BCSD candidates call for more classroom resources, engagement

Oct. 12—The Bakersfield City School District, the state's largest K-8 district with roughly 40 schools and 30,000 students, has two seats for its governing board on the November ballot.

With such size comes inevitable challenges.

Among them: 93 percent of BCSD students are considered socioeconomically disadvantaged; almost 24 percent of students are English learners; and learning loss has compounded the difficulties facing schools where more than 60 percent of students read below their grade level — prior to the pandemic.

And interestingly enough, one race, for Area 2, has three contenders, including the incumbent, who are teachers, and Area 4 has two teachers challenging an incumbent.

All seem to agree that more educators, engagement and resources will help improve classroom performance but, of course, the devil is in the details.

Area 2

Incumbent Pam Baugher seeks to retain her seat, which covers an area that includes College Heights, Jefferson, Longfellow and Noble elementary schools, as well as Washington Middle School.

Baugher noted she has 40 years of experience in the classroom, and a dozen years on the governing board, for which she's seeking a fourth term.

"I don't have a personal agenda or want to use BCSD as a stepping stone to higher office," she wrote in her response to The Californian's candidate questions. "I know this district and have committed most of my life to its success."

By regularly visiting BCSD campuses, she said, she's determined her priorities for the district going forward are: creating a safe, healthy, welcoming environment for students, staff, parents and community; providing an equitable learning environment with qualified staff; and getting "back to normal," in terms of pursuing or restarting plans that have been disrupted by the pandemic.

Anthony Fuentes, who described himself as an educator and a longtime east Bakersfield resident, teaches Chicano studies and U.S. history at Foothill High School.

Fuentes said the most important issues facing BCSD are teacher retention, which has been a national challenge, and student engagement, mostly due to learning loss and socio-emotional difficulties students have faced as a result of COVID-19 conditions.

"The teacher shortage is not unique to BCSD, but is impacting the district and our students' quality of education in serious ways," he said.

"As a community organizer and advocate, I believe that running for office is an extension of bringing long-lasting positive, systemic change to our schools and communities," he added. "The policies set by the BCSD Board of Trustees have long-lasting impacts on our students' lives, and I take that very seriously."

Judy Olsson describes herself as someone who's lived in Area 2 for 40 years and taught for more than 30 of them.