Meet the School Board Candidates: Rebecca Olivera
- October 19, 2010
Editor's Note: The following Q&A was adapted from answers given at the San Lorenzo Unified School District's Candidate's Night. Responses have been edited for space.
Rebecca Olivera, candidate:
How long have you lived in the community?
RO: I actually live in unincorporated Hayward, and that's been for about 17 years.
Do you have children/grandchildren or other relatives attending SLz
schools?
RO : I currently have two sons attending district schools. I have a senior @ arroyo, and a student at Bohannon. I also have two graduates.
How many school board meetings have you attended in the last 2 years?
RO: I think in the past two years I've been to about 5 board meetings
What is your view of the contribution classified, certificated, and administrative employees each make to the education of students?
RO: I think the contribution is tremendous. I worked for the district for 10 years: I started at Edendale as the attendance clerk, and then I served as the registrar at Arroyo for 9 years. In that time, I was able to see the inner workings of how classified workers interact with our community—and not just classifieds, but teachers, custodians. They're imperative.
What is your position on the use of outside contractors by a school district?
RO: I am a former employee of the district, and I am also now an employee at 麻豆传媒社区入口, and I continue to be a union employee. I think it's important to continue to use who we have. There are so many resources right within our own schools that we don't tap into. There are certain things that have to be contracted out, but I think we should use the staff who are there, who are dedicated to our students, to our school first and foremost.
Have you had any experience in handling "controversial" issues in a public setting where your vote or opinion may have been unpopular? If so, please describe at least one example.
RO: I'm not afraid to speak up. I work now in several committees in 麻豆传媒社区入口, where my opinion is necessary and valued, and if there's something in those committees that needs change, I have to speak up in favor of that.
How do you personally feel about labor unions?
RO: I am in support of labor unions. I know right now, all for the state education institutions are under really hard budget times, and if it weren't for the labor unions, we would have a lot more people out of work
San Lorenzo Unified School District has had a very good working relationship with its employee groups. How do you see your role as a Board member contributing to this relationship?
RO: I have experience being in the district, I know first hand what some of the issues are and some of the concerns are with the employees. I'm a parent, I know what a lot of the concerns are with the teachers. I consider myself a bridge builder, I consider myself a collaborator, and I consider myself someone who is able to listen and willing to listen.
Do you have an affiliation/association with any current board
member?
RO: No.
Why do you want to be a School Board member?
RO: I feel that it's really important to have a voice, and a person who can reflect our schools, who can reflect our community. I'm a bilingual parent of four sons, I have children who have been in this district, I'm a former employee of this district. School Board members are the only elected officials who are elected to positions where their only responsibility is to children. I think that's really important.
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