Bonnie Cassel
Why are you running for school board?
As the incumbent, I wish to continue my work on behalf of Lodi Unified school children and their right to an excellent education.
Why are you the best candidate for the seat?
My work as a trustee has been consistently effective in improving the educational experience for all students in Lodi Unified School District.
If elected, what do you hope to accomplish?
I want to continue my efforts to insure that not one LUSD child “falls through the cracks” academically. The ability to read well translates to success in life and career, and I proudly led the initiative to provide every student who does not read at grade level the instructional means to excel. Since that time a proven reading intervention program has been implemented, resulting in impressive student gains in reading ability. There is still much work that needs to be done in other academic and behavioral areas, and I wish to continue my goal of reaching out to every child who still struggles academically and giving them the means to achieve success.
What role should a school district serve and how would you measure success?
Success is measured by the degree to which a school district academically prepares all the community’s children to be successful in life and career.
How can Lodi Unified School District better serve the community?
Continue to improve the recruitment and retention of quality teachers, the safety of all school campuses, the number of career technical educational programs, and the number of academic intervention programs available to any student who is struggling academically.
In what areas has Lodi Unified School District improved recently?
The district website and the electronic outreach to the community has been greatly improved. A significant number of schools have improved their test scores within the last few years. The graduation rate has increased. Academic intervention programs have begun to dramatically increase students’ ability to read at grade level. The community’s support of Measure U has enabled the district to greatly modernize schools and add safety enhancements to all campuses. (These are only a few of the many improvements made lately.)
What concerns you about Lodi Unified School District? How would you address these concerns?
I am concerned about the race-based disparity of academic achievement among students. I believe LUSD needs to continue focusing on lessening the disparity until all students are given the necessary academic skills to achieve success in life and career.
Who’s a leader you admire and why?
I admire Michelle and Barack Obama for the hope they inspired in their ascent to the White House in 2008, and the integrity and vision they have always displayed in their many accomplishments.
Your thoughts on School safety/security
Lodi Unified has already made commendable progress in safety/security measures at all 53 schools and has budgeted for more improvements. Safety/security needs to remain a top priority for Lodi Unified.
Student work/life balance
Lodi Unified needs to continue monitoring the number of hours and work conditions of students who have part-time jobs to insure compliance with state law.
Low-enrollment schools
Houston and Serna schools combining their campuses in school year 2019/2020 are good examples of proactive measures taken by Lodi Unified to mitigate the downfalls of low-enrollment schools by two schools sharing a single campus.
Charter schools
Charter schools appeal to many students that thrive in small-school environments but their existence has become problematic to public schools who lose valuable per-pupil funds to charter schools.
Trade schools/skills
Career technical education career paths are valuable in giving students both a good overall education and a promising beginning to many well-paid careers.
Technology in education
Every student needs to have access to technology in all its many forms in order to live and work well in modern society.
School start times
School start times ideally need to be no earlier than 8:30 a.m. However, with 365 square miles of bussing territory, Lodi Unified’s starting times are mostly dictated by the necessity of using buses in a staggered bussing schedule each morning.
Teacher tenure/retention
Facing an ever-increasing shortage of teachers in a competitive job market, Lodi Unified needs to grant tenure to teachers who have successfully passed all job evaluations aligned to the California Standards for the Teaching Profession.
Local Control and Accountability Plan
Lodi Unified has successfully transitioned to the state-mandated Local Control and Accountability Plan and now needs to improve the outreach to parents who are included as central stakeholders under the guidelines of the plan.
School discipline
Lodi Unified is transitioning to a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) plan that supports teaching positive behavior strategies rather than the timeworn practice of punishing students for rule infractions. PBIS in some LUSD elementary schools has resulted in impressive shifts in fostering a positive behavioral culture that lends itself to a better learning environment for all students.
Taxpayer accountability
In my time as a LUSD trustee, taxpayers have supported three major bond measures (K, L, and U) which have and will put millions of dollars of structural improvements into our schools. Because of taxpayer support our campuses and our students have benefited immensely at a time when there were no other funds available for structural improvements.
Standardized testing
With the State of California’s adoption of National Common Core Standards came the mandate that all public schools would embrace standardized testing. Lodi Unified follows the guidelines set forth by the California Department of Education in administering standardized testing to students.