Building Trust Through Transparency and Community Engagement (8/22/2024)

Good evening, board members and staff,

My name is Long Jiao, and I am running for the CUSD board.

I urge the board and district to take decisive actions to enhance transparency. One crucial step is to make the list of approved instructional materials accessible to the community. Ideally, we could establish a small library at the District Office, where concerned parents can review the materials their children will be learning from. The district should also make the unreviewed supplemental materials used by teachers available for parents to review. This initiative would help parents set expectations and boost their confidence in our educational system.

In cases where instructional materials are challenged with sound cause, it is essential to promptly form a Review Committee according to Administrative Regulations 1312.2, comprising experienced teachers, residents, and parents. Community engagement is vital to restoring trust. After two consecutive failed parcel tax proposals, we now face a new bond measure on this November’s ballot. Failing this measure would be disastrous. Therefore, restoring community trust is paramount to passing the bond measure as well as maintaining the enrollment rate, especially for the lower grades. Transparency and community engagement are the keys to rebuilding this trust.

Thank you.