She doesn’t support changing to a K-6 system. She said a recent study, plus meetings with administrators, teachers and parents, showed this move would result in overcrowding and would be cost prohibitive.She said the most pressing issue facing the district is their budget. “We need to be prudent and stretch our money carefully by spending on only what is necessary in order to fit the needs of our children.”In order to deal with state budget cuts, De La Torre said they need to review all areas carefully and cut expenses without losing critical programs. She said, “Many of our children are poor, migrant homeless and participate in the free lunch program. Children sometimes take half of their lunch home to have some for dinner. Categorical funds assist in many necessary student needs.”Talking about social promotion, she said they have students who have not successfully completed the promotion requirements, yet are automatically enrolled at the high school. “This year we are starting to identify these students early on and have started intervention programs early,” she added. “The district has reading teachers and coaches to help with basic instruction and help them improve their skills.”De La Torre said she was born and raised in Santa Paula. She said she’s familiar with the demographics of the town. “I understand our diverse student population,” she said. “We must recognize everyone’s needs and treat them all fairly and equally. That is their right.”Ginger GherardiGinger Gherardi has a granddaughter in second grade and volunteers one day a week in her class. She is concerned about the condition of the schools, including heating, air conditioning and other maintenance problems. “I believe we can and should do better,” she said.Concerning test scores, Gherardi said teachers are working hard to improve test scores and are making progress. “Unfortunately, the public perception of our schools is not good, “ she said. “This has to change. We need to engage the community as partners in the education of our youth, celebrate our successes and work hard to continue making improvement.”Gherardi would like to see a community discussion on the issue of changing to a K-6 program. “A decision on whether to use K-6 or K-5 at the elementary schools should be made through that public participation process,” she noted.She sees the most pressing issue facing our schools is the quality of our school system. “This problem transcends the very real need to provide the best education for our children and for our future,” she added. “We need to demand the best and accept nothing less.”As far as state budget cuts are concerned, she said they need to make reductions by going through the budget with a scalpel, finding every dime and making sure it is put to good use keeping programs like GATE, music, fine arts, science and sports fully funded. She also said, “We need to make improvements, not idle promises.”She said that, clearly, some of the kids leaving the elementary district are well prepared for high school. Yet, “We are not meeting the needs of some kids, especially as they enter high school.”She feels the schools need to pay attention to those who will never go to college, but instead prefer a trade or a skilled labor job. “We need to make sure that all our kids have the basic skills they need to become contributing members of society,” she added.Gherardi said she’s not happy with the status quo; she thinks they can and should do better.Rick CadmanRick Cadman retired as a school principal this past June. He said that upon learning of his impending retirement, parents, as well as current and former district employees suggested he run for the board.“Several stated the current board needed another Gene Marzec (former SPESD educator who served on the board with distinction),” he said. “They said my willingness to stand up and to voice my concerns about equity for all students, all sites and all employee groups, even when it meant my then site would get less funding, demonstrated that I truly did want what was best for the entire district.”Concerning improving test scores, Cadman said he believes student achievement is increasing and achievement gaps are narrowing. He said the rigid testing system of No Child Left Behind is neither an accurate measure of student progress nor of public school effectiveness. “Educating children to adulthood is a difficult, challenging and expensive proposition, with a multitude of factors that impact results.” He said the board would profit from the addition of an experienced, knowledgeable educator’s voice.Talking about the idea of K-6 schools, Cadman said they must end the overcrowding at Isbell Middle School. “Current neighborhood students already exceed capacity at four of the six elementary sites,” he said. “More portables are not a viable option.”His 1985 Master’s Thesis, Voluntary Desegregation of the Santa Paula Elementary School District, led to the SPESD “Year 2000 Plan” adopted by the board in 1986-87. “Last year, I proposed a viable plan/solution to return Isbell to the 7th and 8th grades that would require little cost to the district,” he noted. “The board’s consultant felt the necessary restructuring couldn’t be accomplished in time for this school year.”He sees responsible fiscal oversight, consistent leadership and a viable local educational agency plan as the most pressing issues facing the district. Cadman said he has 40 years of experience, familiarity and expertise in all aspects of educational budgeting, as well as sound site and district fiscal management to accomplish our district goals.He believes that SPESD students are being adequately prepared for high school. He noted there is a small percentage of students who have failed to attain the goal. “Their failure is our failure,” he added. “Simply put, we still need to do better.”
Santa Paula Elementary School candidates
October 31, 2008
Five contenders running for two SPESD Board seats
Santa Paula News
Tim Hicks said he’s running for the Santa Paula Elementary School District Board because the future of Santa Paula and its residents depends on quality schools.
By Brian D. WilsonSanta Paula TimesTim HicksTim Hicks said he’s running for the Santa Paula Elementary School District Board because the future of Santa Paula and its residents depends on quality schools. “The challenges facing our students are greater now than ever before, and without the proper foundation we are failing our children,” he said.Hicks noted that recent test scores reached the minimum API standards, and he believes we should expect more from our education system. “We don’t want our students passing through at a minimum,” he said. “I will work to build a positive reputation by starting with students in the classroom so they have the learning environment they need, and the teachers will have the tools they need to prepare students.”He said the idea of going to K-6 schools is not about overcrowding. He said Isbell Middle School is a year away from federal intervention because of deficient No Child Left Behind scores. “If moving students from Isbell into No Child Left Behind proficient K-5 schools keeps the federal government out of our schools, we must make this change,” he added.Hicks said the most pressing issues facing the district are building maintenance, teachers having to teach to a test, and providing a well-rounded education. “I will work with state and federal legislators to bring in more money to meet our unmet needs in all areas,” Hicks said.Concerning state budget cuts, he said his 20 years of budget experience in private industry will help. “First, we need to take a critical eye to our own budget and set priorities,” he said. “These decisions are difficult, but we need to remember our students come first. I will lead our community to be activists for the education system.”Hicks doesn’t believe students are being adequately prepared to enter high school. “We have elementary school students and their families for eight years,” he noted. “It is the school district and the community’s responsibility to work together to make sure our students are learning.”Hicks began his career in Thailand in the Peace Corps. He said he has managed million dollar budgets and production crews of 250 people while maintaining relationships with bargaining units.Gary MarshallGary Marshall is seeking his second term on the Santa Paula Elementary School District Board. He said when he first ran four years ago, he did so out of a desire to further serve the community.“As a police sergeant with the Santa Paula Police Department, I found that I was arresting the grandchildren (in at least one case the great grandchild) of people I had arrested when I was first hired in the 1970s,” Marshall said. Since his retirement in 2006, he said he has further dedicated himself in serving as a school board member.He lists several of his concerns, including childhood obesity, arts, music and PE, and school violence. “I am in the middle of forming a foundation to raise funds for our schools,” he said. “This foundation will be dedicated to pay for programs and equipment that might be threatened by state budget cuts, such as art, music and sports.”While it is true test scores are going up, Marshall said the No Child Left Behind Act continually raises the AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) bar, but makes no provisions for measuring academic gains from one year to the next.Concerning the idea of changing to K-6 at the elementary schools, Marshall said he would consider reviewing the situation once more. He noted the agreement with Limoniera on the development of East Area One could significantly alter the board’s view on this matter, making it worth taking a second look.Some other issues he sees facing the district include adequate electrical supplies in the classrooms, air conditioning, and modernization.Marshall says the budget is in good shape because of previous fiscal prudence. “We have more in reserves than the three percent that we are required to maintain by the State of California,” he said. “As much as we would like to spend this on the many needs that confront us, we also realize that we cannot jeopardize the future of our district.”He said students who have gone to the high school last year have the best chance of succeeding. “If you look at the Isbell test scores the past four years, the progress in academic achievement has been staggering,” he noted. “Isbell is in a formal restructuring model, and we expect that students will continue to improve and thereby have the skills required for high school.”He also discussed the freezing of the positions of the superintendent and assistant superintendent of business and finance, and the hiring of Dr. Winston Braham as the chief executive officer of the district. “Due largely to the structure of his contract, we will save the district approximately $218,000 a year in salary and benefits,” he said. “Dr. Braham brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience, both in the private sector and in school finance.”Ofelia De La TorreOfelia De La Torre has served for 12 years on the SPESD Board. She said she’s seeking reelection because she is dedicated and committed to the children and families of the district. “I feel all children should have the best education possible and have the opportunity and guidance to excel to their highest potential,” she said.De La Torre said she is proud of the improvement of district test scores. “The dedication and hard work of our staff, parents and children resulted in this achievement and it is very gratifying,” she added. She said they will continue keeping parents involved and informed.
