Morongo Unified School District candidates Johnnie Ward, Jr., Karalee Hargrove, and incumbent Robert Hamilton tell us why they are right for the Area 1 position
As a former school district employee of MVUSD, my position required me to be involved in all the school board meetings (18 years of them!). During that time, I learned what the Board members can and can't do, as well as the inner workings of the entire district. Any board member should know that while their goal is student success - in all avenues - their primary focus will be on the oversight of the district, particularly in budgetary and personnel matters. The best board member is the one who understands that it is the CERTIFICATED and CLASSIFIED staff that need their support and understanding of their work. It is those two employee groups that have the most direct effect on the students. Unwieldy, or overpaid management does not benefit the students, nor the operations of the district. The board should, first and foremost, cut dross at the top, and then evaluate the needs at the bottom, and work towards not only having properly compensated staffing at the schools, but ensuring the service provision meets the needs at each site. Proper employee evaluations of competency and adherence to district regulations is a must. Ensure teachers have the resources they need to not only manage their classrooms, but engage their students, AND meet the learning criteria each one needs.
Each of these candidates have some valid points in certain areas, and each have something to contribute.
Since there are no applicants for areas 2 and 3, I would suggest that each of the candidates apply for appointment, and, regardless of the vote outcome, all be seated on the board.
And I'll be the consultant/contractor for the live streaming of the board meetings. I do have 18 years experience of video recording and broadcasting board meetings, plus another 2 years of same for city council meetings.
I have truly appreciated hearing from Robert Hamilton about his work advocating for students’ and families’ best interests during his tenure on the MUSD school board. Time and again Hamilton has thrown his support behind the foundational needs of this community instead of vowing to the popular vote or frivolous purchasing that benefits admins only. He is a strong advocate for Social Emotional Learning, which is the most basic and essential need in all districts, but especially in a district that has been plagued by bullying at such supremely high levels. This is an issue I hear from parents about on a near-constant basis.
I would also like to note my displeasure in seeing candidates make statements as Mr. Ward does here that try to paint education as something without worth, even while running for the school board. His comment above is both factually inaccurate and deeply disturbing, as he shares, “While my opponents were learning how to work with children, I was hands-on. I learned what the books can't teach you-the psychology and behavior of children that's only learned from hands-on experience.”
Mr. Ward, both of your opponents have been or are *currently* teaching. If you energy is being spent maligning your opponents it may be in your best interest to do research on their backgrounds. Parenting and teaching are truly some of the most “hands-on” professions there are. I appreciate the comprehensive experience that Robert Hamilton and Karalee Hargrove would bring to stewardship of a position on the MUSD school board, and the fact that they are both using their platforms to share information about current processes and enlighten those interested in learning more about how a school board functions. Education is an advantage, not a mark against them, and one that these two candidates also pair with a depth of experience.
I appreciate Ms. Hargrove for the experience she brings to her campaign. And based on all that I have learned from Mr. Hamilton during his tenure I feel confident in his ability to continue to fight for what our community needs.
As a former school district employee of MVUSD, my position required me to be involved in all the school board meetings (18 years of them!). During that time, I learned what the Board members can and can't do, as well as the inner workings of the entire district. Any board member should know that while their goal is student success - in all avenues - their primary focus will be on the oversight of the district, particularly in budgetary and personnel matters. The best board member is the one who understands that it is the CERTIFICATED and CLASSIFIED staff that need their support and understanding of their work. It is those two employee groups that have the most direct effect on the students. Unwieldy, or overpaid management does not benefit the students, nor the operations of the district. The board should, first and foremost, cut dross at the top, and then evaluate the needs at the bottom, and work towards not only having properly compensated staffing at the schools, but ensuring the service provision meets the needs at each site. Proper employee evaluations of competency and adherence to district regulations is a must. Ensure teachers have the resources they need to not only manage their classrooms, but engage their students, AND meet the learning criteria each one needs.
Each of these candidates have some valid points in certain areas, and each have something to contribute.
Since there are no applicants for areas 2 and 3, I would suggest that each of the candidates apply for appointment, and, regardless of the vote outcome, all be seated on the board.
And I'll be the consultant/contractor for the live streaming of the board meetings. I do have 18 years experience of video recording and broadcasting board meetings, plus another 2 years of same for city council meetings.
I have truly appreciated hearing from Robert Hamilton about his work advocating for students’ and families’ best interests during his tenure on the MUSD school board. Time and again Hamilton has thrown his support behind the foundational needs of this community instead of vowing to the popular vote or frivolous purchasing that benefits admins only. He is a strong advocate for Social Emotional Learning, which is the most basic and essential need in all districts, but especially in a district that has been plagued by bullying at such supremely high levels. This is an issue I hear from parents about on a near-constant basis.
I would also like to note my displeasure in seeing candidates make statements as Mr. Ward does here that try to paint education as something without worth, even while running for the school board. His comment above is both factually inaccurate and deeply disturbing, as he shares, “While my opponents were learning how to work with children, I was hands-on. I learned what the books can't teach you-the psychology and behavior of children that's only learned from hands-on experience.”
Mr. Ward, both of your opponents have been or are *currently* teaching. If you energy is being spent maligning your opponents it may be in your best interest to do research on their backgrounds. Parenting and teaching are truly some of the most “hands-on” professions there are. I appreciate the comprehensive experience that Robert Hamilton and Karalee Hargrove would bring to stewardship of a position on the MUSD school board, and the fact that they are both using their platforms to share information about current processes and enlighten those interested in learning more about how a school board functions. Education is an advantage, not a mark against them, and one that these two candidates also pair with a depth of experience.
I appreciate Ms. Hargrove for the experience she brings to her campaign. And based on all that I have learned from Mr. Hamilton during his tenure I feel confident in his ability to continue to fight for what our community needs.