First of two parts
[img]2124|right|Claudia Vizcarra||no_popup[/img]Even after it became obvious on Election Night that newcomer Claudia Vizcarra would not win a School Board seat, her spirits were proudly airborne.
“I feel great,” she said in greeting a visitor to her after-party. “I had a wonderful campaign. We energized a lot of people who believe in our values.”
Before striking a blow for equity in education for Culver City students – righting a situation she believes exists today – Ms. Vizcarra wanted to briefly reflect on the present events.
A day before, if the education policy expert had been told she would finish directly behind Karlo Silbiger, the jubilation would have resounded all the way to her hometown of Mexico City.
Instead, she placed fifth with a noteworthy 1218, the last serious votegetter in a field of seven.
The Vizcarra evening took a turn for the soberly serious – perhaps ringing the bell for her next campaign – when she identified her most significant values.
“Every child, no matter what neighborhood they live in, no matter the family’s income, no matter the color of their skin, has the right to the highest quality education,” Ms. Vizcarra said.
Does she think that is understood today in the Culver City Unified School District?
“No,” came her direct response.
“It varies in our schools, depending on how much money parents at a school are able to raise.
“It affects the education of our children – there is no doubt in my mind,” said the mother of two Culver City students.
Gaining an equal quality education at all Culver City schools is an elusive target, she indicated.
Carefully choosing her words and her distinctions, Ms. Vizcarra said that “our District employees and our administration provide, absolutely, the best they can.
“When you have a school able to raise an exorbitant amount, compared with other schools, there is no doubt in my mind that it creates different conditions.”
(To be continued)
