PLATFORM
"We need people that are student and community focused. Someone that can connect with the youth of today and future generations of tomorrow. I believe that I have the ability to work across the aisle and collaborate with various perspectives. I am adaptive, ambitious, and always think of the greater good. Having the unique experience of being a recent graduate of our district and former student board member, has shown me what we lack. We need to better suit the needs of our community and of our students. It's time for change. It's time for 21st Century Leadership!"
-Francisco Gutierrez
My Priorities
Financial Responsibility
In our current economic climate, we need to be financially responsible and make decisions that will benefit our students first. Currently, the Board approved more raises which are portrayed as vacation amendments for ALL THREE Assistant Superintendents while we are in a pandemic crisis. The Board has also approved at their latest meeting a 1% salary increase for all unrepresented management employees after already approving the vacation amendments! We need financial responsibility and stop more raises to district workers that already make a good salary. We need to focus our funds on our students for better programs and safety measures that will protect them against this pandemic.
As your board member, I will stand up against these kinds of unnecessary raises and will be your voice and address your concerns. I will be open to the community and hear suggestions and concerns on how our fiscal budget is being spent. I will welcome your feedback and will be transparent. Our funds need to be handled better not only in our district but in each and every school.
Better Teacher/Staff Relations between District
During my time as a student and student board member at WCUSD, I was exposed to broken and some times unfriendly relationships that district workers (including teachers and staff) had with the "higher ups". I am running to change that relationship, find the core of the problem and work collaboratively with my fellow board members and community to fix it. It is time to really see what needs fixing and it is time for someone to stand up against it. As your broad member, I promise to tackle any workplace issues that may arise. In order for us to give our students the most professional and highest quality education, we need to treat our teachers, staff, district workers, and everyone equally and with respect. We need to be the example!
New 21st Century Leadership
Yes I am young, and to some I may be inexperienced, but I assure you that my age does not define my ability to lead with a professional, compassionate, and realistic mindset. I have innovative ideas for our district, like implementing new programs that will better prepare our students for the REAL world. I want to effectuate certification programs so students can graduate in an area that they are passionate about! I want to add new things so students have options because not everyone chooses the same path. If we provide students with tools early in their development and educational careers, it can greatly benefit their success in the future. I am running as a 21st Century Leader because I experience first hand each and every day the struggles students will face not only in college but in the workforce. It is time that we adapt our educational approach to meet those demands today, not later.
Student Health and Safety
This pandemic has changed every aspect of the way we live. Things will never be the same moving forward as much as we would want them to be. That is why we need leaders that can quickly adapt and take action to protect the health and safety of our students. Classrooms are not adequately equipped to tackle this pandemic and there will be major changes to assure the health and safety of our students and staff in the near future.
I want to work closely with teachers and school administrators, so we can either invest in new classrooms, technologies, or continue remote learning until we can fully adapt to this pandemic. Like I said, when we are stronger together, we can cultivate a brighter future for our communities and students. This will be a huge concern not only right now, but in the years to come as well. I plan to keep this issue at the forefront of my time as your school board member because our student's safety is the utmost priority no matter the cost!
Student and Community Involvement
Student and Community involvement is personal and at the core of why I am running. We need to really be active in the community and in the lives of our students. I remember when I was in high school my teachers and counselors were my go to people for anything I needed. In education, people do it not for the money but because of the passion they have for teaching. I wholeheartedly appreciate all the hard work my teachers did for me and for every student in my school. They are the reason why I am running because they inspired me and told me to never give up on what you believe in.
As school board member I want the district and board to be more involved with students, get to know them and their stories because we serve them. I also want to build stronger ties between the district and community because the district can only be as strong as its community. The community is the pillar of every successful school district and we need that bond. I will be the community's voice, serving you and your children. The power of community and personal relationships should never be underestimated.