A Steady Hand for Our Schools: Putting Students First in PVPUSD
Contract negotiations are underway right now between PVPUSD and our local teachers’ union, the Palos Verdes Faculty Association. Recently at a school board meeting, PVFA president Samantha Weiss shared an anecdote that is worth further discussion. In her comments to the board, she described helping her friend who is applying for a superintendent position in another district by conducting a mock interview. Her friend’s answer regarding labor relations pointed out that unions are focused primarily on teachers, while the district must balance the needs of families, children, and the broader system. Ms. Weiss objected to this answer, describing it as a “structural inequity that just does not exist.”
Education works best when adults across the system—teachers, parents, administrators, board members, and the community—pull together toward shared goals: strong academic outcomes, supportive learning environments, and schools that remain excellent for generations. Classroom teachers are the heart of PVPUSD. Day in and day out, they bring skill, creativity, and genuine care to our children. They deserve our deepest respect, fair compensation, reasonable working conditions, and the trust that parents place in them every day to guide and educate our children.
Teacher unions do play a vital, legitimate role in advocating for their members' interests—ensuring educators have a strong voice on pay, benefits, and working conditions. That's important work, and as someone who has been a member of a labor union, I appreciate the hard work that goes into advocating for members. At the same time, with all due respect to Ms. Weiss, the school board's responsibility is indeed broader: representing every student, every family, every taxpayer, and the long-term academic and financial health of the entire district. While unions and boards can (and should) align around student success, their primary lenses differ. Clarity about these distinct roles strengthens partnership and keeps negotiations collaborative, focused on practical solutions rather than assumed perfect overlap.
The best contracts emerge when all parties approach bargaining with mutual respect, transparency, and creative problem-solving. When everyone treats one another as partners in the same mission—supported teachers leading to thriving students—trust grows and better outcomes follow for kids. A good-faith process with realistic timelines and open communication models the civility we want our students to see.
Fiscal responsibility is also an important form of care—for students and teachers alike. Long-term district stability protects the programs, small class sizes, and job security on which families and educators rely. Thoughtful stewardship and strong advocacy for taxpayer dollars ensures excellence can be sustained year after year.
California faces ongoing budget pressures—volatile revenues, competing priorities, and modest increases in school funding under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). Efforts like the "Raise the Base" campaign, which PVPUSD Superintendent Serrano recently signed onto, call for higher statewide base rates to address equity and inflation. Yet even if such advocacy succeeds (which is certainly not a guarantee, given California’s budgetary issues), significant disparities often remain: The gap between the highest and lowest per-pupil funding has increased since the LCFF was implemented. PVPUSD is one of the most underfunded school districts in California.
That's why strong local advocacy is essential. In PVPUSD, we must prudently plan to keep our schools strong regardless of what happens in Sacramento. At the same time, we must push for fairer base rates and reforms. PVPUSD should collaborate with other similarly underfunded districts—forming coalitions or joining advocacy efforts—to urge Sacramento toward meaningful change, whether through legislation, budget priorities, or legal challenges if necessary. This dual approach—strong local stewardship plus statewide equity advocacy—safeguards our kids and staff today while working toward a more balanced system for tomorrow.
If elected, as your school board member, I will be the steady, listening leader who honors teachers' dedication, respects union advocacy without conflating it with district-wide stewardship, engages collaboratively on negotiations, and prioritizes fiscal realism amid statewide realities. Together, we can build a district where educators feel supported, families feel confident, and every child has the opportunity to succeed.
