The five-member Palm Springs Unified Board of Administrators has three seats up for grabs in November.
Candidates are working unopposed in two districts, and a race to characterize Desert Scorching Springs has challenger Kaden Cross taking over incumbent John Gerardi.
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Kaden Cross challenges John Gerardi.
Gerardi is looking for his third time period at PSUSD. A chartered CPA, he beforehand served on the Desert Scorching Springs Planning Fee for 10 years, together with 5 years as chairman.
Cross graduated from Desert Scorching Springs Excessive Faculty this yr. He’s a pupil at Desert Faculty. As a current PSUSD graduate, Cross says he has a singular perspective on the district that he says hasn’t been heard at college board conferences.
Gerardi didn’t reply to a request from Desert Solar to contribute to this text.
On the problems
What motivates you to run for the varsity board?
To cross: I am 18 and not too long ago graduated from Desert Scorching Springs Excessive Faculty. Day by day I went to high school, I grew to become extra conscious of the challenges my lecturers and friends confronted, lots of which could possibly be alleviated by efficient college counseling. So, I battle for the change and progress I wish to see inside my neighborhood. I’ve beforehand attended board conferences and spoken about severe points with facility circumstances, lack of restroom entry, and what I take into account to be ongoing violations of the Williams Legislation at Desert Scorching Springs Excessive Faculty. . After talking on the board assembly, I used to be regularly thanked by lecturers and college students for my efforts, however nothing modified.
Our district is struggling and desires somebody who’s keen to place within the power, time, and laborious work to get our faculties again on observe. I shall be that individual. I care deeply about our neighborhood, our lecturers, and most significantly, our college students.
(Williams laws requires public faculties to be clear, protected, and useful and to supply ample textbooks and educational supplies. Cross claims that Desert Scorching Springs violated the legislation by not having sufficient restrooms open to the general public. The Enterprise Companies District Assistant Superintendent Brian Murray responded to the allegation saying, “The restrooms had been closed at DHSHS for a time frame after being vandalized in order that they could possibly be repaired and cleaned as rapidly as attainable. We’re pleased with all of our services all through the district.”
What are your most important priorities?
To cross: Curriculum reform: Throughout my highschool profession, a few of our textbooks had been older than me, and I steadily heard lecturers complain concerning the stagnation of the curriculum. That is unacceptable. We owe extra to our lecturers and college students. High quality educating supplies and a curriculum are on the coronary heart of educational success.
Trainer shortages: Workers shortages are severe and continual and can solely worsen if left unaddressed. The district should undertake a complete technique to deal with points in our district that will make educating undesirable. This consists of growing base wage and advantages, particularly for brand spanking new lecturers, compensating lecturers after they tackle extra obligations, and bettering working circumstances, for instance with smaller class sizes. .
Neighborhood interplay: The board wants much more two-way dialogue and neighborhood involvement. As a board member, I would constantly take part and foster shut relationships with the neighborhood.
In what areas do you assume the district is doing properly and the place would you wish to see enchancment?
To cross: I feel the varsity district did some issues proper. The district’s continued reinvestment within the arts in addition to faculty and vocational packages has been wonderful for pupil achievement and achievement. The district additionally created hiring bonuses for brand spanking new lecturers, nurses, speech-language pathologists, and particular training lecturers/paraprofessionals. This can be a very large step in direction of fixing our instructor and workers shortages and must be applauded.
A few of the largest points going through our district proper now are closing the hole between poor college students and English language learners. The scarcity of lecturers can be a serious drawback. With out sufficient lecturers, pupil efficiency in addition to the working circumstances of our present lecturers will deteriorate. These questions are advanced and multifaceted. It would take a number of work to repair them, however I’m dedicated to working for our neighborhood till I’m exhausted, damaged and overwhelmed, and extra.
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Charlie Ervin is working unopposed to interchange Timothy Wooden as Zone 4 consultant. Wooden has served one time period on the board and isn’t looking for re-election.
Ervin has lived in Palm Springs for over 40 years. He’s commissioner of planning for town of Palm Springs, chairman of the United African American Mother and father Advisory Council of Palm Springs, and ambassador on a district finances committee.
On the problems
What motivates you to run for the varsity board?
Ervin: My motivation is love for the scholars and oldsters at PSUSD. I’ve served as Chair of the African American Mother or father Advisory Council and LCAP Ambassador for James Workman Center Faculty for the previous two years. It would give me the prospect to characterize those that don’t have any voice.
What are your most important priorities?
Ervin: Educational achievement and lowering suspension for all college students within the Palm Springs Unified Faculty District. I consider these matters proceed to come back up and should be addressed in our district.
In what areas do you assume the district is doing properly and the place would you wish to see enchancment?
Ervin: PSUSD works laborious to turn into the chief in range and fairness. Nonetheless, the educational and suspension charges for college students of coloration simply aren’t there. For instance, greater than 70% of African-American third-grade college students are studying beneath grade stage at PSUSD (Ervin says math parallels if not worse, based on information not too long ago offered by the district to the African-American Mother or father Advisory Committee ). Clearly PSUSD has work to do, however we are going to get there.
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Karen Cornett is working unopposed for her fourth time period on the PSUSD board. She labored for the district for 35 years as a instructor, vice-principal and elementary principal.
Cornett didn’t reply to a request from Desert Solar to contribute to this text.
Jonathan Horwitz covers training for The Desert Solar. Contact him at [email protected] or @Writes_Jonathan.