Genevieve Okada Goldstone, a parent and anthropology Ph.D candidate, is running for a short-term seat on the Del Mar 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 Okada Goldstone told us about hers. Why are you running for school board? What makes you a good candidate? I am not a career politician. I am not a lawyer. I am an academic who loves to listen and loves to teach. I am a parent with a background in educational and government settings who cares deeply that ALL children have the opportunities they need and the freedom to thrive. Genevieve Okada Goldstone (Courtesy Genevieve Okada Goldstone) I am running to increase accessibility, accountability and transparency to all board discussions and decisions, including budget expenditures. I am running to ensure our campuses are as safe as possible, that access and perimeters remain properly secure. The gun violence this August is yet another grim reminder of the necessity of security measures. I am running to support teachers and parents in making sure they have all the tools they need to properly support and educate ALL types of learners — from those with disabilities or special needs to those who need extra challenges to stay engaged. What is the most important issue currently facing your school district? There needs to be a full financial review of all school district and foundation expenditures going back over at least the past 10 years. Despite record low enrollment and high property tax revenues from this basic aid district, class offerings are continually being cut. There is low teacher morale and trust in district leadership, as per a 2019 staff survey. Community members need to have their trust earned back and to see meaningful changes to the educational offerings. The most urgent issue a new board needs to tackle is making sure that all education code is being properly followed and fully implemented. Last year, DMUSD was found to be out of compliance with special education law. Thirty-eight complaints were filed over the same time period that saw similar elementary-only local districts have zero to six complaints. Children need help now in order to access the education they have a right to receive. What are the top three specific things you would seek to accomplish on the school board? First, again, there needs to be a full financial review of all district expenditures. Questions about why there is a lack of fiscal transparency have arisen from concerns regarding the lists of expenses paid. DMUSD does not provide vendor names. Public records requests are required to get info that is provided freely by other school districts. Second, the board needs to conduct surveys of both parents and teachers to seek their feedback regarding things such as curricula and community climate. These assessments can be used to guide future board actions. Third, board meetings need to include a Zoom option, and meetings should be video-recorded and made available to the public with no time limits. There needs to be a significant increase in engagement for all local stakeholders. Increasing accessibility will lead to greater transparency and accountability. This is how trust can be restored and education improved for all local children. What would your approach be to district budget planning and spending? What would you do if your district had a budget shortfall? After a full assessment of expenditures is completed, I would combine these findings with results from the surveys of teachers and parents regarding curricula and school climate. Budget priorities should be guided based on feedback and demonstrate the board’s commitment to providing a safe and quality education for all. With over $20 million in the general fund and the generous annual parent donations through a robust school foundation as well as from the PTAs, Del Mar Union is well-positioned to be able to pivot educational approaches to fully support all learners, from those with special needs to those needing an extra challenge. If there were to be a shortfall, the board should collaborate with parents and community members to identify where and how they would like to see adjustments made in everything from staffing to facilities management. How should your school district raise student academic achievement, and what would you do as a school board member to accomplish that? Del Mar Union schools already have some of the highest school ratings and test results in the county and state. Class sizes are capped below county and state averages. However, many local parents utilize additional tutoring services to supplement their children’s education. It is not clear if parents would do this regardless of the district’s educational approaches or if they see academic needs not being met. A parent survey would provide clarity and guidance on where and how they think their children can be better supported. Further, I would also like to see the introduction of gifted and talented education programming. There are ways to create inclusive environments that allow all kids to interact and learn to engage with the full diversity of a community but that still provide opportunities for additional challenges for the kids who need or would appreciate it. Do you think anything currently offered in school curricula or libraries should be removed? If yes, what, and why? If no, why not? I want to ensure there has been a complete removal of the non-phonics-based balanced literacy program and support teachers in the utilization of scientific data-driven approaches across areas of study. Like other parents, I am troubled by recent cuts to Spanish, science, art and music and see the implementation of these as a priority over others, such as information technology. I would like to see greater teacher input and collaboration more broadly, as they are the frontline workers to whom we owe our attention and respect. At the two new school rebuilds and current renovation underway, there is no longer a dedicated library. Classrooms and hallways are being utilized in place of what I view as sacred educational ground. I would like to see a rethinking of space based on child, teacher and parent input. As tech use grows, we should focus on ways to support tactile, screen-free experiences.  What do you think is driving student absenteeism in your district, and what would you as a school board member do to reduce it? As a basic aid district, DMUSD’s funding is not dependent upon enrollment or attendance. The concern for both is therefore not budget-motivated, but instead I see it as about engagement, safety and stimulation. Children, and their parents, need to see the value of consistent attendance and the kind of engagement this provides. If parents do not see their children’s academic needs being met, if parents do not feel like their children will be safe from bullying, harassment or even campus security breaches, then they will be less motivated to support their children’s regular attendance. I will work toward making our schools safer for all kids, physically as well as socially. I will work to ensure there is a curricula review based on parent and teacher feedback and that the findings drive meaningful changes to educational approaches for ALL types of learners. Do you think schools should notify parents if their child’s gender identity or presentation at school changes? Why or why not? I fully support the implementation of AB 1955. If a parent is sensitive to who their child is, if they create safe and accepting homes that demonstrates respect for all people, even if they would make different choices themselves, then there is little need to worry that the school will learn something about their child before they do. This law is designed to protect vulnerable LGBTQ youth who are at greater risk of being kicked out of their homes and experiencing homelessness, especially in high school. These youth are at a greater risk of suicide, and schools are a vital safety net. There are ways for schools to communicate with parents if concerns arise, such as bullying, that do not out young people before they are ready to deal with the full consequences at home. I trust young people to know when and to whom to show their full selves.