Candidate for
Trustee; Fresno Unified School District; Trustee Area 6

My priorities are student health, academics and the school environment. With regards to health, students should be encouraged to maintain good personal hygiene which may be modeled by the teachers and staff. Attire should be appropriate for the season, with hats permitted. Good nutrition and physical fitness are also components of a healthy student.

Reading, writing and mathematics are fundamental to a good academic program, with art, music and science next in importance. Mandatory P.E. is a good idea if it improves the level of fitness of the student body while teaching recreational skills. De-emphasize the importance of standardized tests which tend to restrict time spent on more interesting lesson material.

Ideally, the campus environment should be non-confrontational (Zero tolerance) with an emphasis on safety, e.g., helmets required for bicyclists. Military recruitment on campus should be terminated. The campuses should be green and attractive with well-maintained structures containing exhibits of artwork, not advertisements. Class sizes should be smaller and, I think, fewer students per high school. Other improvements include more security officers and drug checks, more accesssible counselors, more nutritious lunches and the banning of vending machines on campus.

Parental involvement at school is important in grades K-6 and in pre-school. For high-school and middle school students, parents may be involved with tutoring their students at home and providing enrichment such as travel, cultural opportunities and traditional family celebrations.