Issues
The next few years present a unique opportunity to strengthen the District for the benefit of our students and the entire community. As an education leader, a business attorney and an active participant in the community, I believe I have the skills and experience to make a difference as part of a new leadership team.
My first priority would be to improve the fiscal health of the District and to make sure the District’s construction projects are managed responsibly and within budget.
Other areas that I would focus on as a Board member include:
- Involving teachers, staff and the community in a dialogue about the District’s priorities and future direction.
- Attracting and retaining the best teachers and increasing opportunities for teacher collaboration and training.
- Providing a rigorous, standards-based curriculum for all students whether they are planning to enter college or the workforce.
- Expanding vocational education, including developing joint training programs with local trade unions.
- Closing the achievement gap.
- Establishing a vibrant District-wide foundation to raise additional funds for educational programs.
- Improving collaboration with the District’s feeder schools to make sure 8th grade students are prepared for high school work.
- Helping students make successful transitions to work or college.
- Increasing foreign language opportunities, particularly in Mandarin.
- Serving the needs of special education students.
With the demand for special education services rapidly increasing in the District, we must find ways to offer high quality and cost effective educational programs for our special needs students.
- Developing a more extensive housing assistance program for teachers and staff, including possibly constructing housing as has been done by the SMC Community College District.
- Exploring the feasibility of amending the Measure M facilities bond to use a portion of the funds to pay some or all of the District’s existing construction debt.
- Establishing a charter high school in Foster City with an emphasis on mathematics and science as well as project-based learning.