Janice Friesen is a candidate for Castro Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Board of Education in 2014. Castro Valley Matters reached out to all candidates, asking them to provide a statement.

I am running for re-election for two reasons.   First, in addition to my ongoing commitment to students and schools in Castro Valley, is the excitement and promise I feel with the changes occurring in education. The new state funding formula, increased involvement of our parent communities, and implementation of the Common Core will significantly improve education for all of our students. I continue my ongoing visits to every classroom each school year, and already I can see the difference in instruction with the adoption of Common Core. Students understand more about how they learn, leading to more independence in learning. Instruction is more individualized and meaningful.

Second, I know from my past board experience how quickly a district can destabilize with too rapid change. With two new Board members in the past 2 years, CVUSD has been and will be better served by the stability and continuity that I provide, as well as by my perspective as a holder of a California Pupil Personnel Services Credential. California school boards are policy making boards. It is vital to understand which questions to ask, and equally vital to not micromanage the staff. One only needs to review Newark Unified’s recent experience to see what happens in a district when the board begins to micromanage.

BUDGET ISSUES: It takes years to understand California school financing and how that affects local district budgets. I have the experience to understand the process and know which questions to ask concerning CVUSD’s multi-million dollar budget. During 7 years of state funding cuts, CV had virtually no layoffs, kept K-3 class size at 25, retained instrumental and vocal music, kept 4-12 class sizes close to 30, maintained 5 world languages, and used our carefully accumulated reserves to keep teachers employed, students in school, and facilities functioning, safe and clean. The immediate budget challenges facing the board and district are: end deficit spending; rebuild prudent reserves; increase compensation for our hard working employees; address student growth facility needs; replace worn out 60’s heating systems; and add classrooms to support our pre-K through adult special education programs. I propose we accomplish these in the following ways.

• Support continuation of the practices that got us through two major downturns in the economy: one time money is used for onetime expenses and not for ongoing costs and obligations. Reserves are gradually restored for the next downswing in the economy should one occur!
• Support the Education Foundation. The Castro Valley community values and supports education and the Foundation is in the early stages of developing resources and vision to supplement school programs in meaningful ways.
• Prioritize facility needs and determine if a bond campaign is needed.
• Begin a discussion of a first ever parcel tax. Revenues could be used to significantly increase teacher and staff compensation.

As always, all spending must be transparent and we must continue to communicate our financial condition to our community. CVUSD will not receive a large amount of new LCFF revenue so we need to be prudently cautious in our spending, conserve expenditures, and look for other ways to increase revenue (grants, donations, partnerships, smarter business practices). The LCFF money is tied specifically to improving educational outcomes for the targeted groups and we must do just that.

THE EQUITY PLAN: Our current board members are committed to closing the achievement gap and, together with the superintendent, make it the highest priority: the budget will support professional development at all levels; new hires in all classifications will demonstrate understanding of the achievement gap through their commitment to closing it; presentations made to the board by schools and staff will focus on steps being taken at each site toward closing the achievement gap; board discussion with staff will frequently focus on the issue. It must be in our consciousness with everything we do as board members. Intensive professional development with our teachers is entering year two; professional development sessions with site administrators, the cabinet and the board is entering year three.

Equity, Common Core, and commitment will ensure every student an education for the future and realize the district motto STUDENT SUCCESS, NOTHING LESS.

Janice Friesen, LCSW, President, CVUSD Board of Education

jfriesen@pacbell.net, 510 427-8837,     www.janiceforcvusd.org