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| Written by PI Editorial Board | |
| Saturday, 03 November 2007 | |
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Kelly, Cameron-Grice, Wells good fit for school board They might not receive much notice at times, but Patterson Unified School District’s board of trustees is charged with monumentally important work. As a body, the group aims to tackle immense challenges such as safety concerns, standardized test scores and budget shortfalls. Seven community members — four incumbents and three newcomers — have voiced an interest on serving on the board with the aim of improving the local school system. School board president Bruce Kelly and newcomers Cerise Cameron-Grice and Violet Wells all would be good picks. Kelly, who has served on the board for the past 13 years, brings with him an abundance of experience and a wide breadth of knowledge — not only about the local district, but the issues facing education on a state and national level. His concern and knowledge about statewide funding challenges is a huge asset, as is his passion for education. Cameron-Grice’s enthusiasm already has received attention from some district representatives, and she would bring a fresh perspective to the board as a commuting parent. Even without serving on the board, she’s made an impact through her volunteer work at Apricot Valley Elementary School, her work on a physical education and arts grant and her regular appearances at school board meetings. Her support of arts programs and other enrichment activities and her willingness to help with grants also make her a major asset. Wells also would offer a different perspective as a result of her work with the Westside Community Alliance, a group that works with local service agencies and aims to solve community problems. Her experiences there give her the ability to delve into possible root causes of behavioral issues and educational challenges, which often stem from problems in the home. Meanwhile, incumbents Bobby Yamamoto and Gilbert Lujan also share strong traits. Yamamoto has helped lead the charge on sports programs at Patterson High School and has the ear of many longtime residents, while Lujan displays gentle wisdom and an appreciation for education that stems from his experiences as an incoming immigrant many years ago. In fact, everyone who is running for a seat on the board should be commended for their interest. There’s little prestige to go along with school board positions — only the hopes that hard work and community service will translate into improvement of our schools. Kudos to all who are taking time away from their busy lives to make this community a better place.
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