SDUHSD Board candidate: Lucile Lynch

Name: Lucile Lynch

Occupation: Parent, attorney, former small business owner and education advocate

Education: UCLA, B.A. Political Science 1983; Univ. of Pittsburgh, Juris Doctorate 1988

Community Service: Service Currently: SDUHSD Pool Feasibility Committee, SDUHSD Special Education Forum/Committee, Coach for the Miracle League San Diego and volunteer education advocate for low income families and families of students with special needs.

Previously: CAC Executive Board for the 14 public school consortium NCCSE.org, Board for Philadelphia City Sail (a nonprofit that provided science, math and vocational instruction to socioeconomically disadvantaged youth), PTA Board for El Camino Creek Elementary (ECC), EUSD’s CAC parent rep., EUSD’s Futuring Committee, ECC’s Red Ribbon Committee, Reflections Art Committee, Arts Attack, Jog-A-Thon fundraiser and yard duty, interim parent liaison for Maverick Athletic Boosters for LCC.

1.) What do you think are the biggest issues facing the San Dieguito Union High School District?

The district recently announced a $4 million surplus, years of surpluses and the “highest reserves ever.” And yet, $2.2 million has been reduced from this year’s budget for supplies and materials. Career pathway courses and electives were not fully funded. Our families should not be funding school essentials such as supplies, courses or computers when such surpluses exist.

Our teachers’ contract eliminated class size maximums even though our class sizes already significantly exceed the national average. Many classes are now in the 40s.

We must better equip our students for the 21st century workplace using innovative instructional models.

2. How would you propose to address those issues?

We need a policy that prioritizes funding and school essentials so that these are paid for when surpluses are realized instead of shifting these costs to our families.

School funding requests should be presented before the board to ensure that funding is allocated when possible and more transparent.

Class size maximums must be reinstated in the contract (considered a best practice by the California Teachers Association) for better teacher/student engagement opportunities.

We need to fund career pathways in our schools and use “linked learning” to offer industry-themed/work-based learning and intensive support to increase postsecondary options for students of all levels.

3. Do you agree with the way the San Dieguito Union High School District operates? If not, what changes do you think need to be made.

The two incumbents, one with 20 years (5 terms) and the other with 12 years (3 terms), have lost their objectivity and underestimate student needs.

A master contract must have class size maximums and no open-ended salary guarantees.

The district must pay for funding of materials and supplies and all courses in our schools when multi-million dollar surpluses exist.

The historic underperformance of certain student sub-groups must be more effectively addressed and not overshadowed by the successes of our outstanding students.

As a parent of a child in the district, I am affected, accessible and accountable.