Oday Yousif, a small business owner and attorney, is running for the Area 5 seat on the Cajon Valley Union 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 Yousif told us about his. Why are you running for school board? What makes you a good candidate? I believe our schools should be places where every student has the opportunity to succeed, free from the distractions of political or ideological agendas. Oday Yousif (Courtesy Oday Yousif for SchoolBoard 2024) As a lifelong resident of the district, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of a strong, supportive education system. My professional experience as an attorney has equipped me with the skills to analyze complex issues and advocate for fair, effective policies, while my leadership as chair of the Valle de Oro Planning Group has given me practical experience in working collaboratively with diverse community voices. I’m committed to ensuring our schools provide the resources teachers need to succeed and students need to thrive. East County is not a monolithic community; it’s diverse and dynamic. I’m running to bring that perspective to the board and to help our district grow in a way that reflects and serves all its residents. What is the most important issue currently facing your school district? The most important issue facing the Cajon Valley Union School District is addressing educational equity, especially for its diverse student population. The district serves a high percentage of English language learners (ELLs), and ensuring that these students, along with those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, receive the support needed to succeed academically is a priority. This includes providing adequate resources for teachers, effective language programs, and creating an inclusive learning environment. Additionally, the district faces challenges related to funding, teacher recruitment and retention, ensuring mental health support for students and managing the impacts of post-pandemic learning recovery. Another issue is maintaining strong governance and accountability from the school board and administration to uphold high standards of education. What are the top three specific things you would seek to accomplish on the school board? Taking a true census of students that collects ethnic, cultural and socio-economic data. Cajon Valley has students from dozens of countries who speak dozens of languages. And while these distinctions are important, we can collect statistics that can individualize students to the background they most identify with. Work with the high school district to ensure a better advancement of students from middle to high school. I would work to support a cross-district committee made of teachers, administrators and parents who will identify what each district can do to ensure that once a student moves up to high school, they hit the ground running. Support infrastructure improvements that not only create state-of-the-art schools but also keep students safe. I will ensure infrastructure projects focus on safety. I would also advocate to ensure construction projects use local workers who will build the schools their kids or neighbors will use. What would your approach be to district budget planning and spending? What would you do if your district had a budget shortfall? Teacher retention is especially important during budget shortfalls, when morale in schools and the surrounding community may be low. In times of uncertainty, our teachers provide stability and continuity for students, making it crucial to prioritize their support. Ensuring competitive salaries, professional development and a positive work environment will help us keep our best educators and maintain a strong foundation for student success. When planning the budget, I would focus on making sure spending directly benefits classrooms and enhances the learning experience. In the event of a budget shortfall, my first step would be to look for ways to reduce costs without affecting instruction or teacher support. I would explore partnerships with businesses and organizations in the region to find innovative ways to bring in additional resources. Transparent, community-driven decision-making is crucial, and I would seek input from educators and parents to ensure we make informed, thoughtful adjustments. 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 requires a comprehensive approach that prioritizes teacher support and student engagement. My focus would be on ensuring that teachers have the resources, training and support they need to implement effective, evidence-based teaching strategies. This includes providing ongoing professional development and access to modern tools and technology. Additionally, I would advocate for programs that address the diverse needs of students, from academic intervention and enrichment programs to mental health support and extracurricular activities that keep students engaged. Partnering with parents is also key to fostering an environment where students can thrive. No one knows students better than their parents, and working with parents will provide uniquely tailored suggestions that can then be worked into programs that would benefit even more 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 believe that any curriculum or materials that violate state law or promote fundamentalist ideas without a foundation in medical or scientific evidence should be removed and replaced with accredited, fact-based content. For example, the sexual health curriculum championed by the current board in Cajon Valley did not adhere to state laws or scientific standards and was introduced to cater to extremist views rather than uphold educational integrity. However, I strongly oppose the banning of books. I trust our librarians to curate age-appropriate materials for students. While parents have the right to restrict their own children’s access to certain books, it is not appropriate to remove materials from libraries if they are suitable for the school and its educational mission.  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 in our district is likely driven by a combination of factors, including family challenges, lack of engagement and in some cases transportation or financial barriers. The pandemic has also had a lasting impact on attendance, with some students struggling to return to a consistent school routine. As a school board member, I would focus on addressing absenteeism through a comprehensive approach that prioritizes student support. This includes expanding mental health services, offering more personalized academic interventions and engaging parents early when attendance issues arise I’d also advocate for programs that increase student engagement, such as extracurricular activities, mentorship opportunities and career and technical education programs that align with students’ interests and future goals.  Do you think schools should notify parents if their child’s gender identity or presentation at school changes? Why or why not? I believe schools and teachers should not be mandated to inform parents of changes in a child’s gender identity or presentation at school. Forcing such notifications could set a dangerous and potentially unlawful precedent, as it might put students at risk and compel teachers into conversations that should be initiated by the student with their parents. However, if a teacher or school determines that a child’s well-being is not at risk and that notifying parents is necessary due to other factors, such as the child’s age or behavior, then parental notification may be appropriate. The focus should always be on ensuring the safety and well-being of the student.