PRIMARY AREAS OF FOCUS

Should I be elected to be a member of the Center Joint Unified School District, the following will be my primary areas of focus:

EDUCATION

I will strive to ensure Center Joint Unified School District students receive a premier educational experience. I will work to make certain that our schools inspires and empowers our children, pushing them to reach their highest potential. I will ensure that the District keeps students educational achievements at the forefront of every decision by having no distractions and committing to the basic tenements of teaching.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our students. Safe schools promote protection of our children from violence, exposure to weapons and threats, theft, bullying and harassment, exposure to illegal substances as well as many other issues and concerns. Unfortunately school violence remains a persistent problem nationally with tragedies impacting the health and well-being of our nation’s youth. School safety is linked to improved student and school outcomes and the District faces an evolving, continuing and unique set of threats, hazards, and security challenges ranging from the aforementioned to potential bomb threats and cyberattacks. In the past, school safety initiatives have addressed these issues however, with the rise in number of school shootings and other security breaches, school administrators have been compelled to provide an increased focus on school safety. I will do my best to ensure the district continues its efforts and initiatives for enhancing school safety and security by increasing funding for the tools and equipment necessary to address these issues and concerns. My experience and background will provide guidance to the necessary research for policy decision making pertaining to school security challenges and interventions. I will ensure the district continues its efforts in enhancing school safety and security by attempting to increase resources for the tools and equipment necessary to address the four main pillars of campus safety: 1) pre-emptive response, 2) access control, 3) hardening classrooms, and 4) on-site incident response.  

SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

A positive school environment is essential to the development of a student. Having appropriate facilities, well managed classrooms, available school-based health support, and a clear, fair disciplinary policy ensure our children can be in a positive place where they can work toward specific goals set before them in their class objectives. A school environment needs to be organized, outgoing, confident, and compassionate and have a clear and shared focus on the following key focused items: 

• High standards and expectations for all students
• High levels of collaboration and communication
• Effective school leadership
• Frequent monitoring of student learning and teachings
• Curriculum, instruction and assessments that align with state standards
• Focused professional development

I will see that the District fosters broad dimensions of learning critical to students’ overall success. To achieve these goals I will promote social and emotional development, creativity and innovation, positive attitudes to learning, and citizenship. Additionally I will see that the successes and accomplishments are main features of a positive school culture by having a clear school mission, opportunities to learn and time on task, a safe and orderly environment and ensuring positive home-school relationships.

FISCAL RESPONSIBLE

As a Member of the Governing Board one of the most important areas of responsibility is the monetary and fiscal policies of the District. As a Board Member I will promote fiscal prudence at all times to secure the solvency of the District. I will commit to monitoring spending activities to ensure the District meets its budgetary guidelines and, if necessary, make the the tough decisions needed to guarantee the District stays within its budget. To avoid any issues, I will seek and consider any opportunities for the district to generate additional revenue and be sure to discover any grant funding that can be made available to the District.

DISTRICT BUSINESS

Being responsible for ensuring the District’s organization and administration of the financial and business affairs, such as payroll, purchasing, budget, investment and risk management, bond management, emergency preparedness and school safety and security are addressed, I will ensure that the District is responsive to the values, beliefs and priorities of the Center Joint Unified School District communities. I will also participate and assist ensuring the District adequately supports it’s schools building program, support maintenance operations, and transportation, employee collective bargaining, addressing personnel management and conducting strategic planning. To ensure optimal efficiency in internal processes of the District I will attempt to reduce any number of findings and deficiencies noted in any financial audits, operational audits or program review audits that are discovered. I will promote job specific training to employees to ensure our students receive their education from those that have received the latest information in their fields and I will attempt to establish a systemic process to inform all employees as well as the public of any changes to school board policies and procedures when they occur.

TRANSPARENCY

All of the aforementioned cannot take place without the participation and collective good of students, parents and guardians, teachers, staff and members of the District’s communities without maintaining open and honest lines of communication and keeping all informed on decisions that are made in the best interests of the District. Ideal District transparency should meet at least two criteria: inclusion of relevant information and interpretation of data whose meaning or importance is not self-evident. Being aware of the intricate requirements that govern the work of School Boards, the interrelationship of applicable rules, and how issues can be judged harshly in the court of public opinion I will conduct myself in a way to ensure the District stays in full compliance with all relevant Federal, State and local laws, policies, rules, procedures and guidelines.