28 Apr Linda P. Cavazos
Linda P. Cavazos
for
Clark County School District G Trustee
Campaign Contact Phone: 7025739977
Website: lindacavazos.com
Facebook: Linda P Cavazos
Twitter: lindacavazos13
2022 Questionnaire
Please share briefly what inspired you to run for this office and why you feel you’re qualified for the position.
I ran for this office because I felt that not enough decisive action was being taken to better educate ALL of our students, to support our educators, and to include all of our communities equitably. I've lived in District G for over 30 years, educated my children here, taught in CCSD for 15 years, and trained student teachers as an adjunct instructor at UNLV. I believe that my experiences as a CCSD parent, educator, and advocate give me a well rounded perspective of what is needed to bring up our achievement levels, offer educational opportunities to all student populations, and to bring our community leaders into the conversation. Additionally, as a licensed mental health professional, I am uniquely qualified to help assess the social emotional component of our children's educational needs.
How do you propose that more funding be allocated to public education?
I think that mining and the gaming interests need to pay more. We need properly funded schools, not more professional sports stadiums.
Parents are frustrated with the performance of public schools, its apparent nonresponsiveness to the community, and its current poor performance with student outcomes. What are your thoughts on how we can support public education and change this situation?
More transparency regarding the District budget priorities is needed, so that people can actually see where the money is going. Student outcomes cannot, and will not move upward, if our employees are not taken care of, in regard to school environment, physical and emotional safety, and overall support. We need more advocacy from parents, our partners, our municipalities, and the business community. Everyone needs to be held accountable for effective communication to all entities.
How would you propose changing the current funding formula to make it more equitable for children from poverty, English Language Learners and special education students?
The new per pupil funding formula is a big step in the right direction, but I don't think it goes far enough. We need to ensure that the money DOES follow the students, and that the structure of our zoom and victory schools is protected. In regard to special needs, funds need to be appropriated specifically for the various programs.
There is a rise of bullying and racism in our schools. If elected, what steps would you make to ensure that our children can safely attend school?
Strict oversight of Training, implementation, and consistent enforcement of both our anti bullying and anti racism policies, and adherence to the law--AB371.
Comprehensive, age and developmentally appropriate, medically-accurate, inclusive sex education has been proven to improve students’ long-term health outcomes, yet it is not required that students be provided with this information in their sex-ed programs. Do you believe that public school sex-ed programs should be comprehensive, medically accurate, and inclusive?
Yes, I do.
Do you support ending the use of pepper spray on students by the school district police? Yes or No, and why?
Yes, it should be an absolutely last resort in only the most extreme cases, not used as an everyday deterrent, instead of police using de-escalation techniques.
Post Covid we have many students who have not been able to catch up in their learning. It is particularly alarming that the younger students, who did not acquire reading skills during remote learning, are very far behind in reading proficiency. At the other end, we have seen a drop in Nevada’s high school graduation rates, with minorities, special ed, and ELLs now suffering a significant graduation gap. How do we address the needs of the Covid generation?
First of all, we need to meet the students "where they are." Instead of trying to cram two years into one semester, individualized plans need to be spread out over a reasonable timespan, with regular monitoring of specific goals. As these goals are met, (ex: 5% reading gain), then the next set of goals can be planned, with the student not becoming overwhelmed, while still making steady improvement. Graduation gaps are being addressed with credit retrieval courses which align with the regular class schedule.
What is your position on legislation such as Don’t Say Gay, and forcing transgender children to use bathrooms of their birth sex?
I am very much against such discriminatory laws. They are harmful mentally and emotionally, and in some cases, physically.
What is your position on restorative justice?
My position is that if restorative justice is to be helpful and effective, it has to be implemented in a phased approach, with training and consistency. A multi-tiered systemic structure works best, with both students and educators fully aware of what the expectations are. Parents need to be included in the process, and law enforcement has to be trained on all facets of what restorative justice entails, otherwise communities of color will continue to be victimized.