Recently in Colton Joint Unified School District board Category

My name is Paul Russell and I am running for the Colton Joint Unified School Board, Trustee Area 1. I worked 38 years for the District as a teacher and Athletic Director at Bloomington High School. I also worked as a long-term substitute in the 2006-07 school year. I am well aware of the success and failures in the district. I support safe schools, raising test scores, including the proficiency level of students, district-spending accountability, reducing the drop-out rate, expanding college and vocational opportunities, increase work ready and college prepared graduates, and increasing parent participation, especially in the upper grades.
I believe the District is well on its way to solving some of the above mentioned problems with the new Strategic Plan developed during the 2007-08 school year. I would like to be part of the School Board that ensures that this plan is implemented. I want to ensure that the Strategic Plan and the District Assistance and Intervention Team (DAIT) actions are in agreement.
I want to be part of the Board that ensures that District dollars are spent in the best possible way to help students achieve success, in test scores, graduation and being prepared to succeed in life after they leave the District. I believe the District is vigilant about spending tax dollars, however I want to make sure that this continues, particularly if Measure G (a school bond) passes.
I want to make sure students are prepared for life after school. I feel that students going to college should have the best preparation possible. I would also like to see the number of students going to college increase.
For those going into the work force, I feel that the curriculum needs to be expanded, either by the District or through the Regional Occupation Program (ROP).
Parent involvement with schools and with their students is critical.
Schools need to be aware of parent's wants and needs. Without this input schools are hampered in their ability to provide the services need by parents and students. I would like to expand the programs that help parent's deal with problems like homework, and the importance of keeping students in school.
I feel that by being elected I can use my experience and expertise in implementing and supervising programs that are designed by the District to ensure student success.