With all of the Challenges, Reduced Class Size is Key

By Bill Wiese

With the reality of lower funding upon the school district, Bill provides an outline of the approach he would take to "do more with less". He is positive in his outlook and specific with his plan to reduce class size: this is the single most important and effective step that can be taken to improve kids' education.

My vision for the Claremont Schools is one with smaller class sizes from kindergarten all the way through high school. Ask almost any teacher about the impact of smaller class size on their ability to teach. I envision a system where parents of all strata and all demographics are involved in the academic success of their children. I envision a school system that knows the achievements of its academic stars as well as it knows the athletic achievements of its quarterback. I envision a school system that routinely exceeds academic expectations no matter what its demographics.

The budget and operational problems in the Claremont Unified School District are, in fact, difficult, and are likely to get worse. Citing the reasons that something can't be done--or falling back on the way things have always been done--will not help us to the next level. We must be innovative, resourceful and open to the possibilities. The schools must be real partners to the entire community, not merely the domain of a small portion of it. We must look around us and make use of all the resources and people available to us. We must be inclusive of the rich diversity of our town.

These are some of the questions, talents, and new ideas that I will bring to the school board. I believe it is time for a fresh look, and that is why I ask for your vote on November 4th.