It has been a deep honor serving the LCUSD for the past nine years. I believe we’ve made enormous progress for our schools and communities, but we have more work to do. I first ran for school board because I believe in the transformative power of education. That belief has only grown stronger as I’ve served our community.
My wife Andrea and I have been active La Cañada residents for 19 years and we are the proud parents of five incredible kids, with our two youngest at LCHS. I’ve been there for their triumphs and their struggles. I want to fight for the best education for not only them, but for all our kids. I understand that we have to meet the challenges of today — COVID, school stress, mental health, inclusion, safety — head on. And we need to foster an environment of both educational excellence and deep support.
Our schools are doing extremely well academically. Our district placed as the #1 district statewide in English and the #2 district statewide in math in the most recent CAASP standardized testing. Two of our elementary schools received National Blue Ribbon honors last year, while the third already had that distinction. We had a record number of National Merit Finalists, and our kids are attending top colleges worldwide.
Our district enrollment is stable. We have a cap of 15% maximum on the number of students attending on permits, and these students add to our district and classes in many ways. They are part of our community with parents who work for LCUSD or other La Cañada employers like JPL.
Our kids are recovering from the COVID lockdown, and we have emotional and social supports in place to assist them. Our Wellness Center at the high school has been very well received, and we have expanded access to 7th and 8th graders. We are piloting a wellness room at LCE with parental approval and involvement, and plan to expand this pilot to our other elementary schools.
We have made significant progress in identifying the infrastructure and technological needs of the district through the Facilities Master Plan. We have established priorities for repairing and upgrading our aging classrooms and facilities to provide a well-rounded, twenty-first century education for our students. As a career prosecutor, safety and security have always been and will always remain a top priority.
We have a great community, and La Cañada has been very good to our family. Our family has a vested interest in our schools – as do all La Cañada residents. What is good for our schools is good for our children, and we all know that our property values are closely linked to the high ranking of our excellent schools and the great reputation of our community. I have proven my dedication to our schools and community over the past nine years, and I will use my past success to keep pushing LCUSD and our community to new heights.
I understand our community has many diverse viewpoints on how we can best serve our kids. I believe the best solutions are the ones that listen, that focus on the best evidence we have, and that build consensus.
I am proud of the relationships I’ve made, and my ability to build consensus and promote coalition and collaboration. I am proud to be endorsed by our local La Cañada leaders with a wide variety of perspectives: Senator Anthony Portantino, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, the La Canada Teachers Association, City Council Members and Mayors Rick Gunter, Terry Walker, Mike Davitt, Kim Bowman, Laura Olhasso, John Curtis and Greg Brown, LCUSD Board Members and Presidents Caroline Anderson, Josh Epstein, Jeanne Broberg, Andrew Blumenfeld, Scott Tracy, Ellen Multari, Bren Kuszyk, David Sagal, Cindy Wilcox, and many other members of our community.
Our students, schools, and teachers are doing well. It’s why I’m running again. To help continue to build consensus. To foster an environment where our students, teachers, and families can all thrive and excel. Where they can feel safe and supported, challenged, and listened to. Where they can have access to the best resources on safe and secure campuses. Where we invest in the growth and future and success of all of the La Cañada Flintridge community.
I am seeking your vote to continue the work we have done, and to continue providing a true world class education to our students. I’d be honored to have your vote.
Thank you.
Dan