☆ FUHSD board candidates dissect district’s successes

Ranked #9 in the Golden State, the Fremont Union High School District is a renowned leader in test scores, graduation rates, and course offerings. All FUHSD board candidates (Kou, Arness, Price, Kim, and Nakano-Matsumoto) identify how the district got to this point — and how they’ll continue cultivating success when elected. An Opp Now exclusive.

Opportunity Now: The Fremont Union High School District, #9 in California, is acclaimed across the Golden State for its high test scores, graduation rate, and overall range of classes and academic experiences. What policy and governance decisions got us to this point? And what will you focus on improving as a board member?

Stanley Kou: High caliber teachers and staff, dedicated parents, and visionary leaders have long been committed to high achievement for all students — including those not yet experiencing success. A concrete example is FUHSD's focus on curriculum alignment where students in the same course achieve common essential learnings. Teacher collaboration and robust professional development efforts support this work.

Additionally, structures have been built so every student feels safe and supported, both academically and socially. This climate of student success is achieved in part through tiered interventions with teachers, para-educators, administrators, psychologists, counselors working together to ensure healthy outcomes for students.

Further, the District has long been committed to parent, student, and civic engagement. As a key institution in the community, FUHSD continually nurtures partnerships, listening to all constituents so that excellence in education and opportunity for all is sustained.

As a board member, I’d focus on the following:

Equity: I will help ensure that EVERY student reaches their full academic potential. This means supporting the success of disadvantaged students and permanently erasing the achievement gap.

Excellence: I will support schools to focus on student success. Currently, the school District has a 96% graduation rate. I’d focus on improving the graduation rate by at least 1%.

Wellness: As we emerge from the pandemic, I’d focus on the mental and social emotional health and well-being of students and employees by making sure that the school District has enough qualified professionals at every school and site.

Andy Arness: High test scores are wonderful! But at what price? Too many of our students are in great distress and at the breaking point! Learning should be FUN and REWARDING — with lots of GREAT INCENTIVES — while they're THRIVING and ACHIEVING! 

High Graduation rate (96%)! We'll take it! But what about the approximate 425 students that didn't graduate? Our motto should be: “It's one for all and all for one! One School District functioning as one unit with the goal of helping every student to reach their full potential, helping them to find the greatness that is in them, helping them to learn important lifelong lessons, helping them to make as many wonderful memories and friendships as possible for a lifetime, and helping ALL of the students to be 100% ready for college! We leave no Student behind!”

 My focus for improving the FUHSD — Morale and Homework! Morale: Every single student should KNOW and FEEL — without question — that they belong and that they play a very important part in the overall success of THEIR school! Great MORALE is essential for any winning team! HOMEWORK: I am very concerned that there is just too much unnecessary homework being assigned! It's like a FLASH FLOOD every day for some of the students! Not good, not healthy — especially for their family life! If you overwork an athlete consistently, their performance will go down and it will stay there. Recovery time is essential! The same is true for studying. Even a sponge can only absorb so much water at a time.

We can do better together! I love the FUHSD! My siblings and I are a product of the FUHSD! I have worked for the FUHSD as a winning and championship coach! 

My Facebook page: Andrew Aaron Arness

Linda Price: FUHSD realizes that not all students learn in the same way. In addition to providing an individualized pathway to learning and success for every student, FUHSD also provides alternative educational opportunities — Middle College, where students attend some classes at DeAnza College and earn HS and college credit. The College Now program is available to HS Sr’s, where they can earn up to 1 year of college credit. The District also has a number of programs to assist students that have special needs. What got the District to this broad range of programs is multifaceted. The teachers, staff, management/administration and Board, along with the students and parents, all have contributed to the extent necessary to understand and see the need to take this approach to providing the vast array of offerings. My concerns are declining enrollment, family input to curriculum, complete transparency, budget transparency, health and well being of students/parents, teacher compensation, and open communication throughout the District. No matter what programs are put in place, the number 1 thing to keep in mind is the Students. Will it help them succeed?

Rosa Kim: What policy and governance decisions worked:

FUHSD is known for high academic achievement, including a 96% graduation rate. Behind the scenes, many efforts have supported our students’ success. First, our district has pursued a Comprehensive High School Model, offering various programs aimed at providing a holistic education for all students. Second, a critical part of staff professional development is our collective professional culture, including team collaboration across courses. We currently hold two weekly staff collaborations and professional development initiatives including our New Teacher Induction Program, Equity in Action, Coaching Skills for Leaders, and subject-specific workshops. Third, productive relationships and revenue sharing with employee groups are the foundation for our district governance. Lastly, we have pursued creative and conservative fiscal management that allows us to provide students with the resources they need.

What I will focus on improving as a board member:

Our district’s core beliefs include both equity and excellence. I will continue to support and encourage every student to pursue success in their academic journey. This requires providing strong support for students’ social and emotional wellbeing. Our district puts significant effort into Social and Emotional Learning, and I will continue to prioritize strengthening this effort. In addition, we currently face declining student enrollment. As a community-funded district, our enrollment is directly tied to our ability to maintain a comprehensive high school model. Balancing enrollment among FUHSD schools and retaining our dedicated teachers will therefore be priorities for the district. Working with community members and implementing their ideas will help to address this issue in an effective manner. I truly believe more inclusive outreach will allow the district to benefit from the diverse perspectives in our community. Constantly seeking out, listening to, and implementing the interests of the community will be the foundation of my work on the board.

Naomi Nakano-Matsumoto: FUHSD prides itself in our students, teachers/staff, and our community that has built and sustained a reputation as a ‘destination school district’. Our Board has worked to create a collaborative, trusted, and respected partnership within the entire district. In my first term as a Trustee, I see that there have been many years of a solid foundation built between the Superintendent and her team with the Board and how the district’s values of excellence and equity are woven into all aspects of the districts.

As a Trustee, my focus has been on switching the words excellence and equity to equity and excellence. I believe that without equity, we can't achieve excellence. Decisions that were made over 40 years ago in the closing of a high school in an under-resourced community still have ramifications today. As our enrollment declines in our southern communities, north Sunnyvale is projected to grow. Currently, there are no high schools in FUHSD north of Fremont Avenue. The need for northern representation is even more critical today as we look to build for the future. I have worked tirelessly to ensure that FUHSD is well represented and connected to the Sunnyvale community. In addition, I worked very hard in partnership with many community members, to identify and support a candidate to run for the FUHSD board this year. Unfortunately, all those great possible candidates were not able to run this election, but I have committed to getting them ready for 2024!!

I will champion equity, representation, belonging, safety, health, and well-being, so that educational success is achieved for all students with educational options and opportunities that meet each student’s needs.

I am very committed to ensuring that all of our students are represented, and their voices/concerns heard, as a true equity partner on the board. 

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