Senior News February, 2002 Vol. 21. No.  2

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Eureka's gift to New York: Coast to Coast Quilters reach out to families in need

Remembering spirit: The Olympic Flame

Support the Senior Legislature: Remember Line 53 on your tax form

School superintendent

Sheriff candidates

Del Norte County: Humboldt man commutes to teach computers to visually impaired

Bladder Fitness #4 Change your foods, change your life

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School superintendent

The candidates are Carl Del Grande, a school administrator; and Garry Eagles, currently the Assistant Superintendent, Personnel/Administrative Services for the Humboldt County Office of Education. Senior News gave them the following questions and prints their answers with some editing because of space limitations.

1. How does our literacy rate compare with other counties, and what can you do to increase it?

Carl Del Grande: Ours is one of the highest in our state. The greatest gift we can give a child is the ability to read. I am committed to providing effective reading programs in our county schools, particularly in grades K-3. I have restructured the reading and language arts curriculum at several schools.

Garry Eagles: Fortunately, the literacy rate in our county exceeds the state average; however, we can improve that by giving early intervention assistance to struggling readers. As superintendent, I will continue to make reading instruction the number one priority for teacher training.

2. How well are our high school students prepared with life skills: balance checkbooks, complete job applications, resume, dress for interviews, rent apartments, prepare monthly budgets, read maps, prepare for marriage and children?

Carl Del Grande: They are better prepared to meet life's challenges than their counterparts throughout the state. I have designed and implemented curriculum to empower students to be successful in the 21st century workplace which are now graduation requirements. It is essential that all of our students are able to use technology to address life skills, and life skills should be integrated into the curriculum at all grade levels.

Garry Eagles: Much better today than ten years ago. Our office took the lead in coordinating a school-to-work program for every school in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. The result of that project has been to better prepare students for "life after high school." Also, life skills instruction required by the state is supplemented by county office staff specialists in our local schools.

3. Are hate actions increasing in schools, and what do you plan to do about it?

Carl Del Grande: Our schools are relatively free of hate crimes and discrimination; however, there is a clear need to teach tolerance to our students. I have been an advocate of Character Education and have implemented citizenship programs such as "Character Counts" and "Pursuing Victory with Honor." While serving as the disciplinarian of our largest high school, I was able to reduce violent behavior suspensions and expulsions significantly.

Garry Eagles: Acts of hatred and violence on campuses have fallen dramatically in the last five years. Much credit must go to the staff involved in the county office's Gang Risk Intervention Program (GRIP) and to our local schools who have made school safety and improved discipline policies a high priority.

4. Are weapons and drugs a problem on our campuses, and what will you do to keep them off campuses?

Carl Del Grande: While drugs, drug use and drug abuse are a problem in our county, our school districts are relatively drug free because our school districts have done an exceptional job in reducing drug use and weapons possession in our schools. I have been the chairman of the Humboldt County Gang's Task Force and the Humboldt County School Law Enforcement Network. I will continue to work with our county's law enforcement, health and prevention agencies.

Garry Eagles: Weapons are not a major issue in our county. Of particular concern right now is the illegal use of drugs by family members and the devastating effects such use has on children and their education. I am a member of the Methamphetamine Task Force, a multi-agency group committed to reducing drug use in our community through increased education, treatment for drug users and heavy prosecution of drug producers. Schools maintain "zero tolerance" policies toward student use of alcohol and marijuana.

5. Why should senior citizens be involved in our schools or have an interest in the success of our schools?

Carl Del Grande: Because our children are our future, and it is essential that all of our citizens are committed to our greatest resource, our children.

Garry Eagles: Our democratic way of life and our strength and independence as a nation depends upon the quality of education and preparation for life we give to our children. All adult citizens should recognize that we are our children's future, as they, in turn, are ours.

6. What can the county superintendent do to involve retired or older people to serve as mentors and share their experience with students or bring the students to their workshops and other places in the community for job shadowing.

Carl Del Grande: Our schools have been involving seniors in the educational process for years. I have a great deal of experience working effectively with seniors through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program and recruiting senior volunteers for our classrooms. Using seniors as guest lecturers has been particularly successful and students react positively when their elders address them. Seniors are a valuable community resource and each senior has a unique contribution to make to our children. Seniors can lecture, tutor, monitor, counsel and provide clerical support in all of our schools.

Garry Eagles: The County Superintendent has supported the SHARE Project and RSVP, and I would continue that support. These programs have positively influenced thousands of our students. Congressmember Thompson recognized me personally for my work with the "Local Legacies" project two years ago. Also, the county office has applied twice for state grant funding to create an adult mentor program involving retired persons and elementary students. The state has not funded us yet but we will continue to pursue that concept.

7. Should county school districts be consolidated as has been done in other rural counties?

Carl Del Grande: Our school districts must be accountable to our taxpayers and accountability includes reviewing the issue of district consolidation. Once there were more than 100 school districts in Humboldt County; now there are 33. I believe that our districts will continue to consolidate and that eventually there will be 12-15 districts centered around high school attendance boundaries. In 1994, the Ferndale Unified School District was formed and as the new superintendent, I had direct experience in the reorganizing process. Certainly, local control is a concern for our communities; however, cost effectiveness must receive full consideration.

Garry Eagles: In recent years we have had several districts unify. However, the decision to consolidate or unify must be made by the local community. I would encourage local districts to look at this and other options, with the goal of helping them maintain high quality, cost effective programs for students.

8. How do you propose to increase health care to the kids in schools?

Carl Del Grande: It is essential that all health care providers work together to insure that no child is left behind. I will personally sponsor a forum where all of the stakeholders in child welfare can exchange information and resources. Interagency collaboration is the key. The "Healthy Kids Program" is a successful model that effectively addresses a collaborative approach to providing comprehensive health care for our students.

Garry Eagles: I serve as the education representative on the Family Resource Center Task Force for the county. Our mission is to support the development of new resource centers throughout the county where health and other services can be provided to students and their families. As county superintendent, I will also advocate for the state to place a higher priority upon school-based health services and school nursing.

9. What sort of health education do the kids receive (diet, sexuality, obesity, anti-drug)?

Carl Del Grande: The most recent test results from the state physical education testing program indicate that about 23 percent of our children are fit while 77 percent could not pass all six adopted fitness standards. Our schools have required course work in health and physical education for students through the 10th grade; however, the requirements are minimal and too often instruction in health and physical education are sacrificed for academics. I have created health curriculum and made health a graduation requirement for our students. I believe in physical fitness and honest, age appropriate instruction about human sexuality and alcohol and drug education.

Garry Eagles: California requires local schools to provide instruction in nutrition, family life education and drug prevention. The county office has secured thousands of dollars in grant funding in order to offer these programs at a level of quality not able to be provided under regular state funding.

10. How do you work with the county health department in the schools?

Carl Del Grande: We have a shortage of nurses, psychologists and counselors. This shortage has necessitated collaboration between our health department and our school districts. The Healthy Start Program and the Healthy Kids Program are excellent examples of the type of cooperation needed to provide comprehensive services for our children.

Garry Eagles: The county office has worked in partnership with public health on several schoolbased programs. Currently, I am a member of a grant advisory committee for the health department that is working on obtaining a major grant to support dental care for children in our county.

11. Is there still a teacher shortage, and could you as superintendent encourage rehiring retired teachers as part-time or team teachers?

Carl Del Grande: There is not a shortage of teachers in Humboldt County. In fact, when teaching vacancies are advertised in our county, there is always a strong field of qualified candidates. I do support rehiring retired teachers, and there has been recent legislation to entice our retirees back into our profession.

Garry Eagles: Fortunately, Humboldt County has not experienced the shortage of teachers that other areas of the state have felt. However, when needs have arisen, the county office has routinely contracted with retired teachers and administrators on behalf of our local districts. I will continue to promote making use of this very valuable resource.

12. Specific to Carl Del Grande: what do you mean in your advertising by "teaching core values" in the schools?

Carl Del Grande: My family has lived in Humboldt County for five generations, and my parents and teachers taught me my work ethic and core values-caring, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness. Throughout the past 34 years, I have taught these same values to my students, faculty and staff. Teaching academics is important, teaching citizenship and a solid work ethic is equally important.

13. Specific to Garry Eagles: what do you mean in your advertising by being "student-centered"?

Garry Eagles: Those who work with me know that I do not make a major decision without asking the important question: "How will this affect students?" Only when I am satisfied that the question has been answered thoroughly will I choose a course of action. All of what we do in education must be driven by what is best for students.