Candidates want a seat on Colton Joint Unified School Board
Five candidates - three challengers and two incumbents - are vying for two open spots on the Colton Joint Unified School District Board of Education.
In Trustee Area No. 1, Patricia Haro and Paul Russell are competing to unseat incumbent Mark Hoover.
In Trustee Area No. 3 Todd Housley is competing against incumbent Kent Taylor.
In Trustee Area No. 1, Patricia Haro and Paul Russell are competing to unseat incumbent Mark Hoover.
In Trustee Area No. 3 Todd Housley is competing against incumbent Kent Taylor.
Haro is a merchandise consultant for Texas-based Propac Marketing and lives in Fontana.
She says the district needs to improve communication with the community and any budget cuts should be made at the top before they affect children.
She believes in teaching children the value of an education during middle school to keep them from dropping out of high school.
She also supports vocational programs in addition to programs that encourage teens to attend college.
"We need to understand that all of our kids won't go to college," Haro said. "But they still want to be successful."
Russell, 64, taught in the district for 38 years, 12 of which he was also Bloomington High's athletic director. He's now retired.
To raise standardized test scores, students need incentives to perform well, Russell said.
"This district is in program improvement," Russell said. "I don't think they (students) or the teacher know what can happen if the state takes over the school."
Students also need a curriculum and academic programs that will keep them engaged and interested, he said.
"We have to find a way to make these kids more proficient," Russell said.
Calls to Hoover were not immediately returned today.
Taylor, 44, a Grand Terrace resident and director of curriculum and instruction for the Rialto Unified School District, says employees deserve a raise.
"Our outstanding teachers and classified employees have done an outstanding job in increasing student achievement," Taylor said.
To raise its graduation rate, the district has to be sure it's preparing students for the California High School Exit Exam and offer students various ways to make up for lost credits, Taylor said.
One way is to offer after-school programs that focus on a student's weak points to make up for missing credits.
Housley, 38, a Grand Terrace resident and project manager for the city of Redlands, says the district needs to upgrade it's facilities and build new schools.
Colton High School needs extensive upgrades and at least three new elementary schools need to be built strategically throughout the district, he said.
"Whether their new facilities or 50 or 60 years old they need to be equal in what they can offer students," Housley said.
Housley says improved facilities throughout the district will improve test scores and reduce drop out rates.
All candidates interviewed support Measure G, a bond initiative on the November ballot that will provide funding for new schools and school improvements district-wide.
All candidates also said two new high schools are needed. One is already planned in Grand Terrace and one should be built in the Bloomington area to reduce congestion at Bloomington and Colton high schools, they said.
michael.sorba@inlandnewspapers.com
She says the district needs to improve communication with the community and any budget cuts should be made at the top before they affect children.
She believes in teaching children the value of an education during middle school to keep them from dropping out of high school.
She also supports vocational programs in addition to programs that encourage teens to attend college.
"We need to understand that all of our kids won't go to college," Haro said. "But they still want to be successful."
Russell, 64, taught in the district for 38 years, 12 of which he was also Bloomington High's athletic director. He's now retired.
To raise standardized test scores, students need incentives to perform well, Russell said.
"This district is in program improvement," Russell said. "I don't think they (students) or the teacher know what can happen if the state takes over the school."
Students also need a curriculum and academic programs that will keep them engaged and interested, he said.
"We have to find a way to make these kids more proficient," Russell said.
Calls to Hoover were not immediately returned today.
Taylor, 44, a Grand Terrace resident and director of curriculum and instruction for the Rialto Unified School District, says employees deserve a raise.
"Our outstanding teachers and classified employees have done an outstanding job in increasing student achievement," Taylor said.
To raise its graduation rate, the district has to be sure it's preparing students for the California High School Exit Exam and offer students various ways to make up for lost credits, Taylor said.
One way is to offer after-school programs that focus on a student's weak points to make up for missing credits.
Housley, 38, a Grand Terrace resident and project manager for the city of Redlands, says the district needs to upgrade it's facilities and build new schools.
Colton High School needs extensive upgrades and at least three new elementary schools need to be built strategically throughout the district, he said.
"Whether their new facilities or 50 or 60 years old they need to be equal in what they can offer students," Housley said.
Housley says improved facilities throughout the district will improve test scores and reduce drop out rates.
All candidates interviewed support Measure G, a bond initiative on the November ballot that will provide funding for new schools and school improvements district-wide.
All candidates also said two new high schools are needed. One is already planned in Grand Terrace and one should be built in the Bloomington area to reduce congestion at Bloomington and Colton high schools, they said.
michael.sorba@inlandnewspapers.com
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