Sharmane Estolano, a real estate broker, is running for the Area 2 seat on Chula Vista Elementary School District’s 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 Estolano told us about hers. Sharmane Estolano (Courtesy Sharmane Estolano) Why are you running for school board? What makes you a good candidate? I am running for the school board because I believe in fostering an educational environment where every child can thrive. As a long-time resident and community advocate, I bring a balanced perspective that prioritizes both academic excellence and fiscal responsibility. My experience in fiduciary services and community engagement positions me to make informed decisions that will benefit our students, teachers and families. What is the most important issue currently facing your school district? There is more than one critical issue facing the school district, and they are absenteeism, low attendance, low test scores and budget deficits, to name a few. The most pressing issue is ensuring that our schools are adequately funded to provide a high-quality education while also being accountable to taxpayers. We must address budget constraints without compromising the resources our students and teachers need to succeed. What are the top three specific things you would seek to accomplish on the school board? With absenteeism, low attendance and test scores, these three objectives dovetail into those issues: Improve transparency and accountability in budget management. Enhance student achievement by supporting teachers with the resources they need. Strengthen community involvement to ensure that district policies reflect the values and needs of our residents. What would your approach be to district budget planning and spending? What would you do if your district had a budget shortfall? I would take a prudent and transparent approach to budget planning, prioritizing essential services while eliminating waste. Sometimes a different perspective is needed, and my business and financial experience would bring a new dynamic to the board. But to answer the question, in the event of a budget shortfall, I would seek to protect classroom funding by exploring cost-saving measures elsewhere and advocating for additional funding where necessary. How should your school district raise student academic achievement, and what would you do as a school board member to accomplish that? Raising academic achievement requires a focus on evidence-based teaching practices, early intervention for struggling students, and strong support for teachers. As a board member, I would advocate for professional development, invest in classroom resources and promote parental involvement to create a collaborative environment for student success. One example of that is teacher assessments. While attending a recent board meeting, I learned that teachers will be required to do one-on-one assessments with each student, for a minimum of 30 minutes per assessment. This is an interruption of classroom instruction for all students. What are the other 29 students doing during this time? Possible solution? Budget for a specialized assessment proctor to administer these assessments outside of instructional time, minimizing interruptions and giving the students focused opportunities to achieve better scores. 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 the content in our school curricula and libraries should be reviewed regularly to ensure it aligns with educational goals and community values. If any materials are found to be inappropriate or not serving our students’ best interests, they should be reconsidered. However, it’s important that this process is thoughtful and includes input from educators, parents and the community to make balanced decisions that reflect a broad range of perspectives. What do you think is driving student absenteeism in your district, and what would you as a school board member do to reduce it? A lack of engagement, family challenges and socioeconomic factors often drive student absenteeism. To reduce this, I would advocate for programs that address these underlying issues, such as mentoring, mental health support and parental outreach, to ensure that every child feels supported and motivated to attend school. 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 that parents should be notified if their child’s gender identity or presentation changes at school. Parents are essential partners in their child’s development, and open communication is key to providing the support and guidance children need during such personal and sensitive experiences.