2008 Year of Change for Our San Diego Schools

A mandate for change in our San Diego schools

An open letter from John Lee Evans

November 11, 2008

I am honored by my election to the San Diego School Board by the people of the district.  The electorate has voted resoundingly for change. During the past year I have talked to people all over San Diego about our public schools. In 2008 the election of a new President, the passage of Proposition S and the vote for change on the School Board are all indicative of a re-dedication to public education.

I believe that teachers are the core of our system. Our first task is to create a new atmosphere of trust and respect for the teachers and the other support personnel who work with our children.  We need to recruit and retain the best and brightest for San Diego.  They are the key to raising academic achievement and we must get their best ideas on how to improve our kids’ education.

Reducing the dropout rate is of crucial importance.  But what is even more important is that students come out of school with the necessary career and technical skills that they need to succeed in the 21st century.

We need to develop a comprehensive model of how to evaluate our children’s education, which is not limited to a couple of standardized test scores.  It should include literacy, the arts, math and science, social awareness, physical fitness and the ability to think critically.  Robotic learning will no longer suffice.

We must transform our schools into 21st century schools to prepare our kids to compete in the world economy.  We can utilize digital technology to accelerate learning, to enhance student-teacher interaction, to streamline administration and reduce costs, to facilitate closer contact with parents and to bridge the gap between school and the “outside” world.  Along with the technological connection we need to enhance the human connection by recruiting mentors from among seniors, the business and labor communities, the faith community and others.

We can only begin to accomplish all of this with a truly democratic process that includes all of us: parents, teachers and support personnel, students, local employers and the general community.  We can do this in an open and transparent manner.  All of our meetings and decision-making must reflect this.  We can accomplish this at the district level, as well as the local school and neighborhood level.

Any changes that we make must build upon the successes that we already have.  We must not make the mistake of throwing out some currently successful programs as we strive to improve overall.

The role of the school board is to set the goals and general direction of the District.  We must maintain a broad perspective and not become micro-managers. We must advocate for proper funding, but to do that we must show the public what we are able to accomplish with what we have.

We must show unwavering support for all of those in whom we have entrusted the education of San Diego’s children.  Our school system is the best place to promote the All-American value of equal opportunity.  As we promote excellence in education, we must create a level playing field for all of our children.

I am enthusiastic about what we can accomplish.  Even in trying circumstances of economic adversity we can rise to the occasion and find new ways to reach our goals.  We will know we have truly great schools when parents are moving into the district for the specific purpose of enrolling their kids in a San Diego Unified school.

I am committed to doing everything I can to work with all members of the School Board to make San Diego’s schools the best. Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves.

John Lee Evans, San Diego Unified School District, Trustee-Elect, District A