Improve Test Scores & Comprehensive Reform

By Ken Mettler

We need to have higher expectations and not settle for business as usual.

Let me assure you, money is not the answer to solving the problems in our education system.

• Spend tax dollars wisely.
• Ensure that resources are reaching the class room rather than expanding the bureaucracy.
• Parents need to be involved in their children's education and to set an example.

Sanger and Selma unified school districts in Fresno County have double the English Language Learners and triple the poverty rate, yet their high schools have a higher API ranking than both Liberty and Centennial High Schools in northwest Bakersfield. If Delano, Selma and Sanger can do it, so can KHSD.

Seven of the district's 15 high schools have failed to meet adequate yearly progress toward meeting the goals of No Child Left Behind for the last two years. Our board of trustees needs to be held accountable for the success of our kids.

• Why was a current board member allowed to spend over $36,000 of taxpayers' money to travel around the country?
• Are we hiring absolutely the best education administrators available from inside and outside the district?
• Why are 82% of KHSD students failing to meet university admission standards?
• Are our students with Learning Disabilities being served in the most effective and cost-efficient manner? We need to better serve the thousands of families in Kern County with Learning Disabled kids, while not wasting tax payer's monies.