Sarah Ahmad, a software company director and incumbent board member, is running for re-election to the Area B seat on the San Marcos Unified School District 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 Ahmad told us about hers. Why are you running for school board? What makes you a good candidate? My decision to run for San Marcos Unified School District in 2024 is driven by my enduring belief that parents must have a strong voice in shaping their children’s education. As a parent of two current students and a long-term community member, I am committed to prioritizing our kids in all district decisions. Sarah Ahmad (Courtesy of Sarah Ahmad) Since my term began in January 2021, I’ve focused on stabilizing the district, including successfully appointing Andy Johnsen as superintendent. Under Johnsen’s leadership, relations and communication with stakeholders have improved, providing a solid foundation for progress. I played a key role in restoring our district’s financial health, resulting in Moody’s upgrading our rating from negative to stable and removing us from the state’s financial watch list. My professional career in strategic planning, combined with my focus on student success, serves as an advantage in advancing our goals and ensuring top-quality education for all students. What is the most important issue currently facing your school district? Declining student enrollment. Declining student enrollment reduces funding and resources, impacting the quality of education and the sustainability of programs. As a board member and parent, I work collaboratively with all stakeholders to retain and attract new students to our destination district by: Developing new and improved academic programs, extracurricular activities and career and technical education (CTE) pathways Increasing outreach efforts to new students and families by showcasing the benefits and opportunities available within our district In the event of a budget shortfall, my approach is to minimize cuts to programs and services that directly affect students. I always seek alternative cost-saving measures focusing on non-essential expenditures that do not compromise the quality of education or student experience. What are the top three specific things you would seek to accomplish on the school board? My initiatives for this term are to ensure that SMUSD schools remain innovative, fiscally responsible and supportive of students’ wellbeing through: Future-ready middle schools: Middle school is a critical transitional phase, yet it does not meet our students’ needs today. The driving goal is to meet our students’ evolving needs better and enhance their educational experience. Ensuring fiscal stability: With the shrinking cost-of-living adjustment, I am dedicated to maintaining fiscal health while prioritizing student investments. I will continue working with stakeholders to review and refine the district’s budget, focusing on cost-saving measures that preserve educational quality. Enhancing student mental health: Students have voiced concerns about feeling disconnected from their schools and peers, impacting their mental health and performance. While progress is being made, I plan to expand efforts by addressing barriers to strong personal connections and examining the role of technology in student engagement (e.g. impact of cell phones). What would your approach be to district budget planning and spending? What would you do if your district had a budget shortfall? My approach is to prioritize students above all else. I focus on protecting classroom resources and programs that directly impact our kids. When facing a budget shortfall, I will continue to: Preserve student services: Ensure cuts are made with minimal impact on classrooms and student support. Identify efficiencies: Review the budget to find cost-saving opportunities in non-essential areas without affecting educational quality. Seek additional funding: Pursue grants, donations and partnerships to supplement the budget and advocate for increased funding from state and local officials. Transparency and stakeholder involvement are crucial. As a board member, I strongly advocate the importance of communicating clearly with the community about budget decisions and working collaboratively with parents, teachers and community members to address challenges and find solutions. I aim to ensure that our district continues to deliver high-quality education, even during financial constraints. How should your school district raise student academic achievement, and what would you do as a school board member to accomplish that? Raising student academic achievement is at the heart of SMUSD’s Portrait of a Graduate initiative. We set clear milestones, such as ensuring all third graders read at grade level. To reach the goals set in our strategic promise, we are: Reviewing and revamping best teaching practices Creating a rigorous and engaging learning experience for all students Investing in teacher professional development to deliver top-quality instruction As a board member, I encourage our district staff to be proactive and innovative in creating safe, supportive learning environments that foster student engagement. By focusing on these areas, we aim to equip our students with the resources and support they need to excel. For more information, visit SMUSD’s Portrait of a Graduate. Do you think anything currently offered in school curricula or libraries should be removed? If yes, what, and why? If no, why not? I do not believe in banning or removing material. However, I do believe in age-appropriate material. Decisions about what should and shouldn’t be included in age-appropriate content for our students need to be made thoughtfully, involving parents, educators and experts, with the goal of providing the best possible education while respecting students’ developmental stages. What do you think is driving student absenteeism in your district, and what would you as a school board member do to reduce it? Student absenteeism can stem from various factors, including health issues, family circumstances and socioeconomic challenges. As a board member, I understand we must use a multi-pronged approach to reduce student absenteeism, some of which SMUSD already implements. For example: We continuously work to provide a safe and inclusive school environment. The team is dedicated to improving student and parent engagement and enhancing school environments to make our students feel connected and eager to attend school. SMUSD is one of the few California districts that offers home-to-school bus transportation to all our (elementary) students, with plans to expand this service to all our students. With such a service, we ensure reliable transportation for all our students. We must also examine our attendance policies at the district and state levels, recognizing that there are many ways for students to stay connected to school, even if they are not physically in school. Do you think schools should notify parents if their child’s gender identity or presentation at school changes? Why or why not? A strong partnership between schools and families is essential for achieving the best outcomes for our children. Parents must be actively involved in their child’s education to ensure their success. Excluding parents undermines our ability to provide the best possible support for students. However, I also acknowledge that there may be exceptional cases where individual circumstances require special consideration to ensure the well-being and safety of students. Balancing parental involvement with these considerations is crucial for fostering a supportive and safe environment.