As a former advocate for families with children with special needs, I would like to offer my perspective on the proposed district consolidation.
One of the most frustrating parts of being an advocate in a county of seven districts was the fact that there were seven districts. I came from a county in Nevada that was much larger than Lake County with schools spread out further distances, however, the lives of all of the children in the district could be positively impacted by bringing the issues of one child to the attention of ONE administration and/or the school board.
Additionally, the parents could work together directly with their single district to feel better heard. With seven districts parents do not feel like the North and the South have anything to share and/or it is not helpful for them to support each other because the “work” has to be redone seven times.
In answer to Cynthia”s well taken point of bullying, I would also like to add that parents have all the “law” they need to protect children from bullying. A quick search of the internet brought this site: http://www.bullypolice.org/ca_law.html which cites and explains the California Education Code for bullying.
The remedy to bullying is to work with the Districts to solve the problem before applying the legal solution of state complaints and litigation. It would benefit the parents of Lake County to only have one district with which to create and apply a program to address the issue of bullying for all the children in Lake County.
For a final time, I will don my advocates cap to appeal to the parent of the children in the schools of Lake County to get involved in their schools. Make sure your well informed voice is heard. The best way to ensure that your schools are safe, your children are learning, and you know what is going on is to be as involved as you can possibly be, including volunteering in the classroom, serving on committees, attending school board meetings, having frequent meeting with teachers and just being there.
It is hard to find the time ? and your children grow quickly, find it. If you have a complaint, voice it in a constructive way to your administration. If you need your voice heard and your don”t feel the school is listening, find other parents and together work with the school to find solutions. It has long been said that the voices of ten parent can make the difference between a school that is troubled and a school that functions well.
Parents, when all is said and done, these children are your responsibility- that is how the laws are written- with the parents as the ultimate point of responsibility for their children. You have only their welfare ? and the schools have the welfare of hundreds of children ? and as much as they want to be there for your child, it is up to you to make sure that your child is safe, learning and growing.
I am removing the cap of advocate for good now. As a citizen of Lake County, I believe that consolidation is the best idea in a long time.
Diane Davis
Lakeport
