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The San Diego Monitor
Editors Pick Most Impactful event in the FIRST Y20K
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The San Diego Monitor
Lawana Richmond see things differently, “ My running for school board is about the future of education.� SDMN: What made this position one you wanted to fill? LW: It started with a desire to make sure the people in District E had a representative that is of and for them. As I delved deeper and increased my knowledge and understanding, I realized I could do more than just make sure information and concerns were making their way to the table. My skills and experience with solving problems in academic environments could help with making sure the restorative justice practices initiative is implemented more widely and effectively. The audit of Local Control Funding Formula spending revealed a need for better stewardship with more accountability. I'd also like to make sure the voice and concerns of district students and parents receive the respect and level of priority they deserve.
SDMN: Why is it so important that a Board member keep a pulse on what really going on in the classroom or is that important? LW: When setting policy and strategic direction, it is important to have a good understanding of the current state. Sitting up on a dais and making decisions without putting boots on the ground is like shooting in the dark. SDMN: Why do schools become broken in your opinion? LW: In my opinion, school boards become broken when members put other things before the needs of the children, or disengage from their constituents. When people forget to maintain good connection with the people they are elected to serve, they tend to lost touch with what is happening or even why thy are there.
SDMN: Tell us what a board Member does?
SDMN: What 's your vision?
LW: Primary responsibilities for a board member include setting direction and policy for the school district in conjunction with the other board members. The policy of the San Diego Unified School District is to not have any one board member acting alone on behalf of the board. "The superintendent is the board’s sole point of direction to the operational organization. The board will set the direction for the operational organization only through the superintendent, functioning as the Chief Executive Officer. However, nothing herein shall prohibit a constructive, two-way dialogue with students, staff, parents, and the community as a means to engage all stakeholders in the work of the board and the district." per San Diego Unified School District's governance policies. Italicization and underline added for emphasis.
LW: My long-term vision is to get back to a state in which children look forward to school and feel like they missed something important when they are not in the classroom. I want to help lead an organization that is preparing our children to thrive in a future that I envision an environment where children who have conflict are educated and learn to respond to conflict in ways that are healthy and prepare them to be good conflict managers as adults. SDMN: What's your message to those who have lost faith in the public-school system? LW: As bleak as things may seem, our children can't afford to have us give up. Together, we can make things better for our children.
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The San Diego Monitor
What do They Want To KNOW? What Everyone Needs to Know About 2020 Census Questions
By law, the U.S. government is required to count the number of people living in the United States every 10 years. Getting an accurate count is important because census numbers impact daily life in the United States in many ways. For example, census data are often used to determine how much federal funding is allocated for important projects and services that benefit local communities. The census also plays a vital role in our nation’s system of government by determining how many representatives will be sent to Congress from each state. Because getting an accurate count is so important, the process is designed to be fast, easy, and safe. On average, it takes no more than 10 minutes to answer the questions on the census. How Are Census Data Collected?
During the first census in 1790, census takers visited nearly every U.S. home to gather data. In 2020, households will have the option of responding online, by mail, or by phone. The Census Bureau expects many households to complete the questionnaire online, using instructions received in the mail. These instructions will also include information about how to respond by phone. Some households will receive a printed questionnaire which they can mail, postage-free, back to the
Be Counted! SDMNEWS’S Motivation Information
Census Bureau. A small percentage of households, primarily located in remote areas of the country, will be visited by a census taker who will help collect the necessary information to complete the form. Who Receives the Census Questionnaire and How Is It Filled Out? Most housing units in the United States that receive mail at their physical location will receive a letter by mail with instructions on how to complete the census questionnaire. Housing units include houses, apartments, cabins, mobile homes—pretty much any place where people live in the United States. In areas where the majority of housing units do not have mail delivered to their physical location, census workers will leave questionnaire packages at every identified housing unit. The census process also includes special provisions to count people who are homeless and those in other types of living quarters, such as college dorms, military barracks, ships, prisons, nursing homes, and homeless shelters. The person in the housing unit who fills out the census questionnaire or talks to the census taker is known as Person 1. Typically, Person 1 is the owner/co-owner or renter/corenter of the housing unit. READ MORE sdmonitornews.com
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The San Diego Monitor
SDMNEWS Must Read 2020 CA Census Guide Table of Contents Section 1: General Information (PDF) •
Initiative and Referendum Qualification Requirements
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Candidate Qualifications and Information
Section 2: Nomination Requirements (PDF) •
Presidential Candidates
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United States Representative in Congress, and Member of the State Legislature Candidates
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Nomination Documents – Nomination Papers and Declaration of Candidacy
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Signatures In Lieu of Filing Fee
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Signatures In Lieu of Filing Fee and/or Nomination Papers
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Ballot Designations
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In General
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Campaign Filings and Responsibilities
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Candidate Intention Statement
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Campaign Contribution Account
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Exceptions
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Additional Filing Information
Section 3: Candidate Filing Information (PDF) •
Required Filing Fees, Nomination Signatures
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Write-In Candidates for the Office of President
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Write-In Candidates for Voter-Nominated Offices
In-Lieu
Signatures,
Section 4: Candidate Checklist (PDF) •
President of the United States
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United States Representative in Congress
For download please go to www.sdmonitornews.com
and
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The San Diego Monitor
Get FULL LIST www.sdmonitornews.com
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The San Diego Monitor
Grossmont Union Still Expels Black Students Far More Often Than Other Local Schools Grossmont Union High School District is still expelling black students at significantly higher rates than other school districts, new data shows. Grossmont officials have pledged to reduce the district’s overall expulsion rate by 2020, but have so far not acknowledged problems in their expulsion rate for black students. Data released by the California Department of Education show that while the county’s expulsion rates are continuing to drop — likely because of an increased focus on restorative justice practices — Grossmont is nowhere near meeting its goal. For the 2018-19 school year, the district expelled black students at nine times the average expulsion rate for black students countywide. During the three previous school years, Grossmont’s expulsion rate for black students was at least six times the county average. WWW.SDMONITORNEWS.COM Grossmont’s expulsion rate for black students actually went down slightly in the 2018-19 school year to 1.46 percent. But it was still far above the county average of .16 percent.
Francine Maxwell, the vice president of the San Diego NAACP branch, called the numbers “historic” and said Grossmont’s staff has long lacked diversity and cultural sensitivity. “There has not been a single year in which we have not seen complaints from that school district,” Maxwell said. “Only after you seek help and you know that you’re doing something wrong is when you want to change your behavior. That is the issue with (Grossmont). They don’t think that they’re doing anything wrong nor do they want to change their behavior because they don’t admit to anything.”
Grossmont officials declined to comment.
