Frausto Represents A History of Dedication to Positive Change

By Porfirio J Frausto

Frausto is a strong Voice for the community that makes up the larger population of the PUSD. Frausto has a broad base of support from the community including every ethnic group and traditional and non-traditional Pasadena polititians, both liberal and conservative.

Qualifications:

The qualifications and experience that Frausto brings to this office include being an activist in Pasadena for over twenty-five years. He has worked to improve this community by serving on the Board of numerous local community-based organizations, some of which are the following:

Member, Pasadena Citizen's Police Academy. Member, El Centro. Member, Japanese Cultural Institute. Member, We Care. Chair, Affirmative Action Commission, City of Pasadena. Member, Charter Reform Panel, City of Pasadena. Member, Community Health Alliance and Proposition Y Oversight Committee, PUSD.

In addition to the above volunteer activities he has coached high school football for over twenty years including the last five years as Head Football Coach at Blair High School in Pasadena. One of the most important activities that Frausto helped found and participate in was the organizing committee of the "Annual Family Fun Day" at La Pintoresca Park.

La Pintoresca was one of the highest crime parks in the city but because of community efforts that brought the summer food program, recreation services, new playground equipment and the annual family fun day which is now a local institution with over 2,000 residents participating each year, crime at La Pintoresca Park has dropped to almost zero. This was achieved in great part because of Frausto's efforts to make the plan succeed as well as his overall dedication to his community. La Pintoresca Library is now one of the busiest libraries in the city because of Frausto's efforts.

Frausto is a current member of the Rose Bowl Operating Company. He has helped to secure more than $1.5 million for PUSD from the Bowl. He also established that Pasadena youth have the first right to work at the bowl and he developed a job-training academy at the Bowl for PUSD students.

Frausto's experience in the numerous non-profit organizations in Pasadena has provided him the opportunity to demonstrate his visionary leadership and fiduciary management abilities. His strength is in bringing individuals, organizations and community groups together to solve mutual problems and achieve mutual goals. One example of this was his involvement in bringing a head start program to the Japanese Cultural Institute located at the corner of Lincoln and Orange Grove. Because of his efforts in this regard over 100 community children and their families are receiving much needed cultural enrichment, education, health and other support services. Another by-product of Frausto's efforts in this program is the creation of inter-generational and multi-cultural experiences that might otherwise not have occurred.

Because of Frausto's financial oversight strength as a Board member of the RBOC and Chair of the Contract Committee, the $22 million Rose Bowl restoration project came in on time and under budget. Another example of Frausto's leadership strengths and capabilities was when as chair of the Foothill Area Community Services (FACS) an anti-poverty community action committee he increased its annual budget from 1.8 million to 7.2 million.

Reasons to Elect Frausto: Frausto would like to serve the community as a School Board member in order to establish policy that will guide the School District in improving the educational system and serving our children in an improved manner. After twenty-five years as an activist for change, Frausto understands that changes must begin with policy. His background with both the City and the School District has taught him how to get things done for our kids. He has a proven commitment to the community and to the School District and can help turn the schools around.

PUSD Problems

PUSD is in serious trouble; our children have among the worst test scores, dropout and graduation rates. Morale among students and staff is low and safety problems are very serious.

Major issues facing PUSD today include: · Low SAT 9 scores, low graduation rates · High drop out rates · One third of elementary children at risk of not being promoted to the next grade level, two thirds of secondary students do not have a C average. (The C average ruling prevents youth from participating in school activities) · School safety · Negative public perception and lack of trust of the School District Administration and the Board of Education.

Some Solutions

Frausto would begin to address these issues first and foremost by including parents and the business community as partners in the educational process. Frausto would also implement benchmarks for student performance, evaluations of teachers and administrators, exploring the possibility of performance incentives for teachers and administrators, mentoring programs and fiscal accountability..

Frausto has worked for many years to improve the community he lives in and has been actively involved in voicing the concerns of his community as well in solving some of its problems.

Frausto will promote and work toward the goal of aggressive change. Frausto is a strong voice for the community that makes up the greater population of the PUSD. He has a broad base of support from the community including every ethnic group, traditional and non-traditional Pasadena politicians, both liberals and conservatives.

Frausto has the courage and passion to ask direct questions, demand answers and take the heat. Frausto is not afraid of controversial positions because he knows what is necessary to make the chances that need to be made. Frausto has a broad range of experiences and has repeatedly linked education to the community. Frausto gets the job done and can bring new hope to the community.