Issues
Candidate Statement
My name is Lea Cuniberti-Duran and I am a mother of three young children all of whom attend Redwood City public schools. Since my children have been of school age they have attended several district schools, which has made me aware of the large range of challenges our schools have to face.
Looking at Redwood City School District as a whole, I see a vibrante community, with three California Distinguished Schools, and many schools that have worked hard toward reaching the goals set by No Child Left Behind.
I also see many struggles at our schools with issues ranging from managing ever-growing budget cuts, to campus safety, to educating children with a large range of abilities and backgrounds.
My goal is to improve our schools by going back to the basics of implementing programs to make our schools safe, invest in teachers’ and administrators’ continuous training and diversified learning.
Safety is a key issue and the district needs to implement a program that is comprehesive, and effective. The US Department of Education has such program: that gives schools capacity-building information and technical assistance for identifying, adapting, and sustaining effective school-wide disciplinary practices. The program is called Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS).
PBIS provides a framework for school personnel to adopt and organize evidence-based behavioral interventions into an integrated continuum that enhances academic and social behavior outcomes for all students. Studies show that when implemented with fidelity the program is extremely effective.
Schools such as Kennedy middle school would greatly benefit from PBIS. Most recently, two Kennedy students were sexually assaulted by four classmates during a school-sponsored field trip.
Was the assult the the result of playground culture? Or the assailants had a history of violence, and if so, why the telling signs have been missed? Either or, PBIS would have helped identify and support those children, as well as establish a positive school and playground culture.
The districts needs focus on diversified learning. In our classrooms we have a wide range of learning styles, and abilities: I believe all students should be taught and challenged to reach their potential – finding that potential takes trained teachers and administrators. We need to invest in programs and teacher training to bring diversified learning in classrooms across the district.
Lastly, I believe we need to support the expansion of Roosevelt Elementary to 8th grade.
In the last few years the school has been implementing a Project Based Learning methodology, which has proven to be popular and successful; the expanded program will not create a financial burden to the district rather, it will offer an alternative for families who are now looking at private schools.
If elected, I pledge to work hard for all children in Redwood City and work with the rest of the board toward improving our schools.
Thank you and I hope I can count on your support.
My highest priorities are to ensure that
- all teachers are highly trained in classroom management, and diversified learning
- transparency of district operation to ensure that all the programs implemented are directly benefiting students and are cost effective.
Other issues I will focus on as Board Member:
- Bring positive behavior intervention techniques in the classroom to decrease disciplinary actions and increase learning time.
- Improve teacher and therapist credentialing to ensure
all professionals interacting with children are highly trained and qualified.
- Serve the needs of Special Needs students.
- Institute policies against seclusion and restraint in the classroom.
- Expand Roosevelt school into a k-8 program
- Apply to public and private grants to ensure important programs will not be cut.
- Support and help grow our educational foundation to bring more money into the school.
- Explore savings and revenues for the district such as making our schools green and reduce energy costs. The district would take advantage of public and private programs such as the one used by Bonsall Union District, and use the money from energy savings toward programs benefitting children.