Fourth in a series
Re “Paspalis Had Hoped ‘Byzantine’ Ed Code Would Be Simplified”
[img]1805|right|Ms. Kathy Paspalis||no_popup[/img]For the last two years of her first term on the School Board, Kathy Paspalis, attorney who is running for re-election, has been its most unique member – the only non-educator.
She acknowledges that her four years have been a heavy learning experience, and rewarding.
She immediately established a reputation for thoughtfulness and steel-strength opinions, a tough tandem to counter.
What is Ms. Paspalis’s opinion of Gov. Brown’s controversial edict that more funding should be channeled to school districts with a preponderance of English learners and children from poor families?
“I look at the structure of his plan,” she says. “It is not that realistic, and it is a little too rigid.
“I was talking to (state) Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Santa Monica) about this at a meeting, and I gave him some thoughts about that.
“The other part you don’t want to get into trouble with is this:
“Getting money for (enrolling) English learners and trying to hold onto them as English learners rather than converting them into English speakers. You want them to become proficient. You don’t want to keep them categorized as ‘learners’ to get that extra money.”
Should English learners be forced to master the new language within a prescribed period?
“I don’t think you can use the word ‘forced,’” Ms. Paspalis said. “That is a goal, though. Some kids will pick up a language quickly. Depends on the child.
“And that is the other piece of this. “You have to address each child individually.”
Is it fair of Gov. Brown to punish high achieving schools by withholding some funding from them, directing it instead toward troubled campuses?
It Is Not a Penalty
“I don’t think he is punishing them,” Ms. Paspalis said. “They still get their ADA (Average Daily Attendance) base. Only additional money is being given to others. It doesn’t change the base. So it is not punitive in the sense that it is being taken away.”
She concurs with the governor’s stance.
“I do think it costs more to deal with those issues,” Ms. Paspalis said. “When you have a child who is poor, comes in and maybe has not had breakfast, it is difficult to learn when you haven’t eaten. Just start right there.”
Regarding the recent LAUSD flap over whether breakfast should be served in class or was too disruptive, Ms. Paspalis sided with the students. “Those kids need breakfast,” the mother of twins firmly said. “I am sorry. Find a way to do it before class, or add minutes at the end of the day. I don’t think it is that difficult to work around feeding a kid breakfast. Otherwise, the child is not going to learn. This is not rocket science.
“The pushback from the (LAUSD) Teachers Union annoyed me. These students are human beings, individuals. Whomever the union leaders are, the pushback is silly.”
(To be continued)
