Races for seats on the LBUSD School Board are heating up, and the issues are becoming much clearer as we near the April 8 election day. Three candidates recently met to debate issues important to students, parents and citizens during this year’s school board election. Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen and I compiled the following summaries of candidate responses to better inform you of their positions on the issues.
To begin, the candidates were asked whether they have specific plans to reduce truancy, suspension and dropouts? Agreeing that there has been a tremendous drop lately, incumbent Felton Williams noted that it’s important for parents and churches to be involved and that there’s a problem in parents attending more sporting events than school events. Identifying a possible solution, Williams ended by calling for the need to get kids interested in reading by grade 3. Rosa Diaz advocates for early intervention programs in preschool and developing well-rounded children beyond their test scores.
Incumbent Williams and challenger Diaz will compete for the 2nd District seat, while also present was 4th District challenger Karen Hillburn, whose opponents – incumbent Jon Meyer and fellow challenger Paul Crost – were not present. Hillburn’s response to the same question seems to tackle the issues from two perspectives. On one hand Hillburn calls for more disciplinary action and on the other hand she recognizes that this issue is complex, noting there are times when students are pushed out.
Candidates were also asked if they support expansion of the ACE program. ACE is a Long Beach vocational training program in Architecture, Construction and Engineering. Rosa Diaz believes alternative education needs to be provided because not all students aspire to go to college. Hillburn indicated that vocational programs are her number one priority. While the ACE program is great, she continued, it took the district a long time to achieve it. She advocates for the program to be expanded and for the Small Career Academy to be returned. According to Felton Williams, vocational education is alive and well in Long Beach. There are nursing programs at Jordan, and there need to be auto mechanic programs like those at LBCC. Williams’ comments received a rebuttal by Hillburn, who feels students should not have to take a bus to attend programs that should reside at their own campuses.
Attacking the elephant in the room, candidates were next asked to comment on embattled board member Michael Ellis. The question asked if Ellis is a good role model and whether they support the recall election. According to Karen Hillburn, it is not within her role to chastise Ellis in public. She noted that the issue has caused a communication problem that can only be mended with changes on the board. Felton Williams was tougher on Ellis, immediately accusing him of misrepresenting the community he was elected to represent. Although he does agree that the public should decide if Ellis is capable to continue serving as a board member. Perhaps Williams’ view on Ellis is best summed up by the question he ended with, asking rhetorically how Ellis stands at graduation and tells kids not to drink and drive. Rosa Diaz agreed with her opponent in responding that the public should decide the outcome. She included, however, that we all make mistakes in life and Ellis should be judged by whether he has made students a priority, not by his character.
The candidates also commented on the budget, which will be a growing topic of concern for all state departments in the next couple years. Not surprising, there was consensus that cuts should not take place at the expense of kids and classroom resources.
Williams and Diaz seem to be gearing up for a long, pull-no-punches campaign against each other while the 4th District race still poses questions if Hillburn continues to be the only candidate showing up. The issues are starting to unfold, however, and you can expect to hear much more about truancy, vocational programs and good ‘ol Michael Ellis in the future. Report Card and lbpost.com will be providing you with more details as they occur.