Position Paper

By Gwen Farrell

A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.

My past 20 years of service on the Westside Union School District Board of Trustees has prepared me with the expertise to meet the challenges that public schools will face given the current state budget crisis. My focus as a board member has been to help provide the ultimate learning environment for children. I have wanted to make a contribution by making a difference in the lives of children as they will be the leaders of tomorrow. I believe that if we don't make a difference in their lives then no one else will.

During my tenure on the Westside Union School District Board of Trustees the district has accomplished many difficult tasks. Among a few are:

The building of six new schools
Construction of a Maintenance and Warehouse
facility
Reconstruction of several older schools
Installation of computer and high-tech labs
Implementation of 20-1 classrooms
Implementation of a home schooling program
On going development of a district wide
comprehensive educational program
Implementation of a teacher support system
Provided libraries in all schools
Built a gymnasium at Del Sur School
Kept the district financially sound and free of
debt

Future Goals and Concerns

Within the next 10 years Westside will be faced with providing 9 new schools because of increased enrollment and with that will come the challenge of providing stable funding for not only the building program but to develop and fund educational programs. With the current state budget crisis districts throughout the state, including Westside, were forced to cut valuable programs. It is my goal that within the next few years, as money becomes available, that we re-implement our curriculum department, computer teachers and other staff hours that have been cut and to provide the necessary facilities that the district will need. It is my goal to provide both the certificated and classified personnel with the best possible salary and benefit package. And most of all is to continue to provide the children of Westside with the best possible instructional program.

It has always been my nature to work in a cooperative and collaborative mode to provide a partnership between the board, administration and the personnel of Westside Union School District. I have spent a large portion of my time as a board member lobbying through the California School Boards Association Delegate Assembly, the Antelope Valley School Boards Association, the Los Angeles County Trustees Association and our State Legislators to provide the best possible funding for facilities, programs, salaries and benefits for the student and staff of Westside.