Both sides of the political landscape can agree that Gen Z is having a rough time. Covid took in-person education away for one and a half years in our area. Our students are tied to their phones, and they are suffering from mental health issues and climbing suicide rates.
I know how hard it has been for them because I had a junior in high school in 2020. If you don’t have a Gen Z, please think back to a time when you just got your license, a car and your first job. You finally had the nerve to ask someone out for a date.
Now, at the same time, you are forced back to your room, told to stay away from everyone, and forced to do school through a screen.
Who was the voice of reason at school board meetings during that time? Michael Allman and other “independent” trustees. I listened to countless school board meetings, and I can assure you that the independent trustees listened to students and parents asking for schools to open.
Private schools were open in our area, so why couldn’t we? The teachers union-funded trustees were doing everything to keep the school remote. I would watch while a teachers union funded trustee haltingly read her vote to stay closed or kick the can down the road.
Fast-forward to 2024, to a school district with plans and money set aside for two pools (one in the North, one in the South). Shouldn’t a district on the ocean have pools? The independent trustees consistently voted “yes” (build the pools), while the teachers’ union trustees voted no or kicked the can down the road.
Most recently, California has decided that all public high schools need one semester of Ethnic Studies. SDUHSD decided to change one semester of 9th-grade English to support this change in curriculum. The teachers union trustees are voting it through so quickly, but the independent trustees are asking for more time to make sure it is implemented thoughtfully.
These are facts. You can look up the votes. You can watch recordings of board meetings. Do not listen to the rhetoric or fall for the teachers union commercials on TV. The independent trustees want to support teachers and students. The teachers union trustees want strength and money.
Please vote for independent candidates for both high school and elementary school districts. These independent trustees want to listen to students and parents. For SDUHSD, this is Michael Allman and Kelly Friis. For EUSD, this is Aimee Sproul and Monica Lee.
$.02,
Susan Siljander
Encinitas
