Las Animas School Board questions- Joelene Gonzales

Why are you running for the school board?
I am running for the school board as a way to get involved. I see school board membership as a great way to make sure opinions and questions from the community are addressed.

What experience do you bring to the position?
As far as the school board goes this will be my first experience with it. However, I have grown up in Las Animas, attended school here and have a child that attends LAES. I'm a fairly young person and while that means I'm inexperienced as far as this position goes it also means I can bring forth different views. I'm definitely willing to listen to opinions and suggestions and figure out what changes we can make to improve the school system.

What do you feel are the major issues facing the board?
Right now from an outside view, I think a couple of the main issues are the 4-day school week vs. the 5-day school week and budget issues.

How will you address these issues?
The budget is a tough issue. Careful evaluation of current delegation of monies is a start. Discussion with the board will bring more suggestions on where money can be saved. Checking on additional grants is also an option. The 4-day vs. 5-day week is a controversial issue. I think the important thing here is to find out what works best for the students, their parents and the teachers. Both options can work well. It's just a matter of finding out what works best for Las Animas.

Do you support a four day or five day school week?
I think, as with almost everything, these two options have benefits and disadvantages. If I was elected to the board my personal opinion shouldn't matter. My goal would be to find out what works for students, parents and teacher alike. In other words I'd be there to represent what WE (the community) would like not what I would like.

What are your feelings about the new community center?
The idea of a new community center for Las Animas is great! After school activities can play an important part in our children’s' studies and performance. Having a safe place for the kids to go after school is also a comfort to the parents. Plus, with more activity options and equipment I think more people will be involved. A community center is for everyone to enjoy so I'd also like to see a few more opportunities brought in for older people as well.

What would you do to improve CSAP scores in the district?
CSAP scores have improved quite a bit over the past couple of years. Teachers and students both have worked very hard on this and it shows. I know these scores are important in many different ways. I believe they can continue to improve by providing positive reinforcement to the students. I also believe it is important to remember that while these scores mean a lot they should not be the sole focus of our children’s' education. It is important that students receive the proper education in every subject to ensure they are prepared for college and the world that awaits them after high school graduation.

What would you do to balance the budget?
I cannot balance the budget single-handed. I think if expenses and raises were brought to the board this would be a way to go over things and discuss them before money is spent rather than after. Board involvement in these decisions could bring more suggestions on how to reduce money spent and create more ways to save.

How would you encourage teachers to stay in the district?
I would encourage teachers to stay in the district by bringing out some of the good points to this district. We have great students and staff here. The teachers all seem to honestly enjoy what they are doing. We may be a small community but I think that brings the teachers closer to the students, which in turn leads to better learning experiences. If there are specific issues a teacher is unhappy with, they should be discussed so they can be handled appropriately. It is important to make sure the best possible staff is working for Las Animas.

What needs to be done to improve student achievement?
As stated earlier the CSAP scores for Las Animas have gone up quite a bit. For the most part the school system seems to be doing well in this area. Students are more positive about school and incentives seem effective at all grade levels. We must remember that parents play a major part in their child's achievement. A day of school doesn't end at 4 p.m. for most kids. Many of them have reading and homework to complete when coming home as well as sports practice after school. I think a big part of student achievement can come from parents by providing encouragement and help to our children. Things like attending an assembly/game or asking about a test can mean a great deal and can encourage students to work harder to improve problem areas.