Janice Lee Holowka, an educational consultant and special-education advocate, is running for a seat on the Rancho Santa Fe 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 Holowka told us about hers. Why are you running for school board? What makes you a good candidate? I am running for the Rancho Santa Fe School District (“the district” or “my school district”) school board because I want to share the insights I’ve gained as both a parent of two children and a professional educational consultant. And my goal is to strengthen the partnership between parents and the schools, ensuring that parents’ concerns are properly addressed and that both parents and teachers have access to the information and tools they need to support each student, including students with disabilities. Janice Lee Holowka (Grant Townsend) I believe I am a strong candidate because of my extensive knowledge, particularly in supporting students with disabilities and in understanding the California ethnic studies requirement, which will be a graduation requirement for students currently in seventh grade and younger. Additionally, my commitment to actively listening and understanding diverse perspectives would make me a trustworthy board member who can bring unity and collaboration to the board. What is the most important issue currently facing your school district? Like many other school districts across the United States, my school district is grappling with significant challenges stemming from the pervasive influence of social media on students’ perspectives and behavior. This has resulted in shorter attention spans, increased disruptive behavior and a rise in both bullying and cyberbullying, all of which undermine students’ sense of safety at school. What are the top three specific things you would seek to accomplish on the school board? As a board member, my top three priorities would be: Expanding access to curriculum and instruction that would help students develop as analytical thinkers, effective problem solvers and empathetic collaborators by providing them with relevant learning experiences that enhance their ability to navigate a changing world; Empowering school staff and parents with the knowledge and tools they need to support every child in making meaningful progress in their education, regardless of their abilities, and ensuring that all students receive the support they need to thrive; and Ensuring a safe learning environment for every student. This includes providing all school staff with comprehensive training on addressing bullying, harassment or intimidation, understanding procedures for investigating complaints and following district disciplinary protocols to prevent recurrence and mitigate any ongoing effects on students. What would your approach be to district budget planning and spending? What would you do if your district had a budget shortfall? In planning the budget, my first step would be to establish the district’s spending priorities, as school boards are accountable to the community they serve. Plus recognizing that school facilities represent a long-term obligation, I would ensure the budget addresses the district’s facility needs, including ongoing maintenance and future construction. And equally important to me is ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent in the best interests of students. This includes allocating sufficient resources to provide teachers and other staff with necessary training to excel in their roles and deliver the education and services that enable students to thrive. By ensuring that there are strong accountability systems and processes that monitor the district’s fiscal health, I feel my school district can avoid budget shortfalls. However, if a deficit does occur, my approach would be to explore alternative revenue sources, in collaboration with the foundation, while identifying and reducing unnecessary expenditures How should your school district raise student academic achievement, and what would you do as a school board member to accomplish that? Even though academic achievement rates in my school district are high compared to California’s overall student performance, California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data shows a significant gap in English and math achievement for middle school students with disabilities compared to that of all students. Since this discrepancy is not present at the elementary school level, I would prioritize investigating the reasons for this gap. Furthermore, CAASPP science achievement is lower than for English and math, with 72.60 percent of fifth graders and 76.47 percent of eighth graders meeting or exceeding the standards. Given that success in science relies on students’ ability to read for comprehension and apply mathematical concepts, I would focus on ensuring that critical thinking skills and practical application of knowledge are emphasized across all subjects. This approach would help students improve their science skills and to also develop a deeper understanding of other subjects. Do you think anything currently offered in school curricula or libraries should be removed? If yes, what, and why? If no, why not? I have not been, nor am I currently, aware of any materials that should be removed from my school district’s curricula or libraries. However, I believe any community members with concerns would feel comfortable raising them with school staff, including the principal or superintendent. If a resolution cannot be reached, I feel the matter should then be brought to the full school board for collective discussion. What do you think is driving student absenteeism in your district, and what would you as a school board member do to reduce it? According to published data, the chronic absenteeism rate in my district’s elementary and middle schools was 0 percent during the 2021-22 school year. However, during the 2022-23 school year, the rate increased to 15.6 percent for elementary school students and 14.3 percent for middle school students. Thus, I would act to understand the root causes for the increase, especially since the chronic absenteeism rate is higher for certain student groups. Also, chronic absenteeism was higher among female students in the elementary school and middle school compared to male students. This is concerning, as it may suggest that female students are facing increased challenges, such as social issues, bullying, anxiety, depression and/or a stronger sense of disconnection from school. Thus, I feel identifying and addressing the underlying factors for student absenteeism are crucial, not only for reducing the absences but most importantly for supporting the wellbeing and success of all students. Do you think schools should notify parents if their child’s gender identity or presentation at school changes? Why or why not? Schools have a fundamental responsibility to prioritize the safety and well-being of every student. Therefore, school staff should have the discretion to decide whether to inform parents about changes in a student’s gender identity or presentation at school, based on each student’s individual circumstances.