Q & A with John Lee Evans
On Running for San Diego School Board in 2008

Why are you running for school board?

I believe that public education is the foundation of our democracy, the engine of our economy and the best place to create a level playing field for all.   

So isn’t that happening now?

Our economy suffers when a large portion of our students graduate without 21st century literacy.  Our democracy suffers when our students do not learn to be critical thinkers, but rather robotic test-takers.  As Americans we believe in fairness, but the current achievement gap shows we have a long way to go in creating a level playing field. 

What is the biggest problem facing San Diego schools?

The current crisis is due to the very severe budget cuts proposed by the Governor.  An across-the- board 10 percent cut is equivalent to shutting down all the schools in the state for an entire month.  This is unconscionable.  The very future of public education is at stake.  We run the risk of becoming like Third World countries where an elite few attend privileged private schools and everyone else attends underfunded public schools.  

But isn’t this a problem for the Governor and the legislature?  The School Board doesn’t control the state budget.

Yes, the budget is subject to approval by the Governor and the legislature.  However, the voters passed Proposition 98 to provide minimal stability in school funding, a floor if you will.  The proposal now disregards that. Our school board needs to speak much more loudly in Sacramento about the budget.  We are the second largest district in the state and one of the largest in the nation.  Our school board should be leading and uniting the entire community in this effort.  Unfortunately, by giving out pink slips to 900 teachers the Board has been too willing to do what the Governor wants.  It’s also interesting that other large districts, such as Long Beach have found ways to make cuts without laying off teachers. 

How are you different from your opponent on this issue?

Mitz Lee did not support the protection of Proposition 98 funding in 2005.  In 2008 she did not vote with the other Board members to renounce the Governor’s budget cuts.  But she did vote to lay off 900 teachers.  These three votes are very telling. 

But there are many other important issues that are barely being discussed.  For example, in some of our local schools more than one third of the students do not graduate.  We get so wrapped up in comparing schools’ standardized test scores that we are ignoring the hundreds who are falling through the cracks. 
 

What are the other problems that you want to address? 

First, we need to put the “neighborhood” back into our public schools.  Each school cluster must have the autonomy to develop the schools that the community wants, especially if there are parents, teachers, neighbors and seniors who are willing to join forces to make this happen.  A true neighborhood school will be a lifelong learning center that partners with parents to educate children.  People should not have to travel outside their neighborhood to find a school that meets the standards of a world-class city.  We need community solutions. 

Second, we need to take a serious look at teacher recruitment and retention.  Nearly half of our teachers are going to be retiring in the next several years.  The tragedy of the current teacher layoffs is that some of the most dedicated and enthusiastic young teachers may lose their jobs just as we need to begin to replace the older ones.  We can recruit the best and the brightest by partnering with local universities by providing financial assistance to future teachers from underrepresented communities.  Of course, we will attract the cream of the crop to our district by offering competitive salaries and strong support for the challenges in the neediest schools. 

Third, we need to move our educational system into the 21st century by adopting the most modern technology.  We can’t afford not to.  We will be left behind in the global marketplace.  The old literacy is not going to work. 

What do you mean by 21st century literacy?

Almost any fact in the world can be accessed through Google.  The pace of change in our world is too fast to limit our students to basic facts.  Students must learn to navigate through a wealth of information.  They need to have critical thinking skills to sort it all out.  Literacy is much more than learning to read and write.  It is about taking information and acting upon our world.  21st century literacy is a combination of critical and creative thinking accompanied by technology. 

What do you think about No Child Left Behind?

No Child Left Behind is based upon a noble idea.  It has also provided some limited data about school performance.  But it has actually been punitive rather than helpful to those schools that are struggling.  As a psychologist I know that testing is used for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment planning. We could use modern technology to focus on the progress of each individual student.  Then it could be truly prescriptive.  The problem with NCLB is that it focuses on schools rather than on children.  Tests should not be used to punish schools, but rather to assist teachers in improving their instruction with each student. 

Why do you think that we need change on the school board now?

First of all, San Diego is on its third Superintendent in three years.  We had to buy out the contract of one Superintendent and the next one left early.  Why?  The School Board must be held accountable.  One of the most crucial tasks of the school board is to select the Superintendent and the San Diego Board has had difficulty getting it right.  Unfortunately, the San Diego Board has long had a reputation of operating under conflict rather than collaboration.  With my background as a psychologist, an educator, a parent, a Peace Corps volunteer and a businessman I believe that I have the ability to listen, learn and lead.  It’s time for San Diego schools to head in a new direction.  It must start with change on the School Board.