The Morgan Hill Times gave each school board candidate a slate
of eight questions. Here are the answers from Claudia Rossi. Also,
view a video of Rossi at http://blip.tv/file/4178138.
The Morgan Hill Times gave each school board candidate a slate of eight questions. Here are the answers from Claudia Rossi. Also, view a video of Rossi at http://blip.tv/file/4178138.
- What prompted you to run?
Having left my career in nursing to actively support my childrens’ education I decided to use my time and skills to work in many capacities at Nordstrom Elementary. For the past six years I have worked with English Learners and their families, tutored children of various skill levels, started a very successful after-school sports program, presented health education classes seeking to inform students about the deadly effects of cigarette smoking and served as translator when needed. I have immersed myself in the school environment and have first-hand knowledge of the challenges facing teachers and students. My decision to run comes as a natural outgrowth of my work and a desire to use my background as a former English Learner to better serve our community.
- The 2012 school year is forecasted to be the worst in terms of the size of the budget deficit, which is projected at $12 million. Do you have any ideas on how the school district can save money?
The process of deciding what cost-saving measures to implement can be successful only by including the input of the major stake-holders in our schools. Teachers and the parent community are in a unique position to make suggestions that result in effective cost-cutting measures. A member of the board must be engaged in active dialogue with the school community before making such decisions.
- What three priorities would you like to accomplish while on the board?
As a stay-at-home mom I would like to make board members more accessible to our community. To that end I plan to propose that board members hold office hours so that members of our community may voice their ideas and concerns in a more productive way. I would seek to reach out to the families of our Latino population in order to be more responsive to their needs. I am fluent in spoken and written Spanish having arrived in California at the age of seven and have a deep passion to better serve students that are traveling the same road I did. Finally, I would like to explore the successful models of fund-raising in order to better support the schools that serve our low SES community. Cupertino raised a significant amount of money to hire back teachers- we could learn from them.
- How will you pay for any programs or services you want to retain or add?
Business/school partnerships can successfully result in bringing technologies into our schools without adding to our expenses.
- What are your ideas to close the achievement gap?
Increasing parental involvement among EL and low SES communities will help close the achievement gap. Bilingual personnel that serves to facilitate communication between parents and schools will result in children who complete their homework assignments and parents that are more informed about what each grade level requires of their children. After-school tutoring has demonstrated to be highly effective and cost-efficient.
- Explain your understanding of the school board’s role?
The board’s most important role is to hire an effective superintendent who implements strategies that help every student reach their highest potential. The school board’s role is to set policy that foments a positive learning environment for children, a working environment that supports its teachers and staff. Additionally, it must actively engage its constituents by actively seeking to reach out to the school community.
- What are the top challenges facing the district?
The budget deficit is an ever-looming challenge. Closing the achievement gap and preparing our students to compete in a global economy. Because countries are more interdependent than ever we must prepare our students to engage each other across ethnic lines in a mutually respectful manner. Respect for the rights of others can lead to better outcomes.
- In light of the Cinco de Mayo incident at LOHS, what steps would you take, if any, to improve race relations? What policy revisions should be made prior to May 5, 2012?
Prohibiting behaviors by implementing punitive measures is not an effective way to reach our young people. Engaging them in dialogue by modeling for them will be more effective. I would love to invite members from the Latino and American communities who work together in a positive way to jointly address our students. Perhaps athletes who have enduring friendships across racial lines might more effectively reach our kids.
