COUSD Candidate Q&A: Challenging Status Quo, Taking on the Learning Curve

With school board elections coming up, it's important that voters know as much as they can about their candidates. At Glendora Patch, we'd like to offer voters an easily accessible and centralized place to meet each of their candidates in a weekly Q&A forum. Readers send in their questions for the candidates to answer.

There are three incumbents and two newcomers vying for two empty seats. With Election Day Nov. 8, we’re giving voters the opportunity to get to know their candidates for Charter Oak Unified School Board.

Editor’s Note: A read-submitted question and an invitation to participate in this week’s forum was sent to all five COUSD candidates. Four out of the five candidates responded with their answers. Brian Akers did not respond to this week’s forum. Please refer to our candidate preview for more information on each of the candidates.

Candidate Q&A Question #3
All schools are going through trying times and COUSD is no exception. Incumbents, I want to know how you would stay progressive and innovative rather than adhere to the status quo as many incumbents in other elected offices often do. Challengers, there is a lot to learn as a school board member. How would you overcome any inexperience you may have in dealing with school board and district policies?

Joe Probst
The Governing Board in COUSD is always looking for ways to move forward in improving the education of our students. I will just explain two examples below.

First is our implementation of a Universal Breakfast program so that every student will be able to start the school day with a nutritious meal, which is a proven way to improve students’ ability to learn. We found a way to accomplish this without impacting our general fund.

Secondly, we worked to receive federal economic stimulus monies which were used to update the high school football field, track, and the center of the school campus. We made the district a better place and provided jobs.

The above exemplify our commitment to be progressive and innovative by seeking out ways to improve the education of our students while also keeping the district solvent.  As always, our goal is excellence in education for our students.

David Rose
The voters are fortunate to have all of the candidates who have or had experienced in running a local government agency. All the candidates are experienced in budgeting, hiring teachers or employees, and managing the agency. The question is who will develop a plan to improve test scores in two of our elementary schools who are on Program Improvement list (PI)?  I believe I am the best candidate because I am not afraid to work our way out of Program Improvement. I am in one of the PI schools where I work now and I learned about the PI more than any of the candidates. WE DO NOT NEED OUR SCHOOLS TO BE ON PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT list. If elected, I will discuss ideas of how to improve test scores and give teachers the tools they need to improve the quality of education for all students. I look forward to working with other board members to find ways to raise test scores.

Lois Shade
We  need to recognize there is a learning curve whenever taking on new challenges.  I need to receive input from teachers on books, technology in classrooms, issues challenging successful learning and test scores from teachers and parents, as well as district staff confronting some funding/budget challenges to fully understand this new job.

I do have two credentials enabling me to hit the ground running.

1. 13 years as Glendora Mayor/Councilmember familiar with legal documents, complex staff reports creating budgets, clear policy, and legislative pieces impacting local government.

2. 10 years working in education serving as secretary in Assistant Principals’ Offices familiar with facilities management and audits, master scheduling, Single Plan for Student Achievement, School Site Council, various testing events including California High School Exit Exam, Advanced Placement and STAR CST testing.

Instigating Youth Counseling Referral Program, DARE (drug education) Child Care Needs Assessment, and Child Abuse Seminar as Mayor are still important issues today in both venues.

Bob Cruz
Just because someone is in office for a length of time doesn't mean that you grow complacent or adhere to the status quo. I remain engaged and connected to the Charter Oak community by actively listening and engaging with all the key stakeholders that make-up our school district: parents, teachers, students, classified, staff, and community members. This active listening and engaging our stakeholders has resulted in keeping our 6th graders at the elementary schools, introducing smart board technology into our district and asking staff to pursue additional technology for our schools.

We have improved our student scores since 2007 and we've improved our facilities because our community has said that's what they want. It's important to understand that as board members we are here for the students and the community and in order to remain progressive and innovative one needs to be accessible and open to the community. You need to rely on accurate info. and not share misinformation with our community because that would be providing a great disservice. My being on the CSBA board provides me opportunity to go on validation visits for Golden Bell awards and to view new innovative programs from other districts.