Options for Parents & Students

By Annette Walker

According to a recent report by HUSD at a Hayward Local Agencies Committee meeting, four times as many students leave the HUSD than are coming in to our district. This is a result of parents not having enough viable OPTIONS to keep them in Hayward.

Options in Hayward include:

-Varying types of education for students
-Preserving school sites/keeping schools open
-Encouragement of Parent Involvement in the Classroom

VARYING TYPES OF EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS If parents have enough options right here in the Hayward public school system, they will be more likely to stay in Hayward and contribute to the overall quality of life and stability in Hayward. My step-children and my daughter (now 34, 29, 28 and 22 years old) were students in the Hayward public school system. I empathize with parents who face difficult decisions on what's best for their children.

During my campaign, I've heard from parents who have asked me about charter schools, special education, continuation school, adult school, vocational school, music & arts, GATE (Gifted and Talented Education).

For the reasons stated above, the options can include more charter and specialty schools (arts-, music-, science-focused) and rewarding teachers for positively engaging students in their learning experience. We must adopt the practices of successful school districts and implement them here in Hayward. It can be done!

PRESERVING SCHOOL SITES/KEEPING SCHOOLS OPEN Many parents have also expressed their concerns about schools being shut down. My vision for Hayward and options for parents and students include restoring our school district's reputation so that we need not continue closing schools. It has been mentioned by current school board representation that we should lease or sell off "excess" school sites. This is unacceptable. If the school board does its job, Hayward will have students clamoring to attend Hayward schools rather than the current crisis of families removing them from the district...

ENCOURAGING PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE CLASSROOM The decisions the school board makes comes down to a matter of priorities. We hear a lot of talk about how we MUST engage parents in their students' lives. One deterrent for many families is the cost associated with getting fingerprinted to be allowed in the classroom. I have some very specific ideas about how to make this work in such a way that encourages rather than deters parents from stepping up and getting involved.

Please visit my website at http://www.AnnetteWalkerForHayward.com or call me at 510-786-ANET(2638).