The following information is copied from the information that the candidates themselves submitted for VOTE411.org. All candidates were invited to submit their biographical information and to answer our questions.
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Zone 1, Position 1
Holly Riegelmann has not responded. However, she has a statement on page M-37 of the Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet.
Robyn Stowers, Policy Advisor, Metro. In addition to responding to our questions, she has a statement on page M-37 of the Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet. She is a current member of the school board.
Gresham, Oregon 97080
Questions
1. Even before COVID and the transition to online learning, school districts struggled with disparities in academic achievement. Educators fear even greater gaps upon their return to classrooms. What strategies will you consider to address these increased disparities?
Holly Riegelmann has not responded yet.
Robyn Stowers: Students will only feel at a deficit if adults make them feel like this. The Gresham-Barlow School District data demonstrates that students are only a few points behind their peers from two years ago. Although this is a significant loss, it also indicates that students are learning. Tests also do not show other skills that students gained through distance learning, such as technology and self-regulation.
To close achievement gaps students must be culturally represented and supported by our systems. We need to create supportive environments that respect all identities. I support these cultural shifts through the creation of cultural resolutions, updating the academic calendar to reflect diverse populations and the expansion of ethnic studies and tribal history.
In addition to increased cultural supports, I propose increasing summer school, after-school and mentorship opportunities.
2. COVID has shown us the importance of family support in facilitating students’ education. How will you build on this understanding to increase the role of parents in decision making and promote parental involvement in schools?
Holly Riegelmann has not responded yet.
Robyn Stowers: Parents must be engaged in all decision-making. The existing culture of the school board does not meaningfully engage or interact with the community. This needs to change.
GBSD can eliminate barriers to participation and increase transparency and engagement by publishing complete agendas packets one week in advance to fully inform the public and board members on upcoming topics; providing opportunities for the community, students and staff to engage with the board through listening sessions, community events, and board meetings; and increase accessibility by including closed captioning, hearing support devices, and translation services at all school events.
3. What is the impact of the pandemic on school budgets and spending priorities? How do you propose meeting these new challenges?
Holly Riegelmann has not responded yet.
Robyn Stowers: The COVID-19 pandemic has left students traumatized. For over a year, COVID-19 prevented students from seeing their friends and family, prevented participation in sports and other important activities, and even caused the death of loved ones. Therefore, I believe the most essential service we can provide our students is increased mental health supports.
I especially advocate for a Student Health Center in our district. Student Health Centers offer comprehensive primary and mental health care services to all Multnomah County youth ages 5-18. There are no out-of-pocket costs.
In addition to a health center, I propose each middle and high school have a full-time mental health specialist on campus to provide ongoing and emergency mental health support
I also propose reallocating the $200,000 paid annually to the Gresham Police Department to fund these additional health services.
Zone 2, Position 3
Cathy Vandehey Keathley has not responded yet. However, she has a statement on page M-38 of the Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet.
At Large, Position 4
Joe Demers has not responded yet. However, he has a statement on page M-39 of the Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet.
Julie Frediani, retired/currently substituting and teaching a K/1 cohort part-time. In addition to responding to our questions, she has a statement on page M-40 of the Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet. She also was interviewed for our Video Voters’ Guide.
Gresham, OR 97080
Jeff C Jones has not responded yet. However, he has a statement on page M-39 of the Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet.
Carla C Piluso has not responded yet. However, she has a statement on page M-39 of the Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet. She is a current member of the school board.
Questions
1. Even before COVID and the transition to online learning, school districts struggled with disparities in academic achievement. Educators fear even greater gaps upon their return to classrooms. What strategies will you consider to address these increased disparities?
Joe Demers has not responded yet.
Julie Friediani: I believe that we need to make sure we are teaching using multiple strategies. Students learn in many different ways and it is important to present curriculum in more than one way. Studies have also shown that if students can see themselves in those who teach them, they will believe in themselves and do better academically. Hiring outstanding school staff that are the same ethnicity as the community they serve has shown to make a difference in school achievement. Engaging ALL families so that they feel connected and part of their school community is also crucial.
Jeff C Jones has not responded yet.
Carla C Piluso has not responded yet.
2. COVID has shown us the importance of family support in facilitating students’ education. How will you build on this understanding to increase the role of parents in decision making and promote parental involvement in schools?
Joe Demers has not responded yet.
Julie Friediani: I would start with making sure Parent Teacher Committee meetings are held at times when most parents can attend either by Zoom or in-person. This might mean that we alternate the times when the meetings are. Some during the day and some in the evening. We have gotten very good at attending meetings virtually and should be continuing to use this format perhaps in combination with live meetings. This will enable more parents to attend and have a voice. This would be true for our school Site Council meetings also.
Jeff C Jones has not responded yet.
Carla C Piluso has not responded yet.
3. What is the impact of the pandemic on school budgets and spending priorities? How do you propose meeting these new challenges?
Joe Demers has not responded yet.
Julie Friediani: This is an area that I need more research and knowledge in to answer fully. I believe that will come once I am elected and involved more in the process. I would like to see more money spent on hiring additional school counselors. This has been needed for years and is now more true than ever! I will do my best to make sure the school budget is spent wisely and with the most positive impact on the education of students in our care.
Jeff C Jones has not responded yet.
Carla C Piluso has not responded yet.
Zone 4, Position 5
Jasia Mosley has not responded yet. However, she has a statement on page M-41 of the Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet.
Blake Petersen has not responded yet. However, he has a statement on page M-41 of the Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet. He is a current member of the school board.
At Large, Position 6
Mayra L Gomez, Educator. In addition to responding to our questions, she has a statement on page M-42 of the Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet. She also was interviewed for our Video Voters’ Guide. She is a current member of the school board.
GRESHAM, OR 97080-7895
Adam Sorenson, Quality Control and Commissioning Manager Dynalectric Oregon. In addition to responding to our questions, he has a statement on page M-42 of the Multnomah County Voters’ Pamphlet.
Questions
1. Even before COVID and the transition to online learning, school districts struggled with disparities in academic achievement. Educators fear even greater gaps upon their return to classrooms. What strategies will you consider to address these increased disparities?
Mayra Gomez: We must meet our students where they are at upon their return. Students may not have had the opportunity for academic learning but they will come to us with a wealth of knowledge gained from the experiences during the pandemic. We must see our kids through an strength-based lens and value the resiliency they have.
Adam Sorenson: As a school board we need to create programs that will help close the gaps in academic achievement. There is no one size fits all program that will work for all students. We will need to create multiple programs to help students from all different backgrounds. First and foremost our students need to return to 5-day a week in classroom instruction for us to begin to close this gap.
2. COVID has shown us the importance of family support in facilitating students’ education. How will you build on this understanding to increase the role of parents in decision making and promote parental involvement in schools?
Mayra Gomez: Parents/guardians may feel empowered or disempowered during this time. It depends on how support was provided to them. If parents were provided the support needed to navigate technology and were seen as assets by our schools, they will become great advocates for their children. It is our job as educators to foster that skill and build parent leaders in our schools.
Adam Sorenson: I believe that COVID has opened a lot of parents eyes into what is involved in our students education today. It’s important to continue the parental involvement that is currently being implemented while our students return to in person learning. Using todays technology via different secure apps and portals parents can keep up with their students progress and be aware of when their students may be falling behind. Having this parental involvement will create another advocate to get students help when needed.
3. What is the impact of the pandemic on school budgets and spending priorities? How do you propose meeting these new challenges?
Mayra Gomez: We will need to do a needs assessment once our students return to school. Once we know what our needs are we will need to prioritize the needs to address first. Then we will need to identify the resources needed to address these priorities. This needs to be done in collaboration with our students and teachers.
Adam Sorenson: During the pandemic the school districts budget has seen a surplus due to not having schools open and operating and the cost savings that come along with that. I would propose that the surplus in budget money created during the pandemic be used to help our schools provide the needed protection so our students can return to full time in classroom instruction. To go along with school budgets I believe the budget for the GBSD needs to be spent more responsibly. With the recent bond measures approved I believe that this money can be spent more responsibly while still providing our students with the best education possible.