Carol Kanode: We all need to be involved

RACE FOR OCEAN VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT

Name: Carol Kanode

Age: 65

Occupation: Pediatric nurse practitioner; Ocean View High School

nurse, Healthy Start coordinator

Family: Three adult children; one grandson; one granddaughter.

Community activities: Twelve-year member of Ocean View School

Board; co-founder of the Huntington Beach Children’s Needs Task

Force; member of the Therapeutic Riding Center; Huntington Beach

Anti-Crime Coalition.

Education: Bachelor’s from Cal State University, Long Beach;

public health credential; master’s in educational administration from

Pepperdine University.

Favorite leader: Eleanor Roosevelt.

Contact info: carolkanode@yahoo.com.

KANODE ON:

* STUDENT SAFETY:

Recent events in our district indicate a need to review our

policies on student safety. Parents trust schools with their most

valuable assets -- their children. We must do all in our power not to

betray that trust. Student safety is primary in all aspects of school

life. Our staffs must be provided with continual in-services, which

focus on student safety issues such as: potential violence, disaster

preparedness, bullying and child abuse. We must involve our community

in the development and oversight of healthy and safety programs at

every school site.

* RAISING STUDENT TEST SCORES:

We have exemplary administrators, teachers and support staffs in

our district. Students are receiving a quality education as

exemplified by the Academic Performance Index scores. We must

continually monitor student progress and adjust programs if the API

scores change. However, it is important to develop a different

educational approach for retained students -- some for two years --

who have not met the standards. This presents a large problem, with

ramifications for the student and to society as a whole. There is an

imperative need to develop a plan to assist these students in order

that they be prepared for a productive adult life. It is a top

priority to explore alternative programs for these students with the

high school district. There is also a need to expand and replicate

the Oak View early education model to the other four Title I

elementary schools. All of our children must enter school ready to

learn. This is our best guarantee for continued student success as

measured by test scores. It is also important to expand our

articulation with the high school district to include a plan to

monitor the progress of our students.

* FISCAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DISTRICT:

Continue to balance the budget by sound fiscal management.

Additionally, continue support for the Community Budget Committee,

which is composed of community members who gain insights into school

financial issues. There is a need to maximize the lease incomes at

our unused school sites. We are indeed fortunate to have an income

stream. There is an ongoing responsibility to focus financial

resources in the classroom, to modernize facilities, to repay the

Certificates of Participation for the gyms and to adequately

compensate our staffs.

BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THE DISTRICT:

The most pressing issue facing our district is the divisiveness

that exists in our community. There is a chasm that has expanded. I

consider this to be a major problem, for we must have community

support for public education. The community consists of every person,

those with and without children in school. To correct a problem it

becomes necessary to look at its genesis. The community must be

involved in all aspects of change, from the formulation of a concept

to its fruition. It is important to remember as a board member that I

represent the entire school community. This means I must be available

to listen to the voices of those with whom I agree with and with

those whom I may disagree. I always learn from those voices.

Communication can be improved by establishing board goals to improve

community relations and to share the wonderful educational programs

we have for children. A means to accomplish this would be to

establish community forums where ideas and concerns can freely be

addressed, community “school open houses” and re-establishment of the

Ocean Foundation. I want to be instrumental in bringing peace to our

district, for this is in the best interest of the children we serve.