CONTRIBUTE

PRESS RELEASES

PRESS REPORTS

CONTACT US

1. Why are you running for School Board?
   
   I am seeking another term on the Santa Monica/Malibu Board of Education because there is a need to have representation of members with varied economic, social, political and educational points of view. Just like the “one size fits all” approach to education is not what is politically correct so is the makeup of the Board. The approach needed for this District is one that will be inclusive of ALL children, and one that will meet the needs of its students it serves. I have demonstrated those views and convictions in the last four years, and my voting record is proof. I have continued my community involvement by attending community meetings, visiting schools, talking with teachers, staff and administrators, visiting with students, and keeping abreast with the needs of the District. My passion for education allows me to forge ahead strongly to meet my responsibilities as a Board Member and fulfill the needs of ALL our students.
   
   The passion comes from over thirty years of involvement in Santa Monica and education. I have been in the Santa Monica community since 1959. I was raised in a working class, union family which emphasized education as a means of getting ahead economically. My parents both only had a third grade education and realized that their purpose for immigrating to the United States was to build a future for their children. I grew up with a strong work ethic and compassion to help others less fortunate than our family. We didn’t have much growing up but were raised with the riches of a strong family unit and lots of love.
   
   My 30 years of involvement have forged many positive changes in this community. I have seen the dynamics of education change from that of the privileged to the demand of excellence for all children. And I will continue to strive for “extraordinary achievement for ALL students while simultaneously closing the achievement gap” in a commUNITY approach.
   
   
2. What has been your personal involvement with education in our community?
   
   I have been an advocate for education since I was a student at Santa Monica College in 1974. For the last 30 years, I have been involved in many issues involving affirmative action, bilingual education, bridging the gap, access for students of color into higher education, and equity amongst all our schools in the District.
   
   I began my involvement in the District in 1989. I was a room parent and involved in the bilingual program at Will Rogers from 1990-1996. I was a member of Will Rogers School Congress from 1992-1996. I was one of the founding members of the Child Care Task Force when there were no bilingual pre-school programs in the District, and my son was not serviced. I was one of three parent coordinators for the John Adams Middle School Science Magnet Program from 1996-1999. From November 2000, I have served on the School Board.
   I am and have been a member of PTA since 1990. Some of the leadership roles I have undertaken have been VP for fundraising, VP for community relations, and VP for political work. I have been involved with the passage of the two bond measures and last three parcel taxes by walking precincts, phone banking, and contributing monies. I was a member of the Prop ES Oversite Committee and of the Prop X Election Committee.
   
   
3. What makes you stand out among the other candidates? What special attributes, talents, and abilities will you bring to our district?
   
   I bring 30 years of community, civic, educational and political involvement in the city of Santa Monica to the school district. My leadership roles in community based organizations such as Community Corporation of Santa Monica, Westside Legal Services, and FAME-Santa Monica Economic Development Corporation; my appointment to the Commission on the Status of Women serving for a four year term and serving two years as president; my involvement with PTA at Will Rogers, John Adams Middle School, Santa Monica High School in all capacities from fundraising to community affairs to mock elections; and most importantly, my passion to support the school district’s mission for academic excellence while simultaneously bridging the gap are just a few examples.
   
   My law degree, my work experience in a law office for 15 years, and as a manager in the legal division in a nonprofit housing corporation for 8 years gives me a strong command of critical and reasonable thinking, mediation skills, and strategic leadership to help steer this District. The past four years on the Board have shown my leadership and knowledge skills on critical issues that the District has had to discuss and render policy decisions.
   
   
4. What do you feel is the number one challenge facing our schools today?
   
   The main challenge facing our District today is making sure that all of our students’ needs are met. By that I mean, that our students must graduate from our District with the choice of going to college or be marketable for employment. All of our students are not having access to that choice. Our students in special education and in the lower-economic quadrant of our economy are not being successful in reaching this basic education choice when they are ready to graduate. It is the quintessential question of how the District can move forward with the mission of providing academic excellence while simultaneously bridging the gap. This issue will definitely be on my radar for years to come. Other factors do interfere with this challenge, i.e. insufficient or lack of funding from the state and federal governments, which means the District must find alternative means of funding the programs to support our students to get ahead.
   
   
5. Do you fully support the agreement negotiated for the City of Santa Monica to provide funding to the School District?
   
   Yes, I fully support the agreement negotiated. I believe the elected officials of Santa Monica must understand the responsibility of building economic capacity its city by educating their constituents and employees’ children. With this as the premise of any governmental relationship, the city council must understand that they must commit to funding the school district at a local level when the state and federal governments falter. It only makes sense that the education system in Santa Monica function at an optimum level because the return in terms of human labor and wealth is increased. From a business perspective, if labor capacity is increased so will the return of dollars to the city. As homeowners, the first thing asked of potential buyers in this high real estate market is how well our school district performs in comparison to other neighboring cities.
   
   
6. If the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District faced a budget crisis brought on by circumstances outside the District's control, such as by funding cuts from the State of California, would you be willing to support crisis funding to the District even beyond the City-School District funding agreement?
   
   Yes, I would. The base amount of $6 million that was negotiated was only for an additional $3 million. The City already had budgeted $3 million so it wasn’t like the City gave us a full $6 million. Again, I must defer to my response to question #5. The City of Santa Monica must support and defend its educational system in order to guarantee that there will be an educated workforce in the present and future.
   
   
7. Despite the agreement with the City of Santa Monica, SMMUSD continues to face financial uncertainty. If the District’s financial situation continues to deteriorate, what measures would you suggest in response?
   
   I would look into real property that the District owns and see how we can leverage it in the market. Whether we sell it and invest the proceeds or come up with a venture to lease such as the Double Tree Hotel BUT with a far better negotiated deal.
   
   
8. Although standardized test scores show increasing improvement in our schools, significant differences among economic and cultural groups still exist. What can the District do to continue the overall success in academic achievement while significantly closing the achievement gap?
   
   The District needs to identify which students we have not met the needs for and set up an individual educational plan where the student and parent(s) along with the District must sign. The plan will include academic and health services support. I have spoken with many students, parents, teachers, and psychologists, and many times the one-to-one human contact is what is needed to reach students. My idea of a seventh house for SAMOHI is a great concept because it will identify students and select teachers who will be challenged to educate the students under an individualized education plan. All parties to the plan must sign and each be held accountable for execution of the plan. My view is that there must be a buy in from the three parties to insure success.
   
   
9. What is your view of the redesign of Samohi? What do you think should be the priorities in moving forward?
   
   The SAMOHI redesign was only one aspect of “bridging the gap” and making the high school experience more personal. There are other aspects that need to be implemented, but lack of monies have plagued the implementation. The plan asks the Board to conduct reviews at certain intervals, and the Board has asked the Superintendent to always keep us abreast of any gains or pitfalls. I believe the redesign was not meant to fulfill the needs of 100% of students but perhaps 75%. The other 25% of the student population needs must be met through other interventions or reforms. This 25% may be serviced through my idea of creating a seventh house as mentioned in response to the previous question.
   
   One of the priorities moving forward at SAMOHI is make sure that there is accountability with the support staff in each of the houses. The counselors and staff need to get to know their students and the neighborhood they live in. One of the biggest complaints that I get from students is that the counselors don’t really know the students and there isn’t enough time during the school day to connect for counseling time.
   
   
10. What are your views on the district Gift Policy/Equity Fund? What is the value of using a student-weighted formula in the distribution of funds?
    
    I support the gift policy. It is the only fair and equitable means by which the District can equalize the playing field of education for all its students. The fact that some schools can fundraise more than others is based on the economic means of the families that comprise that school, and not on the ability to fundraise. Students should not be penalized for having been born poor.
    
    The student-weighted formula for distribution appears as a fair and equitable means of determining need and equitable distribution. I will be in a better position to assess it once it has been implemented and seen results of the monies distribution.
    
    
11. The Special Education Strategic Plan calls for a re-tooling, or re-engineering of the system and the move to a prevention model. What is your position on the Special Ed Strategic plan and how would you fund it?
    
    Of course, I support the Special Education Strategic Plan. As a District, we need to begin to budget some of the pieces, i.e. autistic program, professional training for teachers and staff, etc. into the budget for next school year. Until we seriously commit monies to execute the plan, and build in-house capacity to establish programs that we out source our students to, we will not get anywhere. The initial cost is high, but we know that after a couple of years, as we bring our students back to the District it will all level off.
    
    However, the immediate issue is what can be implemented that will not bring additional cost to the District this year. Professional training for teachers and staff is a must. I know we have the internal capacity to do that now. Also, the customer service piece must be improved. We need teachers and staff to respond to families within a reasonable time.
    
    
12. What is your assessment of the early childhood education programs presently offered by the District? Would you support increased funding for them so that expanded services like a full-day early childhood program could be offered to parents?
    
    I definitely support early childhood education. I believe education starts from the womb so as soon as we can capture our students into the District the better. We have always spoken about having a seamless early infant program lead into our K-12 program but it still has not become a reality. Our pre-K teachers and staff must be integrated into our K-12 education program so that everyone in the District is on the same page. When the District seeks funding for professional development via foundations/gifts, it should state that we service students 0 years through 12th grade. The District should include the teachers of our infant program in the present professional development days so they are kept informed of our education programs.
    
    I would support the expansion of full-day early childhood programs in our District. We did have them in our District but they were too costly to the District and for families.
    
    
13. How do you view the current proposal to separate the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District?
    
    I had no opinion until I was approached by parents and teachers, and I realized that perhaps the succession was not a good idea and the issue was being pursued because of the new gift policy. I was elected to represent all the children of the District and I believe I have. It is unfortunate that our Malibu parents feel that the Board has not been responsive to their needs. I will not sign the petition, but I will not oppose their right to proceed with a Democratic process of succession. Ultimately, the Board’s vote is not necessary, and the Malibu citizens will need to put it to a vote. I am assured that the County of Los Angeles will review the petition and make sure that it meets their criteria before it is moved to the State of California for final review, and set the process for a vote by the citizens of Malibu.
    
    
14. What are your thoughts about how the district and school sites can encourage involvement and participation from families who have felt disenfranchised from their local school communities?
    
    The District and school sites have to be more culturally sensitive about being inclusive in the type of school activities promoted, the kinds of arts programs presented, and have Districtwide events, such as a picnic or concert at a local park of school.
    
    
15. What is a priority concern you might have regarding the district that has not been raised?
    
    The promotion of second language acquisition as an enrichment.