Page 7 - Dinuba Sentinel 4-26-18 E-edition

The Dinuba Sentinel Community Thursday, April 26, 2018 | A7 Orosi principal moderates Tulare County Superintendent forum
By Rick Curiel Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
After 27 years and seven terms in office, Jim Vidak is finally stepping down as Tulare County Superintendent of School. This June, three administrators will be vying for the position, Tulare County Office of Education Deputy Superintendent Craig Wheaton, Exeter School District Superintendent Tim Hire and current administrator for Burton School District (west of Porterville) Anthony Martin.
Last Wednesday the Central Valley California Association of Latino Superintendents (CALSA) in collaboration with the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) and the Tulare County Hispanic Leadership Network (TCHLN)
gathered all three candidates for forum amongst their educational peers at the Fresno Pacific University Visalia Campus.
Moderating the event was Orosi High School principal Roberto Vaca, who is also the current president of CALSA. The forum consisted of questions from two well-established Valley educators, Dr. Luz Gonzalez, who is the Dean of Fresno State – Visalia Campus, and Dr. Ken Magdaleno, Director of Education Leadership at Fresno State.
Candidates fielded questions regarding their stance on bilingual education, how to address the needs of rural schools, reducing suspension rates, their strategies for raising student achievements and the greatest needs facing Latino students.
As for bilingual education, all three candidates agreed such programs are both needed and beneficial to all schools in the county. Hire said he would strengthen the program by staffing it appropriately with bilingual staff.
“Not all bilingual instructors are made for bilingual education,” said Hire. “I would see that we hire the most qualified people for the program.”
Martin praised a K-6 school in his district that is dual emersion and has had great results. He would like to expand the program to all needed districts.
Wheaton said of the matter, “language is an asset, it’s not a deficit.”
It was mentioned at the forum that approximately 30 percent of all students in Tulare County are English Learners.
In addressing the needs of smaller and rural schools, most agreed that programs and seminars available to larger schools should also be available to smaller schools without the need for long drives.
Wheaton praised the districts in the county for already doing a good job, as much of the county encompasses rural schools.
“What we have is really not duplicated in other counties,” said Wheaton.
Hire said it’s about getting out and meeting with the people in the rural districts to address their needs.
“We’re a people industry,” said Hire. “We need to meet the people where they are.”
Wheaton told how he grew up on a farm and rode his bike 30 to 40 minutes each day to school.
“I know what it’s like,” said Wheaton. “The rural districts need our support... and I believe firmly in local control.”
When speaking of strategies to raise student achievement, Wheaton posed a question to the audience, “How do we ignite the passion in our students?” He added, “They are not one size fits all.”
Hire argued that districts need to get students up and out of their seats.
“When we have active participants it allows them to be creative,” he said. “When we do this kids will rise to the occasion.”
Martin expressed a two-prong approach to raising achievement. The first is building relationships and communication and the second is valuing what each student brings to the table.
As for reducing suspension rates, all agreed that the problem
Above: Tulare County Superintendent candidates Tim Hire, left, Anthony Martin, center and Craig Wheaton, right, listen to a question by Vaca.
Left: Orosi High School Principal Robert Vaca moderated the event.
lies with the framework of relationships, whether they be at school or at home.
Said Hire of students' mentality, “Kids won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
He went on to express the growing need for mental health support as well as the need for having the presence of law enforcement.
Martin said suspensions should be the last resort when it comes to disciplining students. He pushed for a system that supports the students and increases their participation as opposed to decreasing it.
Wheaton agreed, saying,
Photos by Rick Curiel | The Sentinel A "Noche de oro gala" was held last Friday to fundraise for Cutler- Orosi Joint Unified School District. Far left: Entertainment for the
evening included a band.
Left: Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux speaks to the audience.
Right: Host Yolanda Valdez, Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District Superintendent, welcomes those in attendance.
“Being out of school is not the answer.”
But perhaps the most revealing answer came to the question regarding the greatest needs of Latino students. In his response, Hire told the story of a female high school soccer player who had the opportunity to play in a tournament in San Diego. However, because of the current immigration climate and because she did not have all her immigration paperwork in order, the student refused to go.
“We have students who are living in fear,” said Hire. “They need to know they’re protected. We need to help our students
and families feel safe.”
Hire added that the student
could have been scouted at the tournament, and possibly could have received a scholarship and full ride to college.
Martin expressed the need to eliminate our biases and build on the qualities of each student.
“Children are not empty vessels,” he said. “We need to build on the skills they walk through the door with.”
Wheaton said Latinos need more role models who are in leadership roles and said the county is doing well by improving in that area.
The California primary elections will be on June 5.
Photos by Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
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