Denis, thanks for coming on my blog. You are running for re-election to the school board. What are you most proud of that you have accomplished?

Thank you Brian for having me. I guess that what I am most proud of with my time as a Trustee is that education has become a community goal that is being discussed and moved forward. I don't believe this was always the case in Oxnard.

I first entered the Oxnard School Board in 2003. In 2002 only 16% of Oxnard SD students scored in the proficient or advanced category in Language Arts testing and only 19% hit this mark in Math. By 2011, these goals were met by 38% of students in Language Arts and 46% in Mathematics. (We have come far, but we have much to do.)

Can you share with us how your day job makes you a better school board member?

Denis, if Gov. Brown's tax increase (budget) is not approved by the voters in November, who should bare the burden of the cuts that would impact the state? The educational system? Where would you cut?

Perhaps the first large obstacle when I got on the board was in that the OSD was on a multi track year round school year schedule for 30 some years. Most believed that this was set in stone. Their seemed to be no desire to go to a traditional school year schedule. It did take time, but we no longer have overcrowded schools that rotate 4 students in 3 chairs. We saved money and academics have increased.

What's the biggest impact a school board has on the operations of a school district?

The topic of the day is the Governor’s budget proposal. If the proposition for a tax increase does not pass, the Oxnard School District would expect another $5.8B budget cut above the current budget.

Denis,

how much would the school district need to cut?

I would hope that the pension system and prison cost would take the cuts. The state spends too much money sending persons to private prisons, many of which are out of state. These for profit prisons should be taped to the basic costs of public institutions.

How much does it pay to be on the school board? Do they offer other benefits?

Sorry, that was $5.8M at the OSD level.

A trustee in the OSD receives a $400 monthly stipend. After tax, I receive $364. We are also allow health insurance, which I have declined since I have been on the board. The health benefit is roughly $10,000 a year per Trustee.

Can you share with us how your day job makes you a better school board member?

If a Trustee has been on the Board for 9 years or more and are 55 years of age, they may have the health benefits after leaving the Board. This passed a few months ago on a 4 - 1 vote. I voted against this policy.

Can you share with us something innovative Oxnard Elementary schools are doing that other schools in Ventura County should learn from?

Is enrollment increasing or decreasing in Oxnard Elementary schools? How come?

I have been a teacher for the past 23 years. I teach 6th grade in the Rio School District. I believe it helps me as a Trustee in that I can see the actual impact of decisions made by School Boards. I am also a parent, so the education prospective comes full circle.

The student enrollment has been increasing in the OSD. We were at roughly 16,500 students by the end of the last school year.

I believe that the economy has much to do with much of the increase. Families are coming this direction because in many cases, housing is less expensive than in other parts. We are also a very immigrant populated community. Work brings many families. I believe much of our population feels safe in Oxnard.

As far as what other school districts can learn from Oxnard: I believe that at the moment, they can see that the OSD has managed its funds and resources very well. The OSD has up to now, not had to have any furlough days. We gave teacher and employee pay raises when we could, and our employment base has for the most part accepted that in the rough times, we are not able to increase wages.

What has been the most difficult vote you have made on the school board?

We have also tried very hard to connect with our parents and community. We have only two months ago started to focus on our newer Mixteco community, that has many different prospectives than even our Spanish speaking community from Mexico.

Do you have input on hiring principals? What do you want to know from an applicant that wants to be a principal?

The most difficult vote I had to make is without a doubt, when three years ago we had to lay off a group of teachers for economic reasons. I did not become a Trustee to let teachers go because we could not afford them. The good news is that all have found jobs in other districts or have been rehired by the OSD since the original cut.

How often do you visit campuses in your district? What was the most recent campus you visited?

Principles are first paper screened, interviewed by a committee which includes administrators, teachers and classified employee reps and parents from the community. They are rated and then interviewed by the Superintendent. After all this, the recommendations and rankings are presented to the Board of Trustees.

I try to be present at all the Open Houses that come towards the beginning of the school year. I go to school often when I am told, (usually by a parent or community member) about an issue with a school site to see for myself. The last school I visited was Driffill Elementary to look at the beginning of construction on what will be a new two story building where the 80 year old building once stood.

The OSD has had to construct at several sites due to the growth of the community and needs of our students. We have had to keep up with the City of Oxnard who for many years took for granted that the school district would continue to rotate students in overcrowded schools.

Are Oxnard schools racially diverse or more homogeneous?

Did your board approve the up-coming year's budget assuming the tax increases would be approved? What happens if the tax proposal fails? Do you think it's fair to lay the burden of higher taxes on all Californians just because our state officials can't pass a real budget?

Is it too hard to fire a poor performing teacher? When is the last time you remember your school district fired a teacher? I know there are confidentiality laws so you can be vague.

14,493 students out of 16,118 in the OSD are Latino. Most students go to neighborhood schools, though all can submit to attend other school when space permits.

Mark,

Good question. We have approved two budgets this year. The difference in the amount of tax funds coming to the district would be made up by material cuts and furlough school days if the Governors tax proposal fails to pass.

It is difficult to fire a teacher but contrary to common belief, not impossible. We did let three teachers go in the past year. (One was in the national and perhaps international news stream.)

Oxnard Schools are not diverse. Does that concern you? Do you think it impacts students to go to schools that don't have diversity like our society does? Do you think the school district should try to address this issue?

Is it expensive to fire a teacher?

If I can say, we have saved quite a bit of funds with solar panels we have installed at four of our schools. We are now looking at the possibility of placing solar panels at the remaining schools. These were done through an agreement with no tax funds being used. The lease will allow us to pay off the units for 20 years at a discount of what we would pay in electricity and we would own the panels after the 20 years at a 100% savings.

When is the last time an administrator was fired for poor performance?

Does your school district work with home schooling families?

Oxnard is the largest city in the tricounties. Oxnard has a population of over 210,000 persons and over 75% of these people are Latino. I would be more concerned with many of our neighboring school districts that have a lack of diversity due to economics and segregated neighborhoods.

My goal is to advance the students that reside in our community.

The expense to fire a teacher is on a case by case basis. Legal representation is also on a case by case basis.

Are there any other large cities with the same lack of diversity in Ventura County?

Administrators were released this past year.

Is it usually expensive?

The second part of my previous question dealt with taxing all Californians to save teacher jobs. Is that fair? I am a teacher in LAUSD and find it appalling to hear the union, school board and superintendent vocally support the tax increases to save jobs. My 5-10 furlough days are coming- no doubt. But the private sector has taken a tremendous hit as well and the tax increases aren't helping them. (20 minutes to go- keep up the good work...)

Why should taxpayers in other communities pay for higher taxes for Oxnard schools? Why not pass a parcel tax?

I believe that most home schooling is assisted through the county education system.

What has the school district done to get families more involved in education?

If you are referring to state or federal taxes, they are also paid by people of Oxnard for other cities. If you are referring to the Oxnard Union High School District, you will have to contact a representative of that district. I am a trustee of the Oxnard School District, (elementary K-8).

I hope to "save" teacher jobs because our District has gone to 30+ students per class. We need to work on the final product of educating our students. Students and our community will be better served with more teachers, not less.

It is an on going struggle to get more parents involved. Parents in our community have many excuses and our educators and district are always trying to reach out to the community. Language is a barrier to many, I am fluent in Spanish and am on the radio at least twice a month. In the near future, our board meetings will be translated in cable TV in Spanish as well.

We have several school and distrcit meetings that give parents the opportunity to participate in their children's education, but when all is said: we need many more parents to be empowered to help their children and our schools.

Brian,

It can be expensive to fire an administrator, just as a teacher or classified employ. It is on a case by case basis. At times there is little cost.

The teacher that you mentioned that was in the news taught at two different Ventura County schools. Did anyone ask why that teacher moved on from two schools so quickly? Seems like a few phone calls could save some expensive lawyer fees.

Elementary schools are overwhelmingly staffed by females. Is this a concern at all? Do young students need more male role models?

Question,

I'm afraid I will have to let that question go. As well as protecting our community, I must protect all parties while the process to going on.

Brian and all,

Thank you for your questions. Educating our children and empowering our community will be an on going process. Times are difficult at the moment, but I have seen teachers, staff, administrators, businesses and parents stand up and help in these difficult times.

This forum and further discussions will only help in that we must find a better way to provide for our community. I hope to be a part in representing Oxnard's adults as we try to continue to better our children's education.

Nutrition is only one form of improving our students lives and education. Several of our schools have started having salad bars in their cafeterias and all will have these by the end of our next school year.

Denis,

Thanks for your time. I appreciate you answering so many questions. Keep in touch during your campaign and keep us updated.