GUEST COMMENTARY – I have served on the Davis School Board since 2007. During that time state funding for education has steadily eroded. Progress toward closing the achievement gap is painfully slow. We ask educators to do more with less even as they work to make sure all students achieve success.
I could have found ten – twenty – good reasons not to run for re-election. Why, then, did I choose to throw my hat back into the ring?
Just one reason: I believe quality public education is foundational to the success of society, and further, that we each have personal responsibility for its well-being.
At this moment in time, this point in history, there is nothing more important than making sure that every child has an opportunity to achieve their full potential. Our future depends upon it.
The challenges facing our district have never been greater, and it is crucial that those making decisions have a vested interest in our schools and knowledge of the challenges that face us.
As the mother of three, I have a fifteen-year record of volunteer service in Davis schools. My focus has always been to provide quality information to parents so they have the opportunity to meaningfully engage in their children’s education. To that end, I spent years constructing school newsletters, sending out listserve messages, creating websites and organizing parent education forums.
I’ve had the opportunity as a member of the School Board to expand that focus to provide the community with the information they need to trust that their tax dollars are well-spent.
Together with community volunteers, I created www.DistrictDollars.org, a web tool that explains how the Davis Joint Unified School District receives and spends its money. Community members have the opportunity to ask questions and share their educational priorities.
Since 2007, the Davis Joint Unified School District and school districts throughout California have lost more than $1,000 per student per year in state funding.
Despite that, here in Davis we have maintained a high quality educational program – strong core classes, world languages, sports, art, music, drama, counselors at the secondary level; reading, math and science specialists in elementary school.
I know what it takes to weather the storm. We’ve turned to the community, asking for support for fundraising drives and local parcel taxes. We’ve asked our employees for salary concessions. And we’ve made program reductions. We’ve tightened and trimmed and last year made some truly painful cuts – very difficult decisions – in raising class sizes across the grades.
Through it all, we remain focused on solutions. In Davis, we’ve come together to protect our students. Measure E is just one more example.
If approved, Measure E will renew programs currently funded by Measure A, which sunsets in June 2013. In addition, Measure E provides a safety net for Davis schools, if California voters do not approve Proposition 30.
But Davis cannot be our only focus. I urge yes votes on Proposition 30 and Proposition 38 to support all California schools.
And there are structural governance reforms needed at the state level. My mission for adequate funding for public education lead me to my job at California Forward – a non-profit, nonpartisan organization – where we work daily to bring common sense back to the state budgeting process and to focus all governments on improving results.
I encourage a yes vote on Proposition 31, an initiative sponsored by the California Forward Action Fund. Proposition 31 will take schools off the wild roller-coaster ride of recent years as state funding becomes more reliable.
Proposition 31 also makes it easier for local governments to work together and improve public services through collaborative measures. We are well-placed in Davis to build upon long-standing collaborations and regional cooperation and use this new authority to improve government services.
My commitment to the Davis community remains the same. Should I be re-elected:
- I will listen to all perspectives.
- I will ask hard questions.
- I will do my homework and delve for understanding.
- I will act with integrity.
- And I will always stay focused on the needs of the students.
It is my privilege and my pleasure to serve. I welcome your continued support on November 6.
