My first priority will be to collaborate with other board members, staff, parents and the community to evaluate every program, with the goal of providing the highest quality education possible for each student. Wherever possible, I will support evaluation by independent researchers, particularly professors and graduate students from local universities. The results of honestly examining and reporting the results from each program will be used to identify areas of strength, focuses for improvement, and to eliminate any activity or expense that does not support student learning.

My second priority will be to work collaboratively with every stakeholder to improve the learning and working environments of our students and staff. Students learn best when they feel safe and secure at school. Staff members are most effective when they can express their ideas and concerns without fear of retribution or retaliation. I will request an independent survey of the culture and climate in our district, and work to ensure that our strengths are celebrated and recognized, and that any weaknesses or deficiencies are addressed.

My third priority is to ensure that every penny is strategically allocated and legally spent according to sound educational principles. We must continue to identify and eliminate any unnecessary spending. In spite of the current economic challenges, we can achieve our goals if we use our resources more effectively. This is especially true of our human resources. I will support investment in teacher training and teacher compensation for providing intervention to struggling students. I will also support continued participation in cost saving programs.

There is no doubt that addressing all of these priorities is crucial to improving student achievement, increasing our graduation rate, and expanding students’ preparation to compete and succeed in a rapidly changing world. An examination of the data reveals that many of our dropouts come from groups who have been historically underserved. These are the same students who are not meeting the annual state and federal accountability goals. Additional research, staff development and community engagement are critical to transforming our schools and enabling every student to learn and succeed. Our mandate is clear. As a community, we must develop an action plan for increasing student access to high quality instruction in schools that are safe and clean. We must also provide timely, effective interventions for struggling students. And, we must collaborate to accomplish these goals by strategically targeting every resource for student learning and success.

As a Fontana Unified Board Member, I promise to continuously pursue these priorities, as well as those identified by working together with every stakeholder. My education, experience, and commitment make me the best candidate. A vote for Carole Lee is a vote to join forces in moving Fontana schools forward!