Part Two of Two
By Nick Diamantides
Staff Writer
The Signal Tribune interviewed the three candidates running for the District 4 seat of the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) Board of Education last week. Incumbent and current Board Vice President Jon Meyer is facing challengers Paul Crost and Karen Thomas Hilburn in the April 8 election.
The first half of the interview was published in last week’s issue. The second half follows:
Signal Tribune: There is a number of people in Signal Hill who feel that the LBUSD is not responding to their needs and the needs of their children.
(A) Do you feel that LBUSD is adequately meeting the needs of Signal Hill parents and pupils? and (B) What would you propose as a way of addressing issues that are unique to Signal Hill?
Meyer: I believe that the LBUSD is most considerate of the needs that Signal Hill parents and students express.
It is true that during the board tenure of Ed Eveland, relationships between Signal Hill and the LBUSD were a bit rocky, but that has changed dramatically under the leadership of Superintendent Chris Steinhauser and my election to the Board of Education.
Former mayor Larry Forester and newly elected Mayor Mike Noll are excellent leaders. Both Supervisor Steinhauser and I enjoy an open and candid relationship with Signal Hill leaders, parents and school staff personnel.
Hilburn: I do not believe that LBUSD focused enough attention on the needs and concerns of Signal Hill residents. I have spent a great deal of time walking door-to-door and attending council meetings in the city of Signal Hill. Not one resident has met another candidate during this election. Most residents had no idea who the incumbent was!
I have received the endorsement of Ellen Ward, who believes I will follow through on my pledge to continue remaining active in the city after I’m elected to the board. We need to stay in contact and have open and continuous lines of communication.
Crost: As a board member, I would want to hear from the community about their views and would direct the administration to investigate and report to the board its findings. I would then seek to take remedial action if there is evidence that the concerns are well founded.
Signal Tribune: Some parents have complained that the “On Campus Suspension” program is too harsh. Some kids have been forced to remain standing and staring at a wall for 90 minutes.
Tell us if you agree with this form of discipline and why. And tell us what you feel is the best way to discipline pupils for breaking school rules.
Crost: No student should spend time staring at a wall. If students need to be removed from the classroom for discipline they should still be learning in another setting. Misbehaving students should be in another room away from their friends and peers. No student should be able to interfere with another student’s education.
Meyer: Your statement regarding on-campus suspension is simply incorrect. Your editor personally discussed this issue with the principal of Wilson High School and stands corrected on this matter.
Hilburn: I designed and started the first On Campus Suspension (OCS) class nearly 20 years ago. Since then, most school sites have “OCS” programs. Students should not be required to stand for 90 minutes. That could constitute “corporal punishment.”
The Education Code and individual school sites all have discipline plans in place. Those plans should have included input from staff and parents. The plans must not include any form of corporal punishment. The best discipline plan is a good lesson plan.
Signal Tribune: We have heard that some pupils have been suspended because the colors of their school uniform had faded over time. Do you feel that teachers and principals have the right to do this?
Hilburn: Once again, site discipline plans should include input from all stakeholders and be within the framework of the California education code. Minor rule infractions should not remove students from the learning environment of the classroom.
Meyer: Young people and their parents/guardians are asked to sign a contract before student enrollment at Wilson High School. The contract commits to the highest expectations of a classical high school model. An important aspect of the contract is to wear the school uniform.
The uniform requires khaki bottoms and a white or cardinal top. School management makes daily decisions as to whether students are out of uniform. I would suspect that if the khaki color fades to white, then there is a uniform violation, but these are site management decisions.
Crost: Absolutely not. Teachers and administrators should be able to determine if a student’s appearance is due to poverty or to a lack of attention. There are resources in the community to make sure that every student has an appropriate uniform. Students should not be punished because parents are unable to properly dress them.
Signal Tribune: Tell us why you feel you are the voters’ best choice for election to the LBUSD Board of Education?
Meyer: I am never comfortable talking about myself, but I want to continue to serve the best interests of our students, teachers, parents and community with all of my energy. I have over 45 years of work on the LBUSD, which my constituents can evaluate. I trust them to make the right decision in the board election and I will happily accept whatever decision they choose to make.
Hilburn: I am a progressive thinker and innovator. I have the experience and commitment to devote all my energies to helping the children obtain a good future and I have the ability to bring all the parties back to the table for our number-one priority: the children. My experience as a teacher, principal, administrator/director as well as my experience with kids in trouble makes me the most qualified of all the candidates.
My passion for the youngsters falling through the cracks and my understanding the need for vocational/alternative and or career education to help save our children is the reason I am running for office and the reason I believe I am the most committed of your choices in this election.
I will never forget the importance of representing three cities (Long Beach, Signal Hill and Catalina) and will give their communities and their leaders the respect they deserve.
Crost: As a lawyer with 40 years experience in labor and employment law with a specialty in education employment, I would bring to the board the ability to analyze and evaluate issues from a different perspective than the other candidates who have been part of the district administration.
As a trained mediator, I can build bridges between the board, the administration, and employee groups. I can assist the board in evaluating legal advice so that wasteful litigation such as the airport lawsuit can be avoided.
It is essential that the board be responsive to the concerns of the district’s employees and of the community, and that appropriate direction be given to the superintendent and his team. I believe that I will be able to more effectively perform this function than the incumbent and Ms. Hilburn, both of whom are former members of the administration.
