Generally, the Alameda Unified School District continues to face these key challenges:  

• Quality of Education

• Equity

• Fiscal Responsibility

• Accountability

teachers, administrators and the community at large—how to manage a school

system in the light of budget uncertainties and remain ahead of the curve in terms of 

challenging our children, compensating our educators and staff, and remaining 

relevant in a changing world.

To begin dealing with these challenges, I would like to move forward with these issues:

• Provide Quality Education for All Students.   Class-size reduction, AP classes, World Languages, Electives, Intervention Services, Art, Music, and Sports.
• Act with Fiscal Responsibility.  Develop long-term fiscal plan and priorities to maximize District resources and opportunities for students, including comprehensively reviewing cuts to programs (magnet and/or non-traditional academic programs/schedules, afterschool middle school sports, class offerings at middle and high schools, etc.), teachers and staff that have occurred over the last decade, and the short-term and long-term effects of Measure H litigation. 
• Increase Funding to Alameda Schools.   Intensify efforts for equal funding from Sacramento, pursue grants, and build coalitions with other low wealth school districts to effectively seek equal funding.  Continue efforts I spearheaded as Alameda PTA Council President to lobby Sacramento, including joining efforts with other low-wealth Districts and applying for grants.  Through my leadership, Alamedans participated in unprecedented lobbying efforts (three trips to Sacramento, letter campaign and community rallies) and every AUSD school obtained CA State Garden grants ($5,000 for each high school; all other schools including  all traditional schools and Woodstock Child Development Center day care, ASTI, Island High, and ACLC received $2,500).  Alternatives in Action (aka BASE) also received a Garden grant as a result of PTA efforts.  
• Increase Community Involvement in AUSD Decision-Making.  Improve transparency and remove communication barriers (e.g., increase translation, use plain English and improve accessibility). 
•  Review new restrictions that prohibit high school classes and clubs from selling foods on campus and have made it difficult for students to participate in enrichment and extracurricular activities, compete for scholarships, and earn other awards to supplement their college applications.  We need to work with the high school students to meet their academic needs. 

I like meeting with concerned Alamedans and openly discussing the issues.  My legal background enables me to ask key questions, research viable solutions and negotiate agreeable outcomes.  These skills, along with my empathy for each child, are needed to face the District's challenges.  When I look at an issue I like to weigh the impact on the student(s) as well as the District as a whole.  I’m also aware of the time factor in that we want our children to receive a quality education now.

I look forward to working together with our community to secure quality education for all our students. Working together, we can amicably and effectively solve these serious and important issues that our students, teachers, staff, administrators, and community at large face.