School Board Candidate Endorsements Announced

The Natomas TA Political Action Committee (PAC) interviewed all six of the school board candidates running for this November's election and based on the interview questions (listed below), have decided to endorse the following three candidates:
Bruce Roberts, Sue Heredia and Jules Tran.

For a list of questions we asked candidates, please see the list below. These questions will show you what the Natomas Teachers' Association's values and priorities are. Please visit our booth at the Celebrate Natomas event this Saturday for more information.

Interview Questions:
1. Why are you running for the Natomas School Board? What do you hope to add to make this district better?
2. What do you feel are the greatest strengths and the greatest weaknesses of the Natomas Unified School District?
3. What school board decision in the past three years would you change and why?
4. Many parents are concerned especially at the secondary level about the safety of the schools. What plans do you have to support resolutions that will increase safety in the schools?
5. Teacher morale is very important to the success of our students’ educational programs. How would you improve teacher morale?
6. We believe retaining high quality, dedicated teachers is of great importance to the health of our district; however, we have one of the worst turnover rates in the area. What is your plan to reverse this trend?
7. If elected to the school board, what plans do you have to improve teacher and parent communication and support throughout the district?
8. As a school board member, you will receive the majority of your information regarding the state of the district from the administration, via their written reports and in the monthly closed session meetings. What are your plans to look beyond the administration and seek out other perspectives on important issues?
9. Often, as a board member, you will have an individual opinion that may conflict with other board members, the administration or teachers. How do you assert yourself under this kind of pressure?
10. NTA is concerned about the proliferation of charter schools in our district. They take away facility and ADA revenue from our schools. What is your view on charter schools and what kind of accountability do they have to the Natomas School Board?
11. Strategy Four of the District’s Strategic Plan calls for “consistently communicating information, increasing public awareness and soliciting public support.” What plans do you have to showcase the Natomas schools to the public?
12. NTA holds regularly schedule monthly meeting with board members. Would you uphold this tradition to meet with us monthly?
13. Teacher’s salaries can help retain well-qualified people and help attract well-qualified teachers to the district. As far as salaries go, our district has a low ranking when compared to surrounding districts. How important are teacher’s salaries are when compared to the other important budget issues?