"I support sponsoring and improving Special Ed policy to help students and families." - Tracey Schroeder
As noted in my endorsement of "Anyone But Nick Melvoin," little is known about the incumbent's two competitors in LAUSD Board District 4. Despite this mystery, I still felt that either of them was a better choice than the incumbent. In a worst-case scenario, their votes could just substitute for Melvoin's stances on charter school accountability and Special Education. If the competitors held any radical stances on social issues, they would be alone on the board. This would help ensure that they could not inflict significant damage.
With mail-in ballots already mailed out, May is the last chance for candidates to participate in my monthly series on issues facing the LAUSD. Past subjects have included PROP-39 and overallocation fees, forced mainstreaming for children with severe special education needs, community engagement, and ethical issues. Last month all three candidates in Board District 4 were invited to participate in a lightning round consisting of 20 questions about a variety of issues. While these were designed to be "yes" or "no" questions, the candidates were invited to go into more detail if they felt the need to do so. They were also given the opportunity to provide a closing pitch to the voters. This was limited to one paragraph.
In Tracey Schroeder's answers, I found that there was some alignment with my priorities, particularly for the questions based on the issues of charter school accountability, special education, and community engagement. However, as the husband of a wife who is immunocompromised, I was concerned about her views on mandates. Personal belief exemptions to vaccine mandates are incompatible with ending the public health crisis that we all face. Children deserve school facilities where risks have been mitigated to the greatest extent possible.
It is a great disservice to the voters in LAUSD Board District 4 that Melvoin refused to answer the questions put before them. His lack of respect for his constituents means that a full comparison cannot be made between the candidates.
- 1. Do you have children who are enrolled in LAUSD district schools?
No answer
- 2. Do you commit to ensuring that your staff includes parents with children enrolled in district schools?
Kids come first. Voices of parents, elementary, secondary, special ed. teachers, community members, and stakeholders should be heard, respected, and supported. I hope to find some great parents who are ready to help!
- 3. Is lowering the student-to-staff ratio essential for increasing outcomes?
I support spending that directly impacts student learning. This may impact the student-to-staff ratio.
- 4. Do you support having a nurse assigned full-time to every school?
Mostly, yes... I stand for having nurses or nursing assistants to support quick treatment of injuries and medical emergencies, and to support kids in getting care and quickly getting back to class; however, there should be an allowance for conditions when parents and staff have an alternative creative solution.
- 5. Do you support having either a librarian or a library aid assigned full-time to every school?
Yes - Students should have access to library books.
- 6. Did you support UTLA in 2019 when they went on strike to force the district to provide fundamental improvements for our students?
Hindsight is 2020... The strike was meant to help make schools better for kids... QUICKLY. We have not yet seen the fruit of the deal. The district is in the beginning stages of bargaining again. I hope both sides come to quick resolutions considering our current academic crisis and employee needs. Many teachers are ready to leave. Schools should stay open. Kids need consistency. Kids need qualified teachers in the classroom.
- 7. Do you agree that every charter school should have similar demographics to the LAUSD public schools in the neighborhood where they are authorized to operate?
Charter schools need to be held to the same academic standards and fiscal responsibilities as public schools.
- 8. Do you agree that the job of an LAUSD School Board Member is to represent children who are enrolled in schools run by the district?
Yes
- 9. Do you agree that no LAUSD should be closed without first engaging in a meaningful dialogue with the school community so that alternatives can be found?
Yes
- 10. Do you support allowing LAUSD teachers to take sabbaticals as a way of combating teacher burnout?
Yes--however; we are in a crisis where most teachers are burned out and want a break. This can be done in a manner that is fiscally responsible and minimally disruptive to the classroom. Most importantly, we need to offer incentives to encourage teachers to STAY longer. Way too many teachers are talking about leaving within 2 years.
- 11. Do you support enforcing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate that is scheduled to take effect in August?
I support maintaining a safe and healthy environment on LAUSD campuses. Also important is keeping kids in school with highly qualified teachers. Our students have suffered significant emotional strain and substantial learning loss. Last year's school closures and the vaccine mandates are significant contributors to our current academic crisis. As such, I do not support LAUSD's Covid 19 vaccine mandate for employees or students as currently applied. These have contributed to extreme staffing shortages, staff burn-out, and enrollment decline. The policy, as implemented, should be re-examined. Specifically, I support religious, medical, and personal belief exemptions that allow individuals with such exemptions to work at and attend LA schools.
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