Renee Cavanaugh, a retired teacher, is running for re-election to the Coronado 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 Cavanaugh told us about hers. Why are you running for school board? What makes you a good candidate? I am running for re-election because I love our schools and care about our students, teachers, families and community. My entire teaching career was in service to CUSD, and I welcome the opportunity to continue serving as an experienced school board member. Renee Cavanaugh (Courtesy Renee Cavanaugh) I am familiar with how our curriculum and programs are vertically aligned from elementary to high school. I understand student assessment and how that information drives decision-making at the district level. Because of my experience with the Local Control and Accountability Plan, I understand how it ensures steady academic growth consistent with our long-range goals.  I understand our budget and the reporting processes required. I am clear about the role of a trustee and have completed all California School Board Association training in governance.   I am committed to ensuring that all students receive the best possible education in a setting where they feel safe, respected and supported. What is the most important issue currently facing your school district? Currently the most important issue facing our school district is budget concerns. Student programs and activities, transportation, mental health supports, staff benefits and compensation and facilities upgrades all require funding. Our multi-year budget projections show a likely shortfall. As a board, we will need to find additional revenue or identify expenditure reductions and efficiencies in order to maintain fiscal solvency. What are the top three specific things you would seek to accomplish on the school board? As a school board trustee, I am one of five people tasked with providing oversight and accountability. Authority is granted to the board as a whole, not each individual member.  Therefore, I would seek support from fellow board members on items that would best serve the students in my district, including: (1) ensuring that we effectively address any gaps in education due to a highly mobile student population; (2) continuing to fund and provide a wide range of programs and supports with the limited resources of a small district; and (3) strengthening student engagement and connectedness at all school sites. I believe by focusing on the changing needs of students, we can better serve them and improve student learning and engagement. What would your approach be to district budget planning and spending? What would you do if your district had a budget shortfall? In 2019, our school district established a Budget Study Committee, which has been meeting regularly since its inception. One goal of the committee is to provide the community with transparency regarding district financial information. Another is to offer an opportunity for dialogue to clarify and promote a broader understanding of the challenges and opportunities with district finances and operations, given that the district needs to have a structurally-balanced budget. In the event our district faced a budget shortfall, I would try to minimize the impacts to student programs, resources and curricula. Using reserve funds, finding budget efficiencies and researching ways to increase revenue are all options for consideration. How should your school district raise student academic achievement, and what would you do as a school board member to accomplish that? I believe the most effective way to raise student academic achievement is to use data to drive decisions that provide targeted and timely support to students at risk. Multiple measures and assessments, both formal and informal, can help identify those students who may be at risk.    Early interventions can have a significant impact on future learning and success. According to the Institutes for Educational Science, students who reach grade-level proficiency in reading by grade 3 are four times more likely to graduate and succeed in their careers. As a board member, I would support resource allocation for targeted, evidence-based interventions to promote academic growth. I would also like to see regular progress monitoring of the identified students and suggested next steps for continued success.   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 think anything currently offered in school curricula or school libraries should be removed. I am confident that our administrators, teachers and library specialists are following district policies and procedures to ensure our learning environments are information-rich and our students have access to a wide range of high quality literature that is both appropriate and diverse in subject matter and representation. This year, our school district launched a new parent portal to facilitate transparency between schools and families and to encourage conversations about reading. Studies show that when parents support their children’s literacy, overall academic achievement is bolstered.   What do you think is driving student absenteeism in your district, and what would you as a school board member do to reduce it? Chronic absenteeism is on the rise in school districts throughout California and traditional solutions are not working. Several factors are at play: (1) Parents don’t place as much importance on daily school attendance as they did pre-pandemic; (2) More teachers are using online platforms to post lessons and learning opportunities, so students don’t feel as much need to be on campus; and (3) Students who may not feel connected to their peers or who are struggling academically are more likely to miss school on a regular basis. As a school board member, I would support the efforts of administration to continue: (1) Reaching out to parents to highlight the academic benefits of regular attendance; (2) Encouraging teachers to create more opportunities for group projects and discussion in class; and (3) Finding ways to engage students in on-campus activities they enjoy and provide academic supports to build student confidence. Do you think schools should notify parents if their child’s gender identity or presentation at school changes? Why or why not? Providing a learning environment where students feel safe, respected and connected is key to engagement and academic success. The safety and well-being of all students is the top priority of our school district, and we hope that every student, regardless of their gender identity or presentation, feels loved and supported by their parents and families. To that end, if a student requests a change to their gender identity, local education agencies must honor that request. Failure to do so may constitute discrimination against the student. According to the California School Board Association, there is no federal constitutional right held by parents that requires school employees to inform parents of their child’s name and pronoun preference without the student’s consent. As a school board trustee, I support and will continue to support following all laws and mandates in my district.