Tag: Perris School Board

Perris Elementary School District: ‘Students, Teachers & Parents Deserve Solutions’

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“Perris Elementary School District is failing its faculty & families,” says candidate for school district

Press Release
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updated: Oct 21, 2018

PERRIS, Calif., October 21, 2018 (Newswire.com)
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The following is an open letter from Dr. Norman Quintero, candidate for the School Board of the Perris Elementary School District.

Our educational system is in crisis. Dedicated and highly-qualified faculty, hard-working students and involved parents are performing miracles against impossible odds. Nationwide, the average number of students per teacher is 16. The size of a PESD classroom is 24, about 11 of which are English Learners and as many as 5 will be absent on any given day. In our district, almost half the students are being taught math, history or science in a language that is foreign to them. Obviously, in our district, more kids need individual attention and specialized instruction. In our district, educators have less time and resources to provide the necessary opportunities to performing their jobs as successfully as possible.

We can motivate our students, support our teachers, involve our parents, reduce absenteeism, enhance the quality of this basic level in the learning experience and increase resources by creating mentor/tutorial programs, social and athletic activities outside of school hours. The recruitment of community volunteers, non-profit organizations and business sponsors will make our campuses a destination for special attention, confidence-building and personal fulfillment

Dr Norman Quintero, Candidate for Perris Elementary School Board District 5

Without the support from a School Board that provides creative strategies, practical plans and real solutions, our highly-qualified teachers, hard-working students and involved parents are being cheated. 40 percent of our students do not meet basic, minimum, educational standards set by the state of California. 25 percent are at health risk for physical fitness. Those numbers should be even worse, given the unique challenges that PESD teachers and students face. That number would be higher, if not for their extraordinary commitment and efforts.

Realistically, in the short term, budgets won’t allow a significant increase in the number of teachers or a decrease in the size of classes. There are simply not enough hours in the existing school day to provide enough time to address the mental and physical development necessary to a solid foundation for success in secondary schools and beyond. Certainly, the big words and meaningless generalities produced by bureaucratic reports and piles of paperwork haven’t accomplished any results.

I am focused on deeds, not words. As part of my 6-milestone Road Map for improving our underperforming PESD, I have identified both causes and the solutions. In this 4th step toward providing our students, teachers and parents the educational environment that they deserve, I am addressing the critical need, ideal opportunity for, after-school activities and programs.

I am the only candidate who has devoted his career to education, children’s advocacy, mental health and community activism. I share a common culture and background with our families and their kids. Combined with my proven track record in business and management, I have mastered the allocation of limited resources and an ability to “think outside the box” in order to achieve real results with real actions.

I believe that I am the only candidate who identifies, speaks simply and directly to, the issues. We can motivate our students, support our teachers, involve our parents, reduce absenteeism, enhance the quality of this basic level in the learning experience and increase resources by creating mentor/tutorial programs, social and athletic activities outside of school hours. The recruitment of community volunteers, nonprofit organizations and business sponsors will make our campuses a destination for special attention, confidence-building and personal fulfillment.

Source: Dr. Norman Quintero

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October 21, 2018
Dr. Norman Quintero: Students Pay the Costs of Absenteeism and Untapped Resources

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Third in a series on the ‘Road Map’ to success for underperforming school districts

Press Release
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updated: Oct 2, 2018

PERRIS, Calif., October 2, 2018 (Newswire.com)
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With slightly less than 6,000 students spread among eight facilities, the Perris Elementary School district is relatively small as compared to many others throughout the state of California. Despite the fact that 90 percent of the student body meets the criteria of being “socio-economically disadvantaged,” per-pupil allocations are slightly above the statewide average. Yet PESD consistently ranks in the bottom one-third of achievement levels and other categories in service to the community and its children.

Funding and tools for public school districts can come from many sources. In addition to a fixed tax base, many supplemental programs are available to provide revenues from local, state and federal agencies. As well, both public and private sector grants can increase annual budgets, while corporate sponsors routinely donate of goods and services. In order to take full advantage of these well-deserved opportunities and assets, governing school boards must be aggressively proactive in both identifying and pursuing them. In the most recent 80-paged Local Control Accountability Plan and Annual Update, among numerous deficiencies, “needs,” “goals” and “performance gaps,” nowhere is addressed the simplest and most obvious of solutions or strategies.

I’ve devoted my training, my career and my life to serving those in need. I am not a politician, but this election provides me another opportunity to apply my successes as a practical businessman, spiritual leader and activist on behalf of our kids.

Dr. Norman Quintero, Mental Health Practitioner

Any small investment in the time, thought and effort required to research and access the means to improve or create after school, special education and tutorial programs pales in comparison to the potential benefits. Too many of those who reference “vision” and “commitment” overlook the remedies at hand. Too many of those who generate mountains of paperwork and navigate miles of red tape fail to fill out a few more forms in order provide a higher quality of education.

On any given day, one out of five PESD students does not attend classes. Obviously, that is one day that each falls behind. What many taxpayers and parent don’t realize is that the school district is penalized financially based on “average daily attendance.” Somewhere along the line, someone or some committee determined that bus transportation should only be available to families who lived outside a 2.5-mile radius from their children’s school. Otherwise, a 6- or 12-year-old should be expected to walk – potentially alone – for up to an hour each way, both to and from school each day … regardless of weather, traffic, physical ability or potential danger.

Dr. Norman Quintero, a candidate for the PESD School Board is a product of the American public school system and a longstanding member of the local community with eight children of his own. He has overcome a lower-income childhood and serious medical challenges to achieve two doctorates and become an internationally recognized advocate for education, mental health and children.

“I’ve devoted my training, my career and my life to serving those in need. I am not a politician, but this election provides me another opportunity to apply my successes as a practical businessman, spiritual leader and activist on behalf of our kids.”

Source: Dr Norman Quintero

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October 2, 2018
Dr. Norman Quintero Demands Financial Accountability in Schools

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Quintero says Perris Elementary School District’s poor performance is due to poor management, not lack, of funds

Press Release
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updated: Sep 11, 2018

PERRIS, Calif., September 11, 2018 (Newswire.com)
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Among all candidates for the Perris Elementary School District Board, only one contender has identified specific causes for and stated specific solutions to address he believes is the inferior education of Perris, California’s local children. Armed with a five-point “Road Map” and decades of education, experience and shared culture, Dr. Norman Quintero has based his campaign on results, rather than rhetoric.

Last week, in the first of a series of interviews, he addressed what he sees as primary solutions – allocation of resources and accountability. Despite above-average funding as compared to other California schools, the relatively small district is ranked very low in overall program quality. Despite substantial state, federal and private-sector subsidies for nutrition, technology and recent pay raises to a highly qualified faculty, students’ test scores, accommodations and learning environment rank overall in the bottom one-third statewide.

This community is our home. My wife and I are obligated to see that our kids – all kids – are given every opportunity for success. The PESD has the tools, but only the PESD board can make the repairs to a broken system. The first steps are allocation and accountability of every dollar to every student.

Dr Norman Quintero, Candidate

According to a growing number of parents, community leaders, educators and members of the business community, this election is simply about using the tools available in order to reverse the trend. Many of those same voters support and endorse Dr. Quintero due to his extensive background in education, mental health, charitable organizations and public service. But even more key is his success in business – in achieving maximum results from available resources.

Dr. Quintero says elementary education is the foundation on which work ethic and study habits in secondary education, future employment, social values and quality of life are built. Especially in a district where almost 4,500 kids are classified as “socio-economically disadvantaged,” every available dollar spent must be a dollar well-spent. The obligations of financial accountability and allocation must be the No. 1 priority of the governing body (and its board members) responsible for the allocation and accountability that dollar.

Dr. Norman Quintero is uniquely qualified as a candidate for the school board. The majority of his many successes in businesses have not been driven by profit, but for service with national and international non-profit organizations. As a tough negotiator and even more scrupulous money manager, he has maximized the benefits of every one of those dollars in providing for our children, homeless and needy.

Ongoing operations and education require ongoing management. Budgets are created months (or years) in advance, but expenses and revenues can change daily. In order to deliver the highest-quality product and service, an expert and experienced businessperson is critical in meeting the ever-changing challenges and requirements. The PESD is responsible for upwards of a $57 million-dollar budget, but far more importantly, the fundamental education of more than 5,000 students. There is no product or service more valuable.

In his most recent interview, Dr. Quintero stated, “This community is our home. My wife and I are obligated to see that our kids – all kids – are given every opportunity for success. The PESD has the tools, but only the PESD board can make the repairs to a broken system. The first steps are allocation and accountability of every dollar to every student.”

Source: Dr. Norman Quintero

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September 11, 2018
Dr. Norman Quintero Enters Non-Partisan Race for PESD Board

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Candidate Identifies Specific Causes and Cures in Ailing Perris Elementary Schools

Press Release
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updated: Aug 29, 2018

PERRIS, Calif., August 29, 2018 (Newswire.com)
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Despite available and untapped resources, the Perris Elementary School District continues to struggle in meeting the challenges of educating its students. Current funding is above the average of other statewide districts. Microsoft provides technology at no cost to the district or parents. Nutrition being critical to the learning process, 80 percent of students are eligible for state and federally subsidized meals. A professional, dedicated and qualified faculty shares with a concerned, and an involved, citizenry the absolute priority on fulfilling the potential of every child. So why and how has the system continued to fail?

The reasons and excuses are many. Some might say the school board has succumbed to politics, apathy, incompetence, bureaucratic inertia or generic bromides – or maybe even all five. In order to remedy any problems, one must first identify their existence and their root causes. Only at that point, can real solutions be defined and implemented. Whether diagnosing an illness and treating it or mapping a journey from “Point A” to “Point B,” there must be a viable plan.

Today, my priority is on the efficient and productive allocation of our limited, but adequate, resources. Other California public school systems, with far less funding and far greater financial burdens, are outperforming us in academics, school safety and overall development of our kids. I have the advantage of decades as a social advocate, an educator, sharing a common culture with my community and as a mental health professional.

Dr. Norman Quintero

Among less than 6,000 students, almost 90 percent meet the criteria of, “socio-economically disadvantaged.” Approximately 50 percent are “English Learners.” In math and reading proficiency, overall ratings by California Department of Education standards, the school district consistently under-performs and founders in the bottom one-third of the state’s public school districts. There are essentially no after-school programs, tutorials nor any systemic accommodation of “special needs.” Average Daily Attendance, on which funding is based, shows that 20 percent – one in five students – are absent from class on any given day.

In researching all candidates for a position on the Perris Elementary School District Board, only one has shown the foresight – a feasible vision – to establish an actual “Road Map” from where the PESD is and how to navigate toward its destination. Dr. Norman Quintero has diagnosed the condition and has taken the bold commitment of addressing the symptoms one at a time.

At this first stage of his campaign for the Nov. 6 election, Dr. Quintero has gone on the record: “Over the course of the next several weeks, I will be confronting each of the district’s and the board’s previous failures as well as the real proposals necessary to rectify them. Today, my priority is on the efficient and productive allocation of our limited, but adequate, resources. Other California public school systems, with far less funding and far greater financial burdens, are outperforming us in academics, school safety and overall development of our kids. I have the advantage of decades as a social advocate, an educator, sharing a common culture with my community and as a mental health professional.”

Dr. Quintero also expressed his enthusiasm for the community, the media and even his opponents to contact him and discuss his comprehensive plan to vitalize the Perris Elementary School District by optimizing and maximizing all of its resources.

CONTACT:

Dr. Norman Quintero
Drnorman@nqrcorp.com
(951) 215-6565

Source: Dr. Norman Quintero

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August 29, 2018