Gilroy Dispatch: Briefly describe your background and experience. Why are you qualified for this position?
Jaime Rosso: I am a local businessman for 37 years, with long record of public service. I have been married to public school educator for 39 years, raising three children Gilroy High school graduates. My passion and commitment is to make our public schools the best they can be for all students. I have a proven track record for leadership as a trustee on the Board of Education since first elected in 2000. I have helped maintain our focus on improving student achievement for all students and helping every student achieve their full potential. Two successful facilities bond measures have been passed and new schools have been built and many significant facilities improvements have be done impacting every school.
GD: What are your thoughts on Common Core? Did you support it? What do you thinks needs to be done to make it successful?
JR: I strongly support the transition to Common Core to improve the quality of education for all students. Common Core emphasizes student engagement, reading, writing, building analytical and problem solving skills , collaboration versus skills in multi choice testing. Providing teachers the support and time for professional development is critical.
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?
JR: Our GUSD Board of Education is very engaged with ongoing the facilities planning and collaboration with civic leaders to keep up with district facilities needs and will continue to prepare for growth.
GD: Do you think it should be easier to fire underperforming teachers? What steps should be taken in order to do so?
JR: There is a tremendous need for hiring, training and retaining highly qualified teachers which is a huge challenge for public schools. All teachers need to be supported and given every opportunity to be successful. Teaching is an extremely challenging profession that deserves broad community support. We need more teachers! Effective evaluation process is an essential tool for support and improvement. However, when all options for corrective improvement have been exhausted, then, YES, teachers who continue to grossly underperform and fail students, should be removed from the classroom to assure that every student has a highly qualified teacher.
GD: What are a few of the goals you would like to achieve if elected to the school board?
JR: A. To have all Gilroy schools being recognized as high performing and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.
B. To develop a plan to supplement compensation for teachers and to fund the ongoing technology replacement needs of the district for students to have necessary tools for a quality education.
GD: What do you feel are some of the biggest issues GUSD is facing? Briefly explain how you would fix them.
JR: Ongoing sustainable funding for public education critical. There is a growing teacher shortage. We need to hire and retain more highly qualified teachers. We have huge challenges in hiring math and science and other areas in particular. I will continue to advocate for adequate state funding for our schools. I will also work to develop a local plan to improve compensation for our teachers to be more competitive in a labor market with better paying districts in our county.
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?
JR: It is vitally important that we better prepare our students for the technical skills necessary in the 21st century. To do this we must provide our teachers and students with the tools and the training to effectively use technology for critical thinking and research, to develop the job skills and problem solving ability, for the new job economy and for college readiness.
GD: What is your position on charter schools?
JR: Charter schools are another option to help some students succeed. I do not believe charter schools necessarily provide a better education for children. I believe our public schools are essential and need to be held accountable so ALL students are given the opportunity for success and so that all students needs can be addressed. Most charter schools are serving the needs of a limited number of the public school population. All students need to be served. Public schools deserve broad public support!
The following is a Q&A sent out by the Gilroy Dispatch and answered by Jaime Rosso, 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.Â
Jaime Rosso can be reached at ja*********@gi***********.org.
