Election 2022: What would Visalia Unified School Board candidates do if elected?

Nine people are hoping to take a seat at the Visalia Unified School District dais to decide on issues that impact every resident.

Visalia Times-Delta asked each candidate what they hope to accomplish in their first 100 days as a school board trustee, if elected?

Please note, some candidates did not respond despite multiple requests for comment.

Area 1

Walta Gamoian

My name is Walta Gamoian, and I had the privilege of teaching in Visalia Unified for 34 years. I have served on the school board since 2018. Recently, we sought to bring a leader to the district who could help our children reach their fullest potential. In July 2022, we hired a new superintendent who can implement systems for student success.

The Board adopted three core values that will drive our work the first one hundred days. These values are: All students should be at grade level and reach their fullest potential; parent and community engagement are important for student success; and all students will be in a safe and welcoming learning environment. By January, a five-year strategic plan will be created and implemented.

I will continue the work of the One Visalia Connected Initiative which aims to connect all students to meaningful activities and relationships. Greater academic achievement and resiliency result from a sense of belonging.

The Board has approved technology that will increase school safety. Every staff member will soon be trained on this technology and will complete active shooter training.

I look forward to continuing this work because I value the children of Visalia.

Jesse Perez

No comment.

Area 2

Juan Guerrero

My name is Juan Guerrero. I have lived in the Visalia school district since 1978. I am married to Stella and have raised my family in Visalia. I am the Area 2 incumbent and currently serve as school board president.

If I am re-elected, I will work with our school superintendent and school board governance team to begin work on a five-year strategic plan and begin the implementation of the VUSD long-range facility plan.

The focus will be to mitigate learning loss and raise student achievement in academics, English Language Arts and Mathematics, by setting goals and establishing metrics for the attainment of goals. I will continue to support the “One Visalia Connected” initiative.

I will ensure our school district’s Extended Learning Opportunity Program; which includes career technical education, athletics, visual and performing arts and STEM is fully implemented in Elementary and Middle Schools this winter.

I will ensure our semi-truck Band trailer pilot at Golden West High School is expanded to all our traditional high school band programs.

I will continue VUSD’s work on improving school safety and security to keep our schools safe for students and staff. I will ask for a review of VUSD social media policies as social media has a negative impact on school discipline and safety.

To guarantee a parent voice, I will ask for the return of Parent Institute on Quality Education workshops to VUSD. I will also ask that we begin our student voice sessions this spring.

Paul Belt

No comment.

Area 4

Todd Oto

I am a lifelong Central Valley resident, born and raised in Fresno. I moved to Visalia when I was hired to teach drafting at Mt. Whitney High School, and I have remained here for 35 years because this community is a great place to live. I had the honor to serve Visalia Unified as a teacher, principal, and superintendent.

If elected to the Visalia Unified Board of Trustees, what I hope to accomplish in my first 100 days is to engage in the annual district review and goal-setting process that sets the direction of the organization.

I believe that clear goals must be set by the Board so that staff can know their direction and priorities. As a board member, my priorities would be increased student achievement, increased support for students and teachers, and the long-term success of the district.

I would also work to build strong teamwork among the Board members, for a successful board works collaboratively to make decisions for the school district. Teamwork is important because a board member is but one of seven members and must work as part of a larger governance team to have true impact.

The hallmarks of effective school board governance are a shared vision for the school district, clear goals, effective policy, strong relationships within the board, the district and the community, and strong monitoring of the resources of the district. This is the work that I wish to undertake for the benefit of the children and community of Visalia.

Catalina Blair

Hello, my name is Catalina Blair. I’m running for Area 4 Visalia Unified Trustee because I have 3 children of my own in our district and I love our city. I care about the culture and atmosphere of our schools and believe that all children deserve to feel valued and safe.

I am driven to see our kids thrive while learning and want them to graduate with goals for their future. I believe parents should be welcomed as partners in their children’s education.

In my first 100 days as a board member, I would continue to listen to our community- staff, parents and students through being present at schools and in community meetings. I wish to continue to cultivate relationships within our district and city.

I want to continue to ask thoughtful questions of our district staff. At the center of every decision made, I will start with one question: “Is this the best choice we can make for all students?” Recently approved were the new beliefs and commitments that I helped establish.

I am looking forward to working, alongside the rest of the board and our superintendent, to begin to formulate goals, as well as, a strategic plan to attain the success of our district!

Crystal Reynolds

No comment.

Area 6

Randy Villegas

My name is Randy Villegas and I’m running for VUSD School Board to ensure that all students have the resources they need to succeed. A graduate of public schools, I was raised in the Valley and was the first in my family to graduate from a university. Today, as a professor at College of the Sequoias, and trustee for VUSD, I will continue to work tirelessly for our students. When a vacancy occurred on the board last December, I didn’t hesitate to step up and serve our community. During this time I’ve:

• Advocated to align graduation requirements with A-G, so our students are college and career ready.

• Pushed for transparency, supporting a policy to grant the public access to meeting recordings.

• Voted to refinance Measure E, leading to a savings of $6 million dollars for our taxpayers.

• Increased funding for Music/Visual and Performing Arts Programs.

• Supported the hiring of more counselors and psychologists for students’ mental health.

In my first 100 days, I hope to increase dual enrollment opportunities so that students can earn both high school and college credit for coursework. I would like to implement a program that allows students to graduate with both their HS diploma and their Associate’s Degree, which would be transformational for our community. Additionally, within those first 100 days, I want our board and superintendent to host a board study session on aligning A-G coursework (which are the minimum standards to obtain entrance to a CSU/UC) with our graduation standards.

Jonelle Murphy

No comment.

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This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Election 2022: Get to know Visalia Unified School Board candidates