A look at the candidates for LUSD District 5

Why are you running for school board? I am a candidate for school board because I care deeply about my community and the future of our children. It is my intention to improve conditions for students and for employees. Our children deserve to have adequate, safe, and well-maintained facilities and to have educational opportunities that will allow them to have a successful future. Our employees need to feel valued and we should be able to attract and keep our employees. The health of the district is a direct result of the care, concern, and work of all the district’s employees.

Why are you the best candidate? This is my community. I grew up in Lodi, chose to make Lodi my home, and plan to stay here for the rest of my life. I have a long history of involvement with the community and with the school district. My knowledge of how the district works and how it could be improved is expansive. My grandchildren will be attending Lodi schools. I will work tirelessly to improve conditions and provide opportunities for all LUSD children to be successful in their future. It is not enough just to want to make things better, you have to have the experience, the drive, and the follow through to make things happen.

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish? 1. Continually work to improve school safety. 2. Smaller class sizes. 3. Provide quality educational opportunities for all students with fully equipped classrooms. 4. Attract highly qualified personnel. 5. Build trust and integrity with employees and community with positive leadership. 6. Identify problems, seek solutions, solve issues that arise, and incorporate these solutions into the organizational structure so that the problem does not reoccur.

What role should a school district serve and how would you measure success? It is the role of the school district to provide the best educational opportunities for all students with job skills and/or college preparation. One of the ways to measure success is to offer a broad spectrum of courses. This will allow students to obtain the experience needed to choose their future pathway.

How can Lodi Unified better serve the community? Lodi Unified can better serve the community by continually working to improve conditions for the students and the employees. Creating a quality atmosphere will attract the best to come and serve our community giving our students strong, positive outcomes.

In what areas has LUSD recently improved? In the last few years, LUSD has spent millions of dollars to secure school sites in order to provide a safer environment. In addition, LUSD has been trying to broaden course offerings for middle and high school students in the area of career technical education. Also, the use of technology in the classroom for instruction has increased. This allows students useful, relevant skills they will surely use in their future. Focus on these items needs to continue.

What are concerns about LUSD? How to address concerns? Safety for our students and employees is always a concern. In the last few years, LUSD has spent millions of dollars each year to secure school sites. This includes access entry points, locks, cameras, alerting systems, training, fencing, and much more. Additional work is planned and must continue. Another concern in general is school funding from the state. This has a direct impact on LUSD. California School Boards Association is trying to advance legislation to help stabilize funding. Currently California is 41st in education funding and 47th in the nation for student-staff ratios. Locally, LUSD must channel as much of the funds we receive to school sites, the classroom, and student support services as possible. We need to be efficient and effective with our money.

Who is a leader you admire? A person I greatly admire is my mother, Sara Heberle. My mother and father were truly a wonderful partnership in raising our family. Sara was a wife, mother, a teacher for over 40 years, and a grandmother. She was very active in the community in a variety of ways including directing children’s summer theater, Girl Scout leader, Grape Festival volunteer, many, many civic clubs, professional organizations, organizer of Senior Follies, organized the school district grandparents reading program to read to students in the classroom, elected school board member, awarded Lodi Citizen of the Year, to name just a few. Sara was a strong, positive role model in demonstrating community service.

My thoughts on

School Safety Safety of our students and employees is paramount. Safety for our students and employees is always a concern. In the last few years, LUSD has spent millions of dollars each year to secure school sites. This includes access entry points, locks, cameras, alerting systems, training, fencing, and much more. Additional work is planned and must continue.

Student work/life balance: Homework is meant to reinforce the daily lessons. It should be relevant and meaningful. It extends the learning of our students. The age and life goals of the student are directly related to the amount of homework needed.

Low-enrollment schools Student populations within an area can fluctuate throughout the years. It is important to maintain schools for the long-term benefit of the children and the community. Schools are neighborhood centers and should remain accessible to the given population in an area. Charter Schools Charter schools do not have to operate under the same rules and regulations that public schools do.

Trade schools/skills I am an adamant proponent of career and technical courses within our schools and providing students with employable skills. This provides a workforce for our community as well as good employment opportunities for our students.

Technology in education LUSD has been trying to broaden course offerings for middle and high school students in the area of career technical education. Also, the use of technology in the classroom for instruction has increased. This allows students useful, relevant skills they will surely use in their future. While the use of technology in the classroom is useful, it does not replace the need for the classroom teacher.

School start times This should be a community decision meeting the needs of the local families. It is a complex issue that affects more than just start times.

Teacher tenure/retention To be able to attract and retain highly qualified teachers is essential in providing the best education possible. In order to attract and retain these individuals, we must provide a good work environment. A good work environment is also a good learning environment.

Local Control and Accountability Plan While the name Local Control and Accountability has a great title, there is little local control and funding formulas are set by the state. The idea of local control is a good one. The state reporting template has changed every year causing an unnecessary waste of time and resources that could better be used in serving the students.

School discipline School discipline is directly related to school safety and the learning environment. No child has the right to disrupt and hinder the learning environment of the other students. Policies should be in place to adequately address issues and provide consistency in resolving the problem.

Taxpayer accountability Taxpayers of the state of California have a long history of supporting schools with tax dollars. We should respect their support and votes and not violate their trust. Locally, LUSD must channel as much of the funds we receive to school sites, the classroom, and student support services as possible. We need to be efficient and effective with our money.

Standardized testing Standardized testing has a place in education. However, the tests must be reasonable in content and in the amount of time devoted to taking the tests. Too much testing has diminished the time available for instruction and learning. Standardized tests are only one measure of student performance.