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Contra Costa County, CA | November 2, 2010 Election |
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Orinda News Q&ABy Christopher C. SeversonCandidate for Board Member; Orinda Union School District |
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I do not believe the current budget crisis has, or should, change our top priorities. We have excellent schools with a rich tradition of success. As a district, our priority is an "enriched curriculum which imparts core knowledge, develops character, and encourages individual strengths." Certainly, the cuts in state funding pose added challenges. However, no matter the crisis, current or future, we must maintain our focus on our children. We need to continually choose the path which will have the least impact on them. Over the years, the nature of the challenges and specific responses will change but our vision and resolve to offer a superb education to all Orinda children must not.
Outside of our own respective families, the demographic forces which shape our schools are largely out of our control. There are a few areas, however, where I believe we can make some difference. Due to the strength of our schools, many families with school-aged children naturally seek out Orinda as a place to live. Being active volunteers in the schools, the community and in making Orinda a wonderful place to live encourages others making residential decisions. Historically, some families choose private schools for a variety of reasons. The school district should be doing what we can to explore meeting the needs of more of these children as well.
I support small class sizes and believe the benefits to students outweigh the costs. Research implies (Tennessee STAR study) that small K-3 class size confers lasting benefits to students and that the cost-benefit ratios are favorable (A. Krueger, The Economic Journal, Feb 2003). While state budget cuts could become even more severe and all spending reduction options would need to be reevaluated, I believe increasing class size would be one of the more harmful and less economically efficient ways to proceed.
I love Orinda schools and greatly benefited from attending K-12 here. As the father five, including four current OUSD students, I am deeply invested in this public school system and its continued success. I have no narrow agenda to champion: my focus will be the continued improvement of all of our OUSD schools and all of our educational programs for all students. |
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