The Coast News has asked the candidates running for the Del Mar Union High School District board of trustees to participate in a questionnaire about their stances on local issues ahead of the November election.
Two incumbents and four challengers are running for three at-large school board seats. Candidates include incumbent Gee Wah Mok, incumbent Alan Kholos (who was appointed in 2023), parent Danielle Roybal, parent Genevieve Goldstone, retired teacher William Porter III, and Del Mar Schools Education Foundation Vice President Helen Doyle. The top three vote-getters will be elected to the board.
All candidates except Porter and Mok responded to the questionnaire. Answers for each candidate are outlined below:
Q: As a school board member, what strategies would you explore/implement to address declining enrollment in your district?
DOYLE: While there are natural fluctuations in birth rates, I am concerned that a growing percentage of families are deciding to send their children to alternate schools. DMUSD should, as much as possible, speak with families to determine why they leave. When patterns arise, DMUSD should take action to systemically address the issue.
DMUSD is doing many things to provide a wonderful education for our children, but when those intentions do not meet the student experience, action needs to be taken. Allowing space for effective parent, teacher, and student feedback is critical in building the trust that will help retain our students and build a stronger community.
GOLDSTONE: As a basic aid district, our funding is not dependent upon enrollment. Some candidates see the continuing declines as a positive since it means lower class sizes. I see the declines as a sign of the growing lack of trust in our local public schools.
Many parents chose to move into this area specifically because of the reputation of the schools, but more and more have been disappointed and are choosing to pull their children out of DMUSD. I will advocate for a survey of all current and recently enrolled parents to seek feedback to help guide new board priorities.
Based on their input, I would seek opportunities to enhance the student experience, including enrichment opportunities for academically advanced students and training for teachers who work with students with special needs. I would like to see greater collaboration between the district, teachers, and parents.
KHOLOS: Housing prices across California have increased significantly in recent years. As a result, families are leaving the state, which leads to declines in student enrollment. As a board member, I am actively monitoring the changes in enrollment and the increases in property tax revenue available to the District.
I am actively engaged in strategic budgeting to ensure that we continue to provide high-quality education programs to our students.
ROYBAL: According to DMUSD-reported data, enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year was 3,748 students, down from 3,895 the previous year. Data from 2017-2018 show enrollment at 4,453. Enrollment is definitely trending in the wrong direction. Speaking to parents, there is distrust circulating around DMUSD and its ability to best serve the children of the community. As a result, many parents are opting for private school.
Even DMUSD school board President Gee Wah Mok and candidate for school board/DMSEF Vice President Helen Doyle send at least one of their children to private school. We need to remain competitive in this arena and serve all children: gifted, special needs and otherwise. I would apply for an International Baccalaureate Program (IB) for elementary-aged students and follow the process to be certified. Del Mar Union parents expect more. We need to rise to the occasion.
Q: What is your stance on AB 1955, which prohibits school districts from adopting or enforcing policies that would require employees to disclose information about a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression to anyone without the student’s permission?
DOYLE: Schools should follow AB 1955 and not disclose a student’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to anyone without the student’s permission. This policy is in accordance with best student mental health practices.
GOLDSTONE: I support the implementation of AB 1955. This law is designed to protect vulnerable LGBTQ youth, especially those in high school, who are at greater risk of being kicked out of their homes and experiencing homelessness.
They are also at a greater risk of suicide. Schools provide a vital safety net. There are ways for schools to communicate with parents if concerns arise, such as bullying, that do not out young people before they are ready to deal with the full consequences at home. I trust young people to know when and to whom to show their full selves.
If a parent is sensitive to who their child is, if they create safe and accepting homes that demonstrate respect for all people, even if they would make different choices themselves, then there is little need to worry that the school will learn something about their child before they do.
KHOLOS: Part of the District’s new strategic plan includes a new priority section on a Responsive and Caring Culture that focuses on our elementary-age students feeling welcomed and understood. I support the District’s approach to being partners with parents. Based on the close connection between parents, students and teachers in our small-class environments, it is more likely that parents will notify teachers or counselors of sexual orientation or gender identity issues for their children.
ROYBAL: I would follow the law. This bill became law in July, 2024. As a board member, failing to follow the law will increase litigation. I realize this is a hot topic for many people; however, as a board member, you are entrusted to follow the law. If the community consensus is otherwise, the law would need to be ratified.
Moreover, I believe children thrive in environments where they feel safe and supported. In the end, what matters most is to have a child that is well-adjusted and in a good mental state. If you look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the most basic needs are food, water and safety, but it also includes friendship, family, and a sense of connection.
Q: What are ways you can save taxpayer dollars and/or raise revenue for the district as a school board official?
DOYLE: DMUSD is a Basic Aid district, meaning that funding is fixed and not attendance-based, like most school districts. I would like to see more budget transparency coupled with district priorities that affect funding. For instance, our district has kept lower class sizes and smaller neighborhood schools despite the higher price tag.
The community should have access to how much this costs to better understand where our money is going. Currently, more than 80% of DMUSD’s budget is spent on personnel. Should cuts need to be made, every effort should be made to keep them from the classroom and to retain staff. As for raising revenue, I would like to see advocacy at the state level for additional funds to Basic Aid districts for TK.
GOLDSTONE: DMUSD has legal costs equal to — and sometimes more than — those of SDUHSD despite having a quarter of the number of students. We should prioritize working with parents to resolve disagreements without the need for lawsuits or California Department of Education complaints.
Thus, it is important that DMUSD become fully compliant with all educational code provisions. This will allow DMUSD to refocus taxpayer dollars on valuable educational offerings, such as permanent STEAM+ teachers, academic support — including tutoring — for students who could benefit from such services, and enrichment opportunities for the academically advanced.
Additionally, I will seek an audit to examine the district’s expenditures and revenue streams, as such information should be fully available to the public. Increasing financial transparency is one of my top priorities and will enhance community trust, which will lead to greater investment from the public, thus bolstering opportunities for students.
KHOLOS: During both of my terms on the school board, I have been a voice of fiscal responsibility to ensure that our taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently on the education of our children. I use my involvement with Schools for Sound Finance and the Legislative Action Network to advocate for new revenue sources, including state funds for Transitional Kindergarten.
I also strongly support the efforts of the Del Mar Schools Education Foundation to raise funds for STEAM+ programs.
ROYBAL: It’s imperative that we are prudent with the current budget. Each year, we are left with a very healthy reserve that we aren’t effectively utilizing. The current general fund reserve is $21 million; this translates to a 28% reserve. The California Department of Education (CDE) places a restriction of no more than 10% to be left in the general fund. The CDE does this in order to ensure the funds are dispersed to children.
The exception to this is community-funded districts such as DMUSD. However, these districts receive EVEN more funding (through the Local Control Funding Formula), than attendance based districts. In other words, DMUSD receives even more funding through our property taxes/federal/state aid, and they would through student attendance. I would follow CDE guidelines with a healthy buffer. This would allow DMUSD to provide additional services such as STEAM+ and add Transitional Kindergarten (TK).
Q: The state requires all elementary school districts to offer transitional kindergarten, or TK, as a precursor to regular kindergarten for all four-year-olds by 2025-26. As of this fall, DMUSD is offering early childhood education only for foster, homeless and income-eligible students who turn four years old by Sept. 1. Would you support rolling out TK to all four-year-olds in the district as required by the state?
DOYLE: I appreciate the beginning of DMUSD’s TK program and would advocate for its expansion. Because our funding model does not provide additional funds for additional students, adding these classes will have to be done with careful budget consideration.
While there is currently state funding for TK in most districts, I would advocate at the state level to expand that funding to Basic Aid districts. TK classrooms also have requirements for in-classroom bathrooms, so future improvements to our schools should take into consideration the long-term goal of a full TK program by building the required infrastructure.
GOLDSTONE: Yes, absolutely. DMUSD leaders must have the mindset and values to make forward-thinking decisions, which includes offering TK to our full community. Providing TK to local children will help to build community, strengthen neighborhood connections, and nurture a relationship with DMUSD early in a child’s educational trajectory. Investing in the community means the community will invest in DMUSD.
The recent decline in STEAM+ donations to DMSEF is a clear indicator of the decreasing sense of trust and, therefore, investment that local parents feel in DMUSD schools and leadership. As a board trustee, I will amplify and support parent voices.
KHOLOS: Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is only required for districts that receive state funds for TK. As a community-funded district, we are not eligible to receive state funds for TK. I use my involvement with Schools for Sound Finance and the Legislative Action Network to advocate, along with other community-funded districts, for state funding to offer TK for families in our district.
ROYBAL: Absolutely. As it currently stands, DMUSD is only allowing Transitional Kindergarten (TK) for low-income, homeless, or foster youth. I believe DMUSD should open up TK for all children. Further, I believe the way TK currently stands in DMUSD is discriminatory as it “singles out” those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Let’s work with our community to best support the children. After all, TK provides a strong foundation for educational success as it helps prepare children for the elementary school experience. This is a win-win for the community and teachers. Not to mention that the community has been asking for TK within DMUSD for years. Let’s listen to the community.
Q: Community members have criticized the district’s high spending on special education litigation and treatment of special education families. Last year, DMUSD was found to be out of compliance with federal law after denying parents’ requests for independent assessments. How do you plan to address these concerns?
DOYLE: DMUSD should comply with all federal laws and be proactive in meeting every student’s needs. Whether a student requires in-class aid or a faster-paced math curriculum, providing the necessary support is best for the student, teachers and classroom communities.
DMUSD’s 5-year plan, Destination 2028, includes having special needs site liaisons. I look forward to seeing the implementation of that position and how it helps families to navigate the Individual Education Program and 504 Plan processes. This is another arena where having open and effective communication with all parties is critical.
GOLDSTONE: These two issues are key priorities for me as they demonstrate not only an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars meant for educating students but also a discriminatory, unethical, and illegal approach to students with special needs. Public schools should reflect the full diversity of our communities. I will seek a forensic audit of all district expenditures, including legal fees spent on special education cases.
This information will inform the way the trustees can hold the district accountable when it is not in compliance with laws and ensure that the district begins following the law. I will also advocate for required professional development for all teachers and staff on how to understand and best support neurodiverse students. As our frontline workers, teachers deserve to have the training and tools they need in order to modulate their teaching to meet each child’s needs.
KHOLOS: The vast majority of families are pleased with the District’s special education programs and staff. During my current term on the board, I have prioritized the needs of our special education families. I know from personal experience the difficult journey of determining the appropriate support for the needs of our own children.
I meet personally with parents to address their questions regarding our special education programs and introduce them to resources in the District and the broader community, including the North County Consortium for Special Education (NCSSE).
I also collaborate with neighboring districts to introduce support groups for our families and other best practices. The District has also introduced a program of parent liaisons from each school site to collaborate with special education leadership. During my current Board term, I have seen a decrease in legal fees, and am confident with the District’s compliance with federal and state law.
ROYBAL: I actually filed the complaint against DMUSD when I noticed issues weren’t being addressed. I am a mother of a neuro-diverse child and I understand special education law. I made public comments at board meetings for months asking the board to fix the issues along with recommendations for remedy. Unfortunately, with two lawyers on the board, they failed to act (one of them, attorney Gee Wah Mok, is seeking re-election this November).
When the board failed to act, I filed the complaint. Although I could have filed it for just one student, I partnered with my lawyer to cover all children. Voters can expect this same dedication while I am on the board. I will work with the community to ensure children are properly supported, dedicate a community liaison to ensure we are properly following the law and ensure the administration team is properly versed in special education law.
