Candidate for
Board Member; San Mateo-Foster City School District

Positions for Ellen Mallory Ulrich San Mateo-Foster City School Board Candidate

I've entered this election because I'm committed to education and have the experience to face the challenges at this district. But, most importantly, I come as a parent of two students and a community member with new and creative solutions.

Last year as Site Council Chair, I started a movement to communicate better with the administration and other schools. Neighborhood school boundaries aren't walls. There should be interaction with parents, administrators, and kids throughout the district, understanding who we are and what we do. Unless we pull together as twenty schools collectively, the challenges will be that much harder to deal with.

My focus for this Board is: the achievement gap, the relationship with our teachers and the financial security of the district.

There are gaps in achievement! And, regardless of who's testing at advanced, proficient, basic or below basic, the gap affects every child in the system, because the decisions about how to solve it will change the daily routine we call school.

We need to act now and the "we" is everyone connected with the district.

There needs to be an objective look at programs to determine what's working and what's not, both here and across the country. If they're working for at-risk kids, let's figure out why and how it can be integrated into our curriculum. Let's get them the help they need.

At the same time, focus on kids performing at proficient and advanced to make sure we continue to challenge them. At no time should closing the gap mean lowering the ceiling for those who are meeting the challenge.

Use the resources available in the community. Pull from every area of the two cities to get support to where it's needed. Let's get the whole district busy on solving the district problem.

The Teachers

The relationship with our teachers has been stressful at best. There needs to be respect for the people who are making education happen: 1) The Board, administration and teachers need to agree on common goals and objectives. 2) There needs to be ongoing communication with active listening and decision making by both sides. 3) We need a community based support structure to assist teachers throughout the district. 4) And, we need to pay our teachers as much as our budget will allow.

Financial Security

The district is in the black for the time being. BUT facing us this year is our chronic achievement gap, teacher contract negotiations and the fact that some cuts made during the last budget cycle are seriously affecting the well-being of our students.

The district SHOULD operate in the black. But, I also want to see creative ideas pouring out of board meetings AND I want to see every available dollar spent on the programs and services that matter in this district. IF a dollar needs to be cut, there should be creative solutions to support the students affected by the cut.

Creative funding and creative ideas are absolutely necessary for this district. They'll make or break our fiscal solvency AND our ability to provide the right education to each type of child.

I want the opportunity to make a difference in the district, to close the achievement gap and to continue to challenge our students, to retain our experienced teachers and to ensure our fiscal health with creative solutions. I'd be honored to have your support on election day. It's a great district with great kids + let's get it to its full potential.

Thank you + see you on November 8th!