Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Ruth Self-Williams
Current job title: Retired school administrator
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Moreno Valley
Campaign website or social media: ruthself-williams.com, None
How can the school district best meet the needs of all students, including those learning English, those who need mental health service, those in special education programs and those from low-income backgrounds?
The district has an implementation plan by departments (Educational Services, Student Services, Multi-lingual Education and Special Education) to address the academic, mental, social and support services for our students to ensure they receive every opportunity to be successful as a student in Moreno Valley Unified.
Some school districts have adopted transgender notification policies to notify parents if a student says they are transgender. If your district has such a policy, do you support or oppose it? Why? If yours does not, would you support or oppose such rules? Why?
Moreno Valley Unified School District does not have a current policy to notify parents if their student says they are transgender. I would oppose such rules due to the focus we should have for all students. A school needs to be a safe haven for our students to thrive, grow and learn without barriers that impact their feeling of safety and success. A student who develops relationships with trusting adults and peers needs to feel valued, respected and above all, secure safe as they endure the requirements of earning an education.
What is the biggest issue the school district faces, and how would you address it?
The biggest issue facing school districts is declining enrollment and budget deficits as rising costs impact operations (utilities, benefits, insurance, etc.) while balancing the budget (required reserves) as the state COLA (budget) drives what a district receives.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities within the school district?
I would make a good leader because of my focus on serving the needs of ALL students and the community. My motto is “”Standing for Our Students,”” which requires every decision made to focus on what’s best for students. When it comes to leadership, I believe in accountability, transparency and open communication. As a board member in working with parents, students, staff and the community, my priorities are safe schools, fiscal responsibility, high-quality data driven instruction, and increased academic achievement for our students.
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