Answers to Green Party of Alameda County Questionnaire
City of Alameda School Board Questionnaire
GREEN PARTY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
2020 ENDORSEMENT DECISION
Name: Heather Little
1. Motivation: Why have you chosen to run for School Board in Alameda?
My first love is in education, and though I have had connections to it since leaving teaching, I have wanted to get more involved, especially locally, for some time. I have been deeply rooted in early childhood and addressing the need for early identification and feel that I have a place in making the connection to K-12 in recognizing the critical aspect of addressing needs in 3-5 year olds, to make sure they are kindergarten ready. I have spent the better part of a decade being involved in local politics, volunteering, civic engagement, and this feels like the right next step for me. My background in SpEd, and the time I’ve spent on GIIC, OGC and the years working in childhood education advocacy have pointed me in this direction.
As the parent of two teenagers in Alameda schools, I am devoted to public education, and passionate about continuing to build a district of equity, inclusion, excellence, and innovation. I know families can be frustrated by systems that are meant to support them and have learned to ask of every proposal: which children will benefit, which will be left out, and which will be harmed if this proposal passes?
I am ready day one to begin working for the district. I am prepared for the challenging discussions and decisions ahead, and will listen to stakeholders every step of the way.
2. Programs and Priorities: Elected office provides opportunity to proactively lead. What specific ideas/ programs would you pursue if elected? What do you believe are the main priorities for the Alameda School Board?
There are many paths to take when on the school board, but my particular areas of interest are listed below.
COVID-19 and the budget shortfall: The budget shortfall for this board term is significant. And with Covid – other sources of support for education are at all-time lows… (state lotto, PTA fundraising, local business support and federal). This cannot be fixed by one board member, but I will certainly look for ways to bring in new sources of income – like Prop 15 potential new grants with a change in Department of Education leadership. I will look for redundancies, question costs and push for accountability on vendor contracts and costs.
Special Education: Equity, diversity, and inclusion in education means better serving students with special needs. One of my top priorities will be working with families, students, teachers, paraprofessionals, and AUSD district staff to improve special education services in Alameda. Few are satisfied with the current situation. Attempts to provide a greater sense of inclusion have resulted in parents reporting their children are made to feel different and they are still not receiving the services they need. Some Special Education teachers and paraprofessionals do not feel they or their students are properly supported. This is even more apparent during COVID-19, where many Special Education students are not just experiencing learning loss but are actually regressing in their goals. Special education services comprise a sizable portion of the AUSD budget. If I am elected, I will lead efforts to prioritize putting these critical resources to use in a way that everyone agrees is best for students and teachers.
Safety: Before any kind of academic achievement can take place, students, teachers and staff need to feel safe at school. The COVID-19 crisis has challenged this fundamental fact. We need to ensure there are clear, predictable, and achievable plans in place to respond to the ever- changing landscape and guidance from the state during this crisis. And when students, teachers and staff are back at school in person, they need to feel confident that these plans ensure their safety. Safety also includes addressing the social-emotional impacts of isolation and increased stressors felt by the students, teachers and staff during online learning. Working with local organizations who can bring in targeted curriculum addressing mental health, such as Girls Inc of the Island City, will be an important part of healing our community.
Early Education: Pre-Kindergarten to 2nd grade: The transition to kindergarten can be daunting for families, students and staff. It is sometimes a child’s first interaction with school or a classroom environment. The inequities some of our families experience are clear on day one in kindergarten and our teachers and staff in those grades are our frontline in recognizing gaps and finding support for those students. Too often, learning gaps in young students are overlooked and optimistically dismissed with the hope they have time to “catch up”. I don’t want the school district to wait until students take the state tests in 3rd grade to begin to fix the gaps. Early identification of the needs and proper support are huge cost saving measures for students down the road. According to the National Literacy Project, almost 4 out of 10 children arrive at kindergarten without the skills necessary for lifetime learning. My current work at the First 5 Association has shown me that early identification of developmental concerns and connections to needed interventions can improve educational outcomes for students and also reduce the time a child receives special education services. This is a win win for families and the district.
3. Qualifications: Please give a brief summary of your background and qualifications for being a School Board member. If an incumbent, what can you tell us of your achievements on the School Board?
My entire professional career with Seneca Family of Agencies, Edison Learning, and First 5 Association, complimented by sering on the Girls Inc. of the Island City board, has been focused on improving the well-being of children, ensuring they have the strongest start in life and getting the support they need to thrive physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially. I am a former special education teacher with a focus on moderate to severe disabilities and a deep understanding of early childhood development.
4. Current crisis: What are your thoughts on the longer term impacts on the District of the COVID crisis, especially regarding school reopening, distance learning and needed resources?
The first priority of the district has always been about education, but the priority of the district during a pandemic has to also be public health. It is ensuring that our students and staff and their families, while learning and working are not at risk. The board has the mighty task of weighing the greater good in these unprecedented times.
Like other school districts across the country, COVID-19 has laid bare the insecurities and inequities in our education system. We had no idea what it would mean to move into a 100% virtual teaching/learning experience, and we were ill-prepared. And through this experience, what we do know is just how dependent we are on family support, and how critical innovation and technology are, to be successful.
We know that learning loss has occurred for all of our students, and when we begin this next school year, it will need to be addressed. This is especially concerning for our special education students, our English language learners, and our at-risk children who have not only experienced learning loss, but have most likely regressed. It is incumbent of the board to evaluate and work with the district staff so that these gaps for our most under-resourced students don’t widen.
The pandemic and economic crisis have potential long -term impacts to the classroom and to our budget. I am committed to addressing potential budget shortfalls and getting us through this COVID-19 crisis while still being fiscally responsible and transparent. It will take committed partnership from our entire community, and most importantly teachers and staff, to weather this storm.
While it will be tempting to move on once the height of the crisis is over, it’s important that the Board of Education also evaluate what worked and what did not, and take advantage of the lessons learned. If I am elected, I will ensure an evaluation of the COVID-19 crisis response takes place.
5. District expenditures: Has the District been efficiently run, especially under a new superintendent? What new/ added resources should be pursued by the District?
I believe we as a community have seen strong leadership from Superintendent Scuderi. He has an agenda of promoting excellence in the schools and in the teachers and staff who are educating our children. His communication has been clear, timely, and consistent: all very important given the circumstances warranted by COVID-19. Knowing that we will be in distance learning for some time, I would like to see additional “virtual classroom management” development opportunities for the teachers and staff. Additionally, resources on how to address social-emotional concerns and mental health is critical. Providing guidance on how to best engage and maintain effective relationships with students to ensure we are connecting while in distance learning will be an important step. The concerns I have about increased anxieties, feelings of isolation, pressures related to virtual instruction should all be proactively addressed by setting up supports, systems and strategies to address students, teachers, and staff needs.
6. Housing issues: How do new housing/ rent control measures relate to enrollment and stability in the Alameda schools?
Let’s be clear. This is a question and a position that is absolutely relevant to the Alameda School Board race because school success is linked to real estate. Think about it: one of the first questions people ask before buying a property is “How are the schools?”. And having a stable, safe place to call home is paramount for educational outcomes.
The recent measures passed, that I fully supported, were just the beginning of stabilizing the housing crisis the East Bay and Alameda is facing. Next we need to address Article 26.
Article 26 became part of our city’s charter in 1973 under the pretense of wanting to preserve Alameda’s Victorian houses. It established a ban on multi-unit housing and limited density to one unit per 2000 square feet of land resulting in a system that blocked development and cut off access to homes affordable to people with lower incomes. Yes, it has prevented many people from calling Alameda home.
But more importantly, exclusionary zoning like Article 26 has always been the pathway to segregated schools. Housing is the basis of where children go to school (attendance boundaries) and resources allocated to schools and districts (taxes and state/federal funds). And the lack of workforce housing for teachers also continues to be an issue as more and more of our teachers can’t afford to live in Alameda.
Bottom line, Article 26 means our schools were and will be less vibrant and diverse, and less welcoming. Measure Z, which will repeal Article 26, will open the opportunity of affordable, safe and stable housing for many families and students as well as our school workforce. Housing security is a crucial element for better educational outcomes. I will be voting yes on Measure Z.
7. Labor: How do you assess District relations with the union bargaining units in the District, especially in light of the current virus/ economic crisis?
I feel strongly that so long as there is a strong leadership, like we have with Superintendent Scuderi, the board does not need to have a strong voice with the employees. However, as a member of the school board, I will always be willing to listen to labor leaders and members about their concerns. From what I can tell, there has been a dedication to move through the circumstances predicated by COVID-19 to ensure teacher and staff safety as central to current negotiations, along with the necessary recognition that teaching virtually is complicated. I believe there is a good working relationship with respect between labor and AUSD and its employees
8. Accountability: Specifically, how will you make yourself accountable to the electorate responsible for putting you in office?
Accountability and transparency is why I served on the Open Government Commission. My decision-making has always been with a sense of fairness. I want to reassure any voter who may want to vote for me, that my decision making will be guided by my values. My decisions will be thoughtful, well-researched, data driven and culturally responsive and guided with a lens of equity, inclusion, excellence, and innovation. I will listen to stakeholders and seek guidance from subject matter experts.
9. Campaign funding: How much money have you raised for your campaign? How much do you project you will need? What sources of financial contributions (if any) would you reject? Why?
I just started taking contributions to my campaign on August 18th. As of August 19th, I have just over $2,000 in campaign contributions. My official campaign kickoff will be August 21st. Because of COVID 19 - the traditional routes of house parties and meet/greets are not possible. Our campaign will have to rely on a few more expensive tactics like mailers and flyers, but also be innovative with online events and social media outreach. There is no playbook for campaigning during a World pandemic. As far as contributions that I will not accept, I pledge to support the reduction of money in politics and I refuse to take donations from entities which do not align with my core values.
10. Endorsements: Who has endorsed you so far? Whom will you endorse locally?
As of August 19th, the following people and organizational endorsements have been listed on my Website - www.little4ausd.com. The asterisk * denotes that titles are for identification purposes only.
Imber Anakata •
June Allen • First 5 Alameda • Past Girls Inc. Island City Board Member *
Jess Berthold • First 5 Association*
Doug Biggs • Executive Director, Alameda Point Collaborative*
Black Achievers Alliance
Zac Bowling • Alameda Peeps*
David Burton • Former Planning Board Member*
Patti Cassaro
Christine Chilcott • CEO, Girls Inc. Island City*
Maggie Derr • Girls Inc. Island City Board Member*
Lauren Do
Meltem Erol & Mat Hoffman •
Linda Felts • Girls Inc. Island City Board Member and current President*
Felts Family Foundation
Laura Gamble
Alison Green • PLAN! Alameda*
Bronwyn Harris
Cammie Harris • Principal of Will C. Wood Middle School*
Sandy Hobson • Girls Inc. Island City Board Member*
Michelle James-Berner
Anne Kohler • Girls Inc. Island City Board Member*
Deb Knowles
John Knox White • Alameda City Vice Mayor*
Barbara Mooney • Owner, Daisy’s Mercantile*
Rayna Martinez
Ashley McLaughlin • Girls Inc. Island City Board Member*
Angel Montgomery • First 5 Alameda*
Christopher Moody & Ryan LaLonde •
Jennifer Nguyen & Willie Nguyen
Jim Oddie • Alameda City Council Member*
Alexandra Parma • Girls Inc. Island City Board Member, First 5 Center for Children’s Policy *
Gaylon Parsons
Kate Quick
Omar Rahimi
Sandy Russell • Owner, Fireside Lounge
Bryan Schwartz • Chair, Alameda Open Government Commission*
Katherine Schwartz • Executive Director, Alameda Family Services*
Roger Smart
Cheryl Taylor
Page Tomblin •
Malia Vella • Alameda City Council Member*
Suzanne Vinson
Robbie Wilson • Black Achievers Alliance, Unite Alameda 4 Change, & AUSD Elected Board Member for NEA/ACLC*
As far as endorsements, I will not be publicly endorsing any other candidate for Alameda school board. For city council I will be endorsing Malia Vella and Jim Oddie.
11. Anything else: Is there anything you wish to add or ask of us?
Given that this questionnaire is for a Green Party endorsement, I’d like to share the following on environmental concerns and ideas for the AUSD.
Green Ribbon District Goal: A few months ago, AUSD’s Edison Elementary was named as both a California Green Ribbon School and a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School and Edison was named a “Green Achiever.” It is the highest honor in the California Green Ribbon Schools recognition program. It was an amazing achievement that has taken parents, students, teachers and staff more than 4 years to achieve. This achievement would not have happened without the school staff support, the PTA and other local environmental organizations. The organizers have told my campaign that it was quite an uphill battle to get some of the accomplishments approved and completed. There are a number of lessons learned that the Edison Green Team could pass along and help the district to work on district-wide initiatives.
This recognition is a big deal. It resulted in AUSD’s Go Green recycle and compost program. There are many more successes to be learned from Edison’s effort. It might be a good idea to convene an AUSD Green Committee with representatives who worked on the Go Green efforts that advises the administration and the schools on how to reduce their carbon footprints and expand on their environmental learnings.
Climate Change in the Classroom: Climate change is real. A recent NPR poll, reported that over 80 percent of parents in the US support the teaching of climate change in public school. It is important that discussion of the impact of fossil fuels, pollution and human activity on the environment and climate is integrated into the classroom and science curriculum.
Reducing the Districts Carbon Footprint: Solar energy (solar panels on our school rooftops) would provide many positives for our schools, budgets and students. Solar energy helps combat climate change and in the long-run would save money on district energy costs. It would also reduce the use of fossil fuels and create better, cleaner air for students to breathe.
Berkeley Unified was able to get a general bond passed in 2010 for solar energy. Getting another bond passed during an economic crisis – even if it is for cost-savings down the road would be difficult, but I’d be willing to try when the time is right.
To deal with a chronic shortfall in school funding it is incumbent on the board to find ways that can reduce costs without reducing benefits. Additionally, if this could be achieved, it would align with the recent uptick in student interest in promoting green campuses and directly addressing climate change.