February 24, 2007

 Below are the responses of a Write-In Candidate. Based upon their answers to the ten questions, the depth of understanding this person has about education issues remains unclear.  Because of this we cannot allow a focus on this write-in candidate beyond being an equal member of the audience, a public citizen. As of the time when this information was uploaded to the web page the identity of the person sending this communication is still unclear. There were no other parties running for board seats who opted to respond.

 
 
Question #1

The traditional public school and charter schools are both funded by
tax dollars. If you are to be elected board member will you seek to bring
these concepts together to erase the distinguishing lines or will you
work to keep them separate and competing for the same clientele? Please
expound to clarify and validate your vision concerning this matter.
 
If elected I will work to ensure that Public Schools and Charter Schools are viable choices for parents.
 

 
Question #2

Given your experience and personal knowledge, what label would you
apply to the present LAUSD management model? To be clear, there is a
voice coming out of the masses suggesting Total Quality Management (TQM),
as espoused by it's originator, Dr. Deming, would be the best of all
known management models to institute for the purposes of improving public
education. Do you agree that TQM is the best model of management for
public school administration? Can you suggest a specific model of
administration better suited to public education?
 
I don’t feel that a different model is needed if real TQM was actually used at LAUSD whereby the children and parents are made satisfied with lower cost. Today, our customers are not satisfied and the price continues to increase.
 

Question #3

What purpose does the teachers union serve in your vision of future
public education? Is there any factual information in your personal
history that indicates how you feel about UTLA or teachers' unions in
general? (Our forum will permit a candidate to share written verifiable
information about an opponent, information that we respectfully reserve
the right to determine if it would be fair to share publicly. We protect
the right to remain reasonably respectful in holding these kinds of
forums. This is a democratic forum, not a place for gossip and hearsay.) 
 
In my vision of future public education, the teachers union serves to continue bargaining for their interests and not the benefit of the children with emphasis on more money and less work.
 
 

Question #4

What is the purpose of year-round-calendars for schools? Can an
approach to improving the delivery of education to students k-12 in LAUSD
include any of the year-round calendars? If so please specify which
year-round calendar model may have positive attributes. Please expound as
a means to clarify and validate your opinion.
 
The original purpose for year-round calendar was to ease over crowding in schools at LAUSD. 
 
 
Question #5

What is your opinion about the recent change of salary payments to
LAUSD employees? How could there have been a better outcome? If you have
insight as to why there was a systemic change of salary disbursements
please share your knowledge.
 
There should never have been an agreed upon salary increase as it was with the UTLA and LAUSD without the actually funds being available. Now, the Superintendents is talking about they have find the funds. This doesn’t appear to fiscal responsible.
 

 
Question #6

Is there a conflict between A-G requirements for all students and the
call from some corners of society for a return to technical training
courses in high schools? Please first answer this question directly (yes
or no---a general view of how these two concepts work). Afterwards, state
how you plan to best serve the needs of students with a focus on these
two concepts.
 
Yes, When elected, I will ensure that students are meeting A-G requirements as well as push for more vocational educational training just as our State Superintendent of School is doing to ensure that students are given career choices in high school. It is important that students are not neglected in given foundational education standards in A-G courses whether they will attend college or go into a vocational career. The education preparedness is always a plus.
 
 

Question #7

Do you think earning extra pay for bilingual skills is fair while not
offering a bonus to education professionals having specialized skills
with english speaking at-risk students coming from cultures devastated by
slavery, racism, and hatred over centuries?
 
I wouldn’t say that it’s unfair; however, I would as a Board Member push to get the bonus for those who also have specialized skills in dealing with English-Speaking at –risk students who affected by their cultural past such as slavery, racism and hatred over the centuries.
 
 

Question #8

In California prisons there have been riots between African American
and Mexican American inmates. This same kind of hatred between the two
cultures is being manifested in LAUSD schools and in certain
neighborhoods. Other than "talk", what specific suggestions do you have
about resolving social problems between African Americans and people from
the Spanish speaking Americas?
 
 

It is my contention that integration without orientation is a detriment to any people.
Just as it was for me as a young African American girl growing up in Senatobia, Mississippi and integrated in 1972, it was a difficult experience. We were made to mix with a group of students, who we had never dealt with before. If we had been given some form of orientation on culture difference, I believe that my transition into integration would have been a lot smoother. Because it didn’t happen, I witnessed many fights and students getting expelled from school because of race issues. It is my belief that their should be orientation classes on culture difference and what we have in common as a people on our school campuses. There should be some program that involve having students to role play and even a domestic student exchange process whereby student adopt a local Latino and Black family to follow for six months, write up the results and present to the class or school as whole during a ceremony for students and parents who participated.
 
 

Question #9

How will you make sure that LAUSD low performing schools are
prioritized to get their fair share of SB 1133?
 
I will work with the Superintendent and other board members along with the low performing schools administrators to have the law enforce and fund distributed appropriately so that these school will have the need resources which has a great deal to do with closing the achievement gap.
 
 

Question #10

Does your vision of education include school counselors k-12? What
do you understand school counselors provide to enhance education
services? Are counselors on the elementary level needed?
 
 Yes, school counselors provide a blueprint and help for students to build their career choices. Yes, I believe considering the global economy we are in today, qualified counselor, not babysitters can be useful starting in elementary schools.