Fremont Bulletin is publishing questions and answers from the candidates vying for positions on Fremont Unified School District's Board of Education. The three responses from each candidate below have been edited only to meet Associated Press style, and length requirements. The election is Nov. 7 for two four-year seats on the city council, one vacated by Guy Emanuele. Incumbent Larry Sweeney is re-running.

Q:Why are you running and how are you qualified?

Lara York

A: I believe that Fremont Unified can be doing a better job of serving our students. We have a good school district, and I think that all of our students from preschool through adult school deserve great schools.

Having been continuously involved with the community and school district for over eight years, I have learned how the district functions, giving me the knowledge and perspective to effectively represent the citizens of Fremont.

As a parent of two Fremont Unified School District students and a passionate community advocate for quality education, I have been involved with a bevy of organizations including: vice president, Fremont Education Foundation; president, Fremont Chamber of Commerce's Dollars for Scholars, where I have promoted community and business investment in schools. Through such efforts, these organizations provide after-school band, teacher grants, and sports, academic and leadership scholarships. I am a strong believer in parental and community involvement and have served on the Financial Advisory Committee, Parent Representative Advisory Assembly, 2002 Health and Safety Bond, Community Facilities Committee, PTA, and School Site Council. In 2002-03 I was named the Fremont Schools Management Association's Friend of Education. I am a member of the League of Women Voters; American Association of University Women; Citizens for Better Community; and a former member of the FUN Mothers' Club.

I have developed the knowledge, experience and relationships needed to build consensus and succeed. I know the history of current issues, and respect the variety of education values of all Fremont residents.

Q:Fremont schools are widely touted as some of the best in the county, if not the state. What needs fixing?

Lara York

A: We have a lot of things to be proud of including Fremont's successes on the standardized tests scores which rank our entire district as a high performing district as well as the many "Blue Ribbon" school awards over the years. While these measures are important, there is another measure we should be focusing on the success of each of our students.

Every one of our students is important and deserves the best opportunities to succeed. This should be on the top of everyone's mind everyday when doing the business of the school district. How is what I'm doing helping a child succeed?

A few areas we can improve include:

Eliminating the achievement gap. Fremont has some groups of students score lower than other groups. Why? We must be analyzing the details and helping our teachers so that all of our students have the same prospective outcomes.

Special education. Our special education students should be receiving all the appropriate services needed without parents fighting the district.

Parents and students should be treated with respect as partners in education.

Class choices. Fremont Unified should be providing classes at the school sites where student demand asks for it, including elective and additional honors classes.

We can be doing a better job of engaging our students in relevant, challenging classes, programs and extra curricular activities so that when they graduate from our schools, they are prepared to become responsible, respectful, healthy members of our community.

Q:How can Fremont's public school system make its campuses safer for students and employees?

Lara York

A: It is our duty to provide safe environments for our students to learn and our teachers to teach. This includes an environment of respect for all in facilities which are well-built and well-maintained.

FUSD must listen to its staff and community as they ask for more training to prevent harassment, name calling and hazing. These trainings must include as many people and groups as possible including not only our teachers, but the students, staff, parents and volunteers. We repeatedly overlook the training of our volunteers on our campuses, but they are often the first at hand and must have the tools to handle conflict resolution. This is not a one-time item to be checked off a list, but an on-going part of the culture of respect our schools should adopt.

Preventative joint projects must be formed with the City of Fremont such as the restoration of Student Resource Officers in the junior highs, more education on preventing gangs, violence and drug use. We should look into implementing anonymous comment and reporting systems so that problems can be identified and addressed as early as possible. Many other school districts have wonderful programs in place which we can learn from, evaluate and adopt here.

Our facilities must also be safe environments, we have come a long way in providing safer facilities with the 2002 Health and Safety Bond which I helped develop and pass. It is half-way completed, providing environments which are more earthquake safe, have cleaner air, and more secure.