto the campus to offer the latest teaching strategies to district teachers.

8. Do you feel the district has done a good job of focusing on the success of English language learners? The group has been steadily increasing every year and makes up the bulk of those who did not pass the California Exit Exam?

Yes, but I think there is always room for improvement. Our non-English proficient students continue to exceed the county and state in growth performance on the CELDT (California English Language Development Test) each year. We continue to acquire programs that focus on students who are non-proficient in English. We have teachers working to achieve trainer qualification in GLAD (Guided Language Acquisition by Design) so that we can better train our own teachers. Benchmark assessments are being developed at the secondary level to better assess student achievement. With the promise of additional secondary counselors, at risk students will be monitored with an individual learning plan. In the future, intervention for students who do not pass will include remediation classes, additional tutoring, and special test prep sessions.

9. What are the biggest challenges facing the San Marcos Unified School District in the next five years?

• Student Achievement + continue to focus on teaching for learning
• Closing the Achievement Gap + strive to ensure all sub groups achieve success at the same rate.
• Graduate students with the prerequisite skills to move on to higher education and ensure those that decide to go into the workforce are adequately prepared.
• Build schools to keep up with anticipated growth yet keep a watchful eye to not overbuild should the district move into a declining enrollment.
• Ensure an adequate technology plan is in place.
• Consider all fiscal decisions are in the best interest of the district in both the short- and long-term.

Yes. In the last eight years since I've been on the board we have built four schools, planned for one more in the Vista area, planned to modernize San Marcos Elementary, aligned the K-12 schools calendars, removed the multi-track year round school calendar, generated $49 million out of a $21 million local school bond, and are currently preparing to review modernization needs at our older sites that now qualify for state funding.