Where do candidates for Cayucos Elementary School District stand on the issues?

Five candidates are running for three open seats on the Cayucos Elementary School District board this November, but only one is contested.

Single candidates are running for two of the seats: Chris Castillo in Area 2 and Gretchen Ross in Area 3.

Meanwhile, three candidates are running to represent Area 1: Incumbent Steve Geil is facing off against Kerry Friend and Chloe Phillips.

The Tribune was unable to reach Phillips for participation in the Voter Guide.

Here are the candidate responses for the district’s single contested race, organized by candidate and in alphabetical order.

Editor’s note: Some responses have been edited for length or clarity.

Trustee Area 1

Kerry Friend

Please describe your background with the district:

I was a school board member from 2010-18.

What is your vision for what your district should look like in five years? 10 years?

I would like to see Cayucos Elementary, in both five and 10 years, achieve the current mission statement of the school which is, “Cayucos Elementary School District, where every student is welcomed, challenged and inspired.” What this will look like in five and 10 years is hard to predict. No one could have predicted the turmoil and division COVID caused the past two school years. I want to see students supported in academics, athletics, technology, arts, trades and home economics, to name a few.

What do you believe is the most important issue facing your district today, and what will you do to address it?

An important issue is how the board works together to give direction to the superintendent. The job of the superintendent is to carry out direction set by trustees. I would like to see the school board follow the California School Board Association (CSBA) Roles and Responsibilities of a school board. The five major responsibilities are setting direction; establishing an effective and efficient structure; providing support; ensuring accountability; and providing leadership as advocates for children, the school district and public schools.

Is the school district doing enough to help address learning loss that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic? Is there anything you would like to improve?

At the Sept. 15 board meeting, Superintendent Jen Gaviola presented the un-audited actuals. Part of her presentation included revenue and expenditure from one-time funds related to COVID-19. Cayucos Elementary School District (CESD) received Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. Funds were used to install a new permanent shade structure outside the cafeteria to provide outdoor learning and eating space, to upgrade technology network equipment to support individual student devices, to purchase additional Chromebooks for student use, and to expand hours for instructional aides’ teacher-led intervention to address learning loss during distance learning. I do think the district is adequately addressing learning loss that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Do you think the school district should change its policies to better support LGBTQ+ students, students of color and/or other marginalized groups in the district? If so, how?

I honestly do not know what CESD is doing to specifically support these students as I have not heard any discussion on this topic at board meetings over the last year I have been attending meetings. My interpretation of this would be that all students, including the specific students mentioned in the question, feel safe and secure at Cayucos Elementary. I do believe policies should support LGBTQ+ students, students of color and/or other marginalized groups in the district and if it comes to light they are not supported, I would advocate updating policies.

What do you think are three other issues facing the district you’d like to address while on the school board?

One: Communication with community members who do not have children or grandchildren at CESD. I would like to focus on a way to inform non-school connected community members about opportunities to be on committees (for example LCAP and Site Council), to attend events (for example performances and athletics), and to volunteer at different activities.

Two: Revisiting the Memorandum of Understanding between Cayucos Elementary School District, Coast Unified School District (CUSD) and San Luis Coastal Unified School District about money following students with inter-district transfers. Currently over $1 million of Cayucos property tax money goes to CUSD when only a handful of Cayucos graduates attend Coast Union High School. Cayucos property tax money should fund schools who accept Cayucos inter-district transfers.

Three: Form a developer fee committee to ensure fees are collected and spent according to government code.

Steve Geil

Please describe your background with the district:

Seven years on the Cayucos Elementary School District Board.

What is your vision for what your district should look like in five years? 10 years?

My vision for the Cayucos Elementary School District is to be acknowledged as the shining example of preparing students for future success.

What do you believe is the most important issue facing your district today, and what will you do to address it?

The most important issue for our district, and any district, is to assure we are providing the highest level of education for our students.

Is the school district doing enough to help address learning loss that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic? Is there anything you would like to improve?

The Cayucos Elementary School District has been providing summer educational opportunities for students who have fallen behind due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The district offers many remedial programs for any student who needs extra help to catch up.

Do you think the school district should change its policies to better support LGBTQ+ students, students of color and/or other marginalized groups in the district? If so, how?

The district supports every child that chooses to attend the Cayucos Elementary School District.

What do you think are three other issues facing the district you’d like to address while on the school board?

I’d like to see more parent participation at school board meetings. Increase in student population. Keeping student achievement at the highest level.

This story was originally published October 12, 2022 at 9:00 AM.

Kaytlyn Leslie

The Tribune

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Kaytlyn Leslie writes about business and development for The San Luis Obispo Tribune. Hailing from Nipomo, she also covers city governments and happenings in San Luis Obispo. She joined The Tribune in 2013 after graduating from Cal Poly with her journalism degree.