The Beach Reporter Questions (October)

By Michael D. Goodhue

Here are the questions recently asked by the Beach Reporter for October Publication

We need to review our options for additions to View and Valley campuses. Today, we use modular classrooms and their footprint is nearing maximum capacity with 13 modular classrooms for View and Valley. Our School Board is assessing an option to rebuild at North School site in the future, however I am not convinced we have the financials and attendance projections to support running a third school location in the next five years even with Adult school and for-fee Preschool. Reviewing our enrollment growth rate and average class size since 2008, we will need about 10 more classrooms before 2018.

What will you do to improve the relationship between the school district and the community?

I'd like to bring our community closer to our schools and our school board by developing and presenting a detailed five-year plan each year with community involvement including parents, alumni, teachers, business, and the city. Here we can communicate our school districts priorities, challenges, and options so that we can get community support, take action, and provide an educational environment to help our kids thrive. We want our kids to develop their passion for learning and achievement while balancing growth, class size, electives, and after school activities for best preparation and success in high school.

What are your qualifications for being on the school board?

I'm a parent and Hermosa Beach resident since 1995. At work, I lead efforts to successfully manage changing priorities, budgets, personnel, operations, and capital expenses while still delivering high-quality service and systems. I also have the opportunity to mentor high school and college interns on projects, giving me an understanding what is required to prepare for high school and what makes each student stand out: critical thinking, passion for learning, working well in groups, and asking good questions, basics of the new CORE curriculum. Also, I have reviewed high school curriculum and success factors with Manhattan, Redondo, and Hermosa districts.

What are the most significant problems facing View and Valley schools?

Let's help prepare our kids for high school and bring the passion back to our schools, the community and district. Our board has provided so much on such little funding but we are missing an opportunity to give our kids a closer connection with their schools. I want to create an opportunity for kids to develop a passion, learn from our teachers and each other in school activities, sports, arts, and science. We need to address our 20% budget shortfall from decreased LCFF state funding, increasing enrollment, transitioning to CORE curriculum, while providing the best learning environment for our kids.