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Bass Lake School District Candidate Statement: Julie Greenwood

julie-greenwoodOAKHURST — There is one seat coming up for election on the Bass Lake Unified School District Board of Trustees for Area 3. Julie Greenwood is challenging incumbent Ron Bucheger for the position. For more information contact the Bass Lake School District.

Julie Greenwood Candidate Statement

I am so excited for the opportunity to serve those of our school district. You may have seen my information in the sample ballot and in the newspaper, now I’d like to share what my experience has motivated me to do. My time in classrooms has provided an insight into what a day in the life of a teacher is like.

My goal, should you elect me to the school board, would be to bring awareness to board members of just how those board decisions translate in the classroom and facilitate discussion on whether or not those decisions would be getting us the outcomes we want. I will be just one member of a five person board but I would be an advocate for the classroom.

The board has spent the last few years focused on structural improvements and technology. Both play an important role in education but, in my mind, smaller class sizes, aides in the classroom, prep time for teachers and a math specialist would really have a huge impact on the education that our children receive.

It is common knowledge that a small student-teacher ratio is desirable to increase student’s academic achievement. I believe this should be evaluated at the classroom level, not the district average. Meaning, in the past when we were able to receive class size reduction funds for keeping our K-3 classes at a 20:1 ratio, we did it by total number of students in the district wide K-3 classes divided by the number of teachers in those grades. As long as it met the 20:1 requirement, we received funds. In the classroom this might look like 25:1 at 1 school and 15:1 at another. I would advocate for another teacher. 20:1 is the minimum, not necessarily the goal.

Additional help in the classroom, especially those K-3, is necessary on a daily basis. I see parent volunteers giving their time to assist the teachers and help facilitate small group instruction. This additional support should be provided by highly qualified and trained classroom aides. It is the district’s responsibility to provide for this needed assistance.

RTI, or Response To Intervention, is a pullout program that is already implemented in our district for students that need additional reading support. This support is also needed for math. This is something that I would strongly encourage and support.

These ideas are necessary to increase student achievement. We need to provide a classroom environment in which they can thrive, not just survive. I want to help ensure that the decisions that are being made at the school board level actually translate to higher academic achievement in the classroom. Please join me in advocating for our future. Our children deserve our best effort.

Facebook: Julie Greenwood for Bass Lake School Board 2016

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