Lena Lauer Meum, a property-management and wellness business owner, is running for the Area D seat on the San Marcos Unified board of trustees. The San Diego Union-Tribune asked all the candidates running for school board in districts around San Diego County about their policies, plans and priorities. Here’s what Lauer Meum told us about hers. Why are you running for school board? What makes you a good candidate? I am running for school board to represent our community. I want all San Marcos families and students to find their own version of educational success. We have exceptional schools and programs here in San Marcos Unified, but we need to avoid complacency. The school board must listen to the stakeholders in our district including parents, students, teachers and staff. Lena Lauer Meum (Scattered Light Media) What is the most important issue currently facing your school district? As a parent of four students in the district, campus safety is the most important issue. Each day when students are dropped off, parents and guardians are trusting the school with a piece of their heart. They need to have confidence that their student is in a safe environment. What are the top three specific things you would seek to accomplish on the school board? My top priorities as a board member would all be related to ensuring we are cultivating safe, secure and healthy learning environments on campus. First and foremost, that means we need to have adequate school resource officers, fencing, surveillance, training and equipment on our campuses. Secondly, we need to once again cultivate respectful classroom and school environments by holding students accountable. In particular, that means returning to common-sense policies related to dress code and student cell phone use. Finally, we need to make sure that we are providing support for student mental health by taking a proactive approach and working with parents to intervene whenever a student is facing mental health challenges. What would your approach be to district budget planning and spending? What would you do if your district had a budget shortfall? I have worked in accounting and finance in the past, and as a small-business owner, paying close attention to budgeting is key. Next year our district will face tough budget decisions. I believe it is important to have a realistic, long-term plan for fiscal responsibility. Every decision the board makes has lasting fiscal implications. We cannot get into the habit of approving long-term, ongoing expenses when we are in strong budget cycles only to have to make tough cuts down the road. Fiscal responsibility also means having a collaborative and respectful relationship with our employee groups. How should your school district raise student academic achievement, and what would you do as a school board member to accomplish that? San Marcos Unified is a great school district. Academic success is often measured by test scores and college admission rates. However, we also need to look at the students we are graduating and make sure they are prepared to be contributing members of the community. Some students may continue on to colleges, universities or trade schools. Some students will immediately join the workforce. Every student who graduates from San Marcos Unified should be equipped with the skills needed to be successful. We have some great college-prep courses and should work to further develop our career-technical education (CTE) programs and financial literacy in the district. In my profession, I have worked for both corporate and healthcare recruiting including entry level all the way up to executive leadership, and this perspective will serve an asset to our students. Do you think anything currently offered in school curricula or libraries should be removed? If yes, what, and why? If no, why not? I think it is important to listen to parents. If there are concerns, the school board should be transparent with the community. I believe as a member of the school board we are responsible for representing our constituents, listening to the parents’ voices and focusing on providing quality education to our students. I believe the board members should attend parent-teacher organization (PTO) and parent advisory committee (PAC) meetings to create an open dialogue with parents. I believe board members should visit campus and school events and allow students to share ideas and concerns. With these open communication channels, if there are school curricula or materials in the library that are deemed offensive or inappropriate I believe the school board should take actions to promote a safe environment for our students. What do you think is driving student absenteeism in your district, and what would you as a school board member do to reduce it? It is important to recognize that there isn’t one educational model that works for every student. School choice is important for families that have varying needs, and it is imperative that we have representatives that are willing to think outside the box so we are getting the best possible outcomes for our students. There are many factors that drive absenteeism, but engagement is usually the driving force. Engaging students in their education and engaging families in the mission of our district is essential. Do you think schools should notify parents if their child’s gender identity or presentation at school changes? Why or why not? This past July, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law to stop school districts from requiring staff to notify parents of their child’s gender identification change. Though it can no longer be a requirement in this state, I believe each situation needs to be reviewed and addressed individually. A process should be in place to speak with the student to understand their comfort level and any concerns for their safety. As a parent, I am not comfortable with laws or policies that encourage or require secrecy from families.