The Issues

I stand for:

Accountability and Transparency

The School District and the School Board must be more open and inclusive in all the decisions that affect students and the community. This is the only way to ensure that the district and the school board are accountable to the community for their decisions. I will also provide oversight and fiscal responsibility and insist that funds be spent wisely to ensure that our students and teachers have the resources they need.

Commitment

As a parent of two children who will be attending San Leandro schools, I have a personal stake in our schools. That is why I got involved long before I decided to run for the School Board. I will put the needs of our students first and support our teachers to make our schools the best in the Bay Area.

Community

Parental and community involvement in schools is essential for improving education. Parents and the community need to be aware of and consulted on the challenges that face San Leandro schools and brought into the District's decision making process.

My three main priorities are:

Finding Alternative Sources of Funding for our Schools

Our schools miss out on as much as $5,000,000 a year in available grants because the district does not have a dedicated grant writer. I will work to hire a full-time grant writer to take advantage of these opportunities. Moreover, I will outreach to the business community to develop ongoing and mutually beneficial relationships. Businesses should be joining with the community to support our schools.

Expanding our Vocational Programs

Students in vocational programs have better graduation rates and have improved academic performance. I will support and work to expand our vocational programs and to partner with the business and labor community to provide apprenticeships and good jobs after graduation.

Healthy and Well Fed Students

Hungry students can't concentrate, have lower test scores and get sick more often. I will work to ensure that all eligible students take advantage of free and reduced-fee breakfast and lunch programs, and that lunch programs offer healthy food that serves the needs of the student population.

Other Issues that concern me include:

A Comprehensive Educational Curriculum

Students must master the three "Rs" while learning analytical and critical thinking skills. Students must be given a foundation in the sciences, the arts and the humanities as well as in civics and technology. I support increasing the number of teachers' aids and ensuring that our curricula addresses the needs of 21st century students.

Better Facilities for our Schools

We need to relieve overcrowding at the high school, modernize our schools, some of which are nearly 100 years old, and plan for demographic change in San Leandro. For those reasons, I participated in the formation of Measure B, the school facilities bond, which I support.

Embracing Diversity

San Leandro schools are fortunate to have a diverse student population. We should embrace that diversity and ensure that all students have their educational needs met. Similarly, we should ensure that the staff and administration have the training and background necessary to teach our diverse population.