Candidate for
Board Member; Atascadero Unified School District; 4 Year Term

There are many issues facing our school district... declining enrollment, truancy, and reduced funding will be with us for years to come.

But I believe that lack of communication is the biggest problem we face today, and it's one we have the ability to change.

The Education Codes repeatedly state that parent involvement is necessary for children to succeed. Parents of children at the elementary school level have one teacher to contact if they have concerns. The teachers at elementary school also welcome parent volunteers, and encourage parents to be at the schools, which naturally creates a connection between school and family.

At Junior High level, the kids have seven teachers, and at High School as many as eight. These teachers are often busy before and after school with coaching assignments, or other school related activities. Their "office hours" vary. Parent volunteers are not encouraged to be in the classrooms, so it is much more difficult to stay informed.

I would like to see the computer system we currently have, used to its fullest capability. This system allows teachers to post their grade book entries online. (Parents and students can then access the information with their student's ID number, and if the teacher wants to, they can also assign a password for an extra layer of security). If this were done every time a grade was entered, parents would be able to see if their student turned in thier homework regularly, or what they got on their test, as well as their cumulative total grade to date. Junior High and High School students would also be able to confirm that their assignment was marked correctly in the grade book - when a teacher has 180 plus students, mistakes do happen occasionally.

If teachers were to enter their syllabus into the computer, it too could become accessible to students and parents. At the very least, homework needs to be posted online for the current and coming week. It' s been proven that "front loading" - or looking ahead at work to come - gives students confidence to participate more fully in class, and can considerably increase the student's understanding of a subject. Parents would be able to look ahead to make sure their child wouldn't miss a test for a teeth cleaning appointment (as an example), or if a student was sick they would easily be able to find what they had missed.

School Board meeting minutes need to be posted online in a timely manner. District calendars need to be updated regularly during the school year, and during the summer as well.

Performances and events at the school sites could be "advertised" on the District website to promote community involvement and help to build a bridge between the kids and the community.

Perhaps we could also work with the City of Atascadero, and include a link to their recreation guide. It would also be nice to have a community notice section on the District website which would inform families of upcoming registration information, for 4H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Soccer and other community organizations and events. Extra curricular activities are a great way for kids to connect with other kids, and form bonds with their community.

During the summer, the supplies students will need for the coming year could be posted at each school's website. And the Junior High and the High School could post `schedule pick-up' dates and procedures.

These are just a few of the ways communication could be vastly improved, especially at the Jr. High and High School level, simply by making use of the computer, and using the technology we have in place now.

The other issue I see facing the District would involve bringing in more variety in the course offerings at the High School level.

We offer a wonderful Arts program at the Fine Arts Academy. But when these kids get to High School, there is little follow through - other than drama, chorus and band - until they reach junior or senior level. Fine Arts Academy enrollment increases each year, and they still have a waiting list. This is what our "customers" want... and this course of study should not stop between the Fine Arts Academy & High School.

At a meeting last Spring, the student representatives on the School Site Council at the High School brought up the fact that there is currently no class teaching "life skills". They want a course that teaches them how to read a pay stub, balance their checkbook, shop for car financing, and budget their money, etc. I wholeheartedly support this idea!

Many students will not go directly to college when they graduate from high school. We need to provide options for them with trades and technology based classes. I would like to see an expansion of the partnership with Cuesta College, and the extended learning opportunities offered through their program. We also need to actively pursue apprenticeship opportunities with local businesses.

The "No Child Left Behind" act demands that our student's standardized test scores improve yearly. Upgrading communication to allow more parent involvement may be a step in the right direction in helping to solve this problem... and the cost would be minimal. And bringing more variety into the High School curriculum would boost the excitement of the students to be in school... and stay in school... which ultimately improves testing results as well.