Candidate for
Board Member; West Contra Costa Unified School District

Name: Ray Muhammad

Age: 38

Occupation: Firefighter

Education and Qualifications: Five years experience as a public school teacher. Graduate-Multiple Subject Credential Program: Education, California State University, Hayward Graduate-Bachelor of Arts Degree: History, University of California, Los Angeles

Next to the home I believe the safest place for a child should be in the classroom. It is for that reason that I am asking every voter to help me make our schools S.A.F.E. (Salaries, Accountability, Facilities and Equality). Salaries for teachers and other school site staff should be increased. Salary and staff increases for teachers and other school site employees. This will help improve the caliber of professionals that are attracted and retained on school campuses. By revising school budgets, more resources can be transferred to where instruction takes place. Accountability for all district personnel must be enforced. In order for this district to be effective, productive and successful at educating our children, it is essential that duties are performed competently. Facilities must be clean, well built and maintained to insure a high performance learning environment. Instead of spending limited resources on outside consultants, funds could be better spent on more staff and materials to upgrade schools. Equality in education should be made available to all students, regardless of what school they attend.