Candidate for
Board Member; Brea Olinda Unified School District

I believe:

• in the historical excellence of Brea's schools. For years, young families have moved to this District because of its reputation for good education. Today, academic achievement indicators continue to be both high and rising.

• in more local control of District resources - fewer strings on our income, and fewer unfunded and poorly funded demands on what we must do. This extends both to property tax funds, all of which flow through Sacramento before being sent back to school districts (now on a purposely delayed time schedule and in amounts far less than necessary) AND to federal funding for special education, which generally arrives in amounts that cover a small fraction of mandated services, leaving unpaid costs that eat holes in our general fund.

• that our District's overarching goal always must be improving academic achievement. In an increasingly complex, competitive world, our students need to know more and be able to perform better---and we never can rest on today's success.

• that all students deserve quality teachers---people who believe in them, who have the skills to help them learn and perform at high levels, and who are knowledgeable and passionate about what they teach. Attracting, supporting and retaining high-quality staff and ensuring they receive appropriate ongoing training is imperative to our district's success, and always must be a top priority.

• that all students deserve a course of study that's challenging, effective, up-to-date and well-balanced, and that this core program must be complemented by varied and high-quality academic, artistic and athletic extracurricular opportunities. Instructional materials and practices must be adopted based on quality research, supported by staff development and regularly evaluated for effectiveness, and heightened academic challenge must always be balanced by increased staff and student support.

• that all students deserve adequate space in schools that are safe, clean, orderly and inviting places to learn, and must have in sufficient quantities the tools important for learning to take place.

• that the support and involvement of parents is essential to student, school and District success.

• that open, honest, frequent, transparent, two-way communication is the basis on which positive and lasting relationships are built. That all stakeholders (students, parents, staff and more) must consistently receive the information they need to do their jobs well, and frequent opportunities for feedback must be provided. Further, that the ongoing input of all stakeholders is both necessary and desirable in all key areas of district decision making.

• that financial resources must be responsibly maximized for the benefit of student learning, and that balanced budgets and reasonable reserves are essential to the long-term stability of our schools.

• that the combined quality contributions of all District staff---not just teachers and principals, but classroom paraprofessional aides, site level and district office personnel, custodians, bus drivers, food service workers and more serve as the backbone of this District, and that the good work of all must be supported both daily and well.

• that cooperation between and among the district's individual and group stakeholders (administrators, teachers and classified staff, students, parents and the broader community) advances the interests of all. That welcoming in, providing for and encouraging participation and inclusion of those of disparate ideas, as well as those of diverse ethnic, religious and language groups, is expected, and that we must model, teach and support this practice throughout our organization.

• that legal standards, ethics, honesty, integrity, respect, openness and fair play toward all are essential organizational characteristics which must be expected and protected at all times.

• that a school board member must be active and visible, committed to working hard, being responsive, listening well, studying the issues, acting independently, making fair, logical and well-reasoned decisions, safeguarding the District's honor and striving always to advance its goals.