News Item: : 1st Latino since '81 joins county board - San Bernardino Sun
(Category: Local News)
Posted by Webmaster
Tuesday 05 December 2006 - 10:46:49
Our Democratic colleague Gil Navarro appeared today in the San Bernardino Sun:
1st Latino since '81 joins county board
Charlotte Hus, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun
Article Launched:12/05/2006 12:00:00 AM PST
Education advocate Gil Navarro on Monday became the first Latino to be seated on the San Bernardino County Board of Education since 1981.
More than 50 percent of the county's students are Latino, up from 40 percent 10 years ago, according to the California Department of Education.
Navarro was sworn in at a board meeting Monday along with former board president David Stine and Mark Sumpter, former superintendent of Helendale schools, who were elected last month along with Navarro.
Navarro believes having a Latino on the school board is important for the county's Latino students because seeing someone of their own ethnicity in an elected position could be an inspiration.
Nine years ago, he says, he played a key role in encouraging longtime friend Elsa Valdez to run for the San Bernardino City Unified School Board. Valdez, who still serves in that office, stood with Navarro as he took his oath.
If nothing else, Navarro has been persistent.
He won his seat after losing about 10 elections in San Bernardino and Riverside counties over the years. Among his losses are four unsuccessful attempts to make it onto the city school boards in Riverside and San Bernardino.
On winning, he says he felt "a sense of relief. I've always felt that people doubted me and the work I was doing."
Navarro says one of his top priorities in office will be ensuring government transparency and helping the public get the information it wants.
He added his immediate task is to begin learning more about board policies and procedures.
Herb Fischer, the county superintendent of schools, said Navarro's presence as a Latino is welcomed because it brings a new perspective to the board.
"Boards of education should reflect their communities, and as our community changes, we have the opportunity for more and more individuals to take leadership positions through the board of education," Fischer said.
Also at Monday's meeting: NTD Strichler Architects presented a proposed design for a new county high school. The high school, in Apple Valley, would serve children who have special needs and find it difficult to learn in normal school environments.
The board heard a financial report projecting that deficit spending will not be a problem for county schools this year.
The board approved a list of educational videos to include in eSOURCE, a service that provides digital video streaming to school districts. Navarro voted against the list, citing the lack of videos pertaining to Latino history.
This news item is from Greater Rialto Democratic Club
( http://www.greaterrialtodemocraticclub.org/news.php?extend.10 )
(Category: Local News)
Posted by Webmaster
Tuesday 05 December 2006 - 10:46:49
Our Democratic colleague Gil Navarro appeared today in the San Bernardino Sun:
1st Latino since '81 joins county board
Charlotte Hus, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun
Article Launched:12/05/2006 12:00:00 AM PST
Education advocate Gil Navarro on Monday became the first Latino to be seated on the San Bernardino County Board of Education since 1981.
More than 50 percent of the county's students are Latino, up from 40 percent 10 years ago, according to the California Department of Education.
Navarro was sworn in at a board meeting Monday along with former board president David Stine and Mark Sumpter, former superintendent of Helendale schools, who were elected last month along with Navarro.
Navarro believes having a Latino on the school board is important for the county's Latino students because seeing someone of their own ethnicity in an elected position could be an inspiration.
Nine years ago, he says, he played a key role in encouraging longtime friend Elsa Valdez to run for the San Bernardino City Unified School Board. Valdez, who still serves in that office, stood with Navarro as he took his oath.
If nothing else, Navarro has been persistent.
He won his seat after losing about 10 elections in San Bernardino and Riverside counties over the years. Among his losses are four unsuccessful attempts to make it onto the city school boards in Riverside and San Bernardino.
On winning, he says he felt "a sense of relief. I've always felt that people doubted me and the work I was doing."
Navarro says one of his top priorities in office will be ensuring government transparency and helping the public get the information it wants.
He added his immediate task is to begin learning more about board policies and procedures.
Herb Fischer, the county superintendent of schools, said Navarro's presence as a Latino is welcomed because it brings a new perspective to the board.
"Boards of education should reflect their communities, and as our community changes, we have the opportunity for more and more individuals to take leadership positions through the board of education," Fischer said.
Also at Monday's meeting: NTD Strichler Architects presented a proposed design for a new county high school. The high school, in Apple Valley, would serve children who have special needs and find it difficult to learn in normal school environments.
The board heard a financial report projecting that deficit spending will not be a problem for county schools this year.
The board approved a list of educational videos to include in eSOURCE, a service that provides digital video streaming to school districts. Navarro voted against the list, citing the lack of videos pertaining to Latino history.
This news item is from Greater Rialto Democratic Club
( http://www.greaterrialtodemocraticclub.org/news.php?extend.10 )