Gilroy Dispatch: Briefly describe your background and experience. Why are you qualified for this position?
Dom Payne: The primary qualification of any elected representative is an understanding of governing as public service, and a background in this area. This is crucial as it’s an inherent aspect of our democratic system of elected government, without which one cannot make balanced decisions serving the public good, as our system is designed. I have an extensive background in organizing and working on public service projects. This includes: student voter registration drives and educational forums at our community College (Gavilan) / petitioning and advocating for Gilroy City Council to implement safe truck routes; save open spaces; work with small business for fair sign ordinances; and help our schools to increase overall city prosperity / launching the Farmer’s Market (with Leadership Gilroy) / spearheading the effort to get our city to save the South Valley Middle School Swimming Pool as a community asset (important for our youth from poverty impacted areas of East Gilroy) / and conducting local Educational Forums (with community group Voz de la Gente). For the position of School Board in particular I’m qualified because of my background as an educator and teacher professionally since 2008. This is an important element to have on a Board of Education, since our job is one of advocate and stewards of public education, and an understanding of the service/work of teaching is necessary.
GD: What are your thoughts on Common Core? Did you support it? What do you thinks needs to be done to make it successful?
DP: I think Common Core’s intent is a worthy one – to raise the bar of K-12 education so that our students are college ready when they graduate, creating a standard that all states could have in common – instead of each state having a separate standard and students being underprepared for higher education. I’m “cautiously optimistic” about the overall impact to the education of students. In the transition period that we are in there are bound to be some wrinkles, and districts need to react promptly to identify problems that occur and correct them. We need to be very vigilant in assessing everything implemented, including the new assessments, which are still not finalized. I believe our District has developed a good system of benchmarks in the interim, until the transition to the new testing/assessment system developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC). We need to fully support teachers moving forward with Common Core, adequately funding them and the tools they will need to make Common Core work.
GD: The City is experiencing a boom in growth, especially with its residential developments. More residents will undoubtedly have an impact on GUSD, what do you feel is the best way to handle the influx?
DP: We currently have room at some of our schools, and can add modular/portable classrooms as well if needed. Eventually, we’ll need a new school. The current timeline suggests that will be the need in about 5 years. The question is just where (there are limited locations available), and then how to fund the actual construction project. The District and Board are in the process of identifying properties for procurement to accommodate the growth, and are discussing the funding of a new school, so we’re aware of the need to think ahead to the future growth in Gilroy.
GD: Do you think it should be easier to fire underperforming teachers? What steps should be taken in order to do so?
DP: As a teacher I understand teaching to be a process of inspiring others to learn and challenge themselves, which does not always translate into a test score, or other quantitative measure in the short-term. Also, the phenomenon of tenure ensures protection of teachers who don’t receive the pay nor respect they deserve most of the time, and teach because they are passionate about education. So we must pay teachers more, make sure they are adequately trained and supported, and protect them from capricious employment practices.
However, as in any profession, there are those who aren’t passionate about their job. For the egregiously negligent educator, we must be able to release them; as they are, in my opinion, in a position of the highest responsibility. They are educating our children and thus safe guarding our collective future. There is no easy answer. In extreme cases, we need a better protocol. In most cases, we should be looking to give teachers the highest pay and support, allowing them to thrive and reach their fullest potential educating our students.
GD: What are a few of the goals you would like to achieve if elected to the school board?
DP: If I’m re-elected to the School Board, my goals are:
• Ensuring our students are college ready who wish to pursue college, and a continued partnership with local Gavilan Community College.
• Teacher and staff salary increases, so that our District can hire and retain excellent teachers.
• More technology support of Vocational Ed programs, so that our students on that path are career ready.
• Ensuring our special needs students are adequately supported.
• Expanding effective anti-bullying programs to the High School levels.
GD: What do you feel are some of the biggest issues GUSD is facing? Briefly explain how you would fix them.
DP: I began my term four years ago in a district that was in severe financial crisis along with the rest of the districts in the State. I have been honored to be a part of the work of navigating the financial crisis of the California education system, to bring our District safely through those issues in a stronger financial position. I’m particularly pleased of being able to advocate for teacher and staff salary increases, and avoiding drastic cuts to our programs and services. Those areas have improved, but they remain the biggest issues that GUSD is facing. I will support a balanced budget and increased funding in education, with the priorities being teacher pay, smaller class sizes, and maintenance of programs.
GD: Technology in the classroom is on the rise. What are your thoughts on using tablets and other devices as learning tools? Are they helpful or a distraction? How can schools, in your opinion, put these to use most effectively?
DP: The rapidly changing world of technology is one which will shape our children’s future. If we approach it with the pragmatic understanding that technology and innovation is a constant that will persist; I believe we can use it to achieve great things in education. The use of tablets and other devices as learning tools have both their benefits and their negatives, but they are tools. Tools have always had the potential to be used to our benefit or detriment. Technology is a tool, so it has existed at our disposal historically; from the first stone tools, to fire, to the locomotive, and to nuclear energy. Technology is only going to increase in society – miniaturization and efficiency and our use of tools are to blame – so we must come together to bring technology in education to its fullest positive potential in education. Strong oversight, with research and constant assessment of what is working or not working, are the key components to its successful use.
GD: What is your position on charter schools?
DP: In general, I believe Charters schools are a push towards privatization of public education, which is a negative when profit takes precedence. We see successes in some Charter schools, but also some tragic failures. In many ways, a Charter school can be a “laboratory,” where different approaches to education can be rapidly implemented, tested, and changed. I believe what success Charter schools can have, can be had in public education, with proper funding and implementation of good programs. We could also form public test classes, where parents and all involved can try new programs and practices to further education, intervening quickly when it isn’t working.
The following is a Q&A sent out by the Gilroy Dispatch and answered by Dom Payne, a candidate for the Gilroy Unified School District Board of Education. Links to the other candidates’ answers can be found at the bottom of this article.
Visit Dom Payne’s campaign website here.
Dom can also be reached at vo**********@gm***.com or at (408)430-4193.
