What is the biggest issue facing the...

What is the biggest issue facing the school district?

By far the biggest issue is how to keep lean budget years from

hurting the education of our students. Maximizing the use of our

local bond funds for facilities is also key.

What can be done to keep test scores on the rise?

Teaching important skills and content; addressing testing

seriously without letting it take over the curriculum; striving for

excellence rather than settling for good; and hiring the best

teachers, administrators, managers and classified staff are

meaningful strategies. Huntington Beach City students have performed

very well on the many, many standardized tests required these days

through these means.

What needs to be done to bolster the budget? What programs should

take priority?

The best thing for school budgets would be for our state

legislators not to suspend Proposition 98, and for our national

legislators to fulfill their promises on funding for special

education and other mandates.

As for what our local leaders can do, I have carefully examined

the HBCSD budget and do not find significant waste or untapped

resources. That brings us down to fine-tuning all financial decisions

and to choosing among valuable programs, none of which you want to

cut or reduce. Priority goes to programs with proven benefits that

fit the needs of our district’s students.

How can school board members better communicate with parents and

the community?

Being visible and accessible on school campuses at events and PTA

meetings is a good start. Effective communication at the board

meetings themselves is also crucial. Community members or press

attending board meetings should be able to hear the thoughts and

rationale of different trustees. I’d like to see, within the

strictures of the Brown Act, more opportunities for the sharing of

thoughts and ideas among trustees and community members in a less

formal meeting structure.