October 22, 2004

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Publication Date: Friday, October 22, 2004

RoseMary Sias Roquero

RoseMary Sias Roquero believes that every child in the Mountain View-Whisman School District -- regardless of socioeconomic differences or learning disabilities -- has the right and potential to attend college some day.

Roquero feels so strongly about this that it tops the list of goals she hopes to accomplish if elected to the school board next month.

"Do all the children in the district have the ability to reach 100 percent on state tests? Yes," Roquero said, "because if I said 'no' then I'm lowering the bar.

"Every child has the opportunity for giftedness," she added. "Each child needs to be given an opportunity to reach college."

Roquero, who grew up attending schools now part of the Mountain View-Whisman district and raised two daughters here, said, "Now I'm on a quest to continue advocating for youth. Win or lose, I'm always going to be a role model."

She explained that children need to realize that adults are on their side. The district's young charges, Roquero said, need to feel they are supported in order to succeed. And the schools' teachers and principals also need to be supported.

"If we don't educate our youth in our school system, we will educate them in prison," she said.

Roquero, who has a teaching credential for K-8 and special education and is a Latino mentor, said she would "raise the bar" by starting parent support centers, providing open communication "to all learners and all walks of life" and having a positive mindset.

Roquero also favors the idea of small schools but declined to comment about what factors she'd consider if forced to close one of the district's nine campuses, which current officials say is necessary.

On that issue, Roquero, who served on the district's School Closure Task Force, said she doesn't have enough information yet. If she had to make a decision, she said, she would decide what would be best for the community has a whole.

Asked to discuss where she would make cuts from the district's $31.6-million budget, if necessary, Roquero also declined to provide specific examples.

"I don't have that type of data to be making those decisions right now," she said. "I don't know. I see they are already working on a lean budget.

"I understand the half-empty and the half-full concept. I choose to be half-full."

The school board will soon need to hire a permanent superintendent. Roquero said Eleanor Yick, who is holding this position until the end of June, is the "best person for the job right now." Asked whether she'd support spending thousands of dollars on a nationwide search for a new top administrator, Roquero said she would consider anything other board members wanted to explore.

Ultimately, Roquero said she wants a "mover and a shaker" in that position, someone who's a good communicator and will uphold the district's standard of excellence.

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