Alex Welling, a wildfire and emergency communications manager at SDG&E, 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 Welling told us about his. Why are you running for school board? What makes you a good candidate? I am the father of three young children, and my goal is to ensure they and all 17,000 other children in the school district have access to a quality education. Alex Welling (Courtesy Alex Welling) Unfortunately, since 2014, test scores in reading, writing and math have dropped to below state average. Meanwhile, our school board continues to provide our superintendent annual pay raises making him the second highest-paid superintendent in the county overseeing one of the worst-performing districts. Further, parents feel like they have been shut out of the process. They feel their current representation no longer listens to their concerns and often dismisses them, leading to a gap of trust between the board and the public. My career in both the public and private sectors has focused on bringing communities together to build consensus on large-scale projects, and I plan to bring that experience to Cajon Valley. What is the most important issue currently facing your school district? The most pressing issue in our district is the drastic decline in academic performance. Our students continue to fall behind in core areas like reading, writing and math, with scores well below the state average. Despite these challenges, the current administration continues to prioritize subjective metrics like “student happiness” over tangible academic achievements.  We need to refocus on the basics — ensuring that every child receives a quality education that equips them with the skills and resources to live good and successful lives. What are the top three specific things you would seek to accomplish on the school board? Redirecting funds to classrooms: I would work to eliminate wasteful spending on extravagant travel, parties and the superintendent’s business ventures, reallocating those resources directly into classrooms. This includes hiring and retaining qualified educators and providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed. Creating community advisory committees: I will establish community advisory committees composed of parents, educators and qualified community members. These committees will ensure that the voices of our community are heard and considered in all major decisions made by the board of trustees. Curriculum consistency: I would push for a stable and consistent curriculum that focuses on core academic subjects. Frequent changes to the curriculum disrupt the learning process, require additional training and prevent students from achieving their full potential. What would your approach be to district budget planning and spending? What would you do if your district had a budget shortfall? My approach to district planning and spending is grounded in transparency and accountability. We need to scrutinize every dollar spent and ensure it directly benefits our students and educators. If faced with a planning shortfall, I would first look to cut unnecessary expenditures — like the more than $1 million annually spent on travel, parties and the superintendent’s private business venture, as well as the superintendent’s $19,000 per month credit card bill — and redirect those funds to critical areas like classroom resources and teacher salaries. Additionally, I would work to identify new funding opportunities, including grants and partnerships with local businesses, to ensure our district remains financially stable without increasing taxes. How should your school district raise student academic achievement, and what would you do as a school board member to accomplish that? To raise student academic achievement, we must prioritize high-quality instruction and a consistent, well-rounded curriculum. As a board member, I would advocate for the following: Investing in educators: Ensuring that our teachers have the resources, training and support they need to deliver effective instruction. This includes smaller class sizes, access to up-to-date educational materials and ongoing professional development. Data-driven decision-making: Using student performance data to identify areas of need and adjust our strategies accordingly. We must set measurable goals, not subjective metrics, for academic improvement and hold the administration accountable for meeting them. Parental involvement: Encouraging greater parental involvement in their children’s education. Research shows that students perform better when their parents are engaged in their schooling. 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 our curriculum and library offerings should be reviewed regularly to ensure they are age-appropriate and align with our community’s values. While I don’t advocate for blanket removals, I do believe that any material deemed inappropriate for certain age groups or that does not contribute to our students’ academic development should be reconsidered. It’s crucial that parents have a voice in these decisions, which is why I support the formation of community advisory committees to help guide the board on these issues. 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 disengagement due to inconsistent curriculum changes, lack of support for struggling students and possibly even issues at home. As a school board member, I would focus on: Re-engaging students: Ensuring that our curriculum is engaging and relevant, helping students see the value in their education and motivating them to attend school regularly. Supporting families: Working with community organizations to provide support for families facing challenges that may contribute to absenteeism, such as economic hardship or health issues. Early intervention: Implementing early warning systems to identify students at risk of chronic absenteeism and providing targeted interventions to keep them on track. Do you think schools should notify parents if their child’s gender identity or presentation at school changes? Why or why not? Yes, I believe parents have a right to know if their child’s gender identity or presentation at school changes. As a parent myself, I understand the importance of being fully informed about all aspects of my children’s lives, especially when it comes to their well-being. Schools should work in partnership with parents to ensure that any changes in a child’s life are handled with care, support and open communication. This approach fosters trust between families and schools and ensures that students receive the comprehensive support they need both at home and in the classroom.