Candidates for Modesto City Schools Area 4 trustee seat share priorities, backgrounds
Two candidates are running for Modesto City Schools Board of Education seat to represent Area 4. This northeast Modesto area includes Sonoma Elementary School. The school board candidates are incumbent and current board vice president Abel Maestas and challenger Emma Alonzo.
The Modesto Bee asked the candidates to fill out a questionnaire, but only Maestas responded.
Abel Maestas
Maestas was born in Sun Valley, Calif. He is married to Darcee Baracco Maestas and is a father of three children who attend school in the district. He is an instructional coach in Ceres Unified and taught summer school last year. His wife is a kindergarten teacher at Great Valley Academy.
Maestas has been endorsed by the Modesto Teachers Association and North Valley Labor Federation.
No members of his immediate family work for Modesto City Schools.
Q: What will be your most important priority if elected?
A: We have done so much over the last four years, but there is still work to be done. If I am re-elected, my most important priority will be expanding our programs that will support equity for our children. This includes continuing our equity audits around GATE, AP and IB programs, and grading. I truly believe that it is through our work with equity that we can create learning environments that will allow all our students to succeed. This, of course, does not mean that we lower expectations, rigor or the quality of instruction. It means that we look closely at how we are meeting the needs of all students and support those needs with programs that are intrinsically motivating, free from bias, accurate and accessible.
Q: With the district preparing for its fourth bond measure in the last six years, do you believe facilities at Modesto City Schools are a big issue? Why or why not?
A: Yes. We have done a lot of great work over the last four years with the two bond measures the voters have approved. It has been over 20 years since bonds have been used to update our schools. Think about all the technology that has been developed over those 20 years. Our students deserve to learn in facilities that are safe, comfortable and well equipped to put them in the best position for success. This includes feeding our kids in spaces to meet their needs during nutritional breaks. There are several schools with “portable” buildings used as cafeterias — a few that are so small they do not fit enough students and the school must have three, four or even five lunchtimes! We need to update these to properly serve our kids.
Q: Many parents of Black and LGBTQ students have said that bullying has been a major issue in their child’s lives and education. What are steps or plans you have to make sure schools are fostering an open and welcoming environment?
A: In my experience in the classroom, teachers and administration are the most important people to creating an open and welcoming environment. This begins with trust, empathy and relationships. Building a school culture of learning and empathy is the key to really combating bullying. Furthermore, students must trust that their experiences are fostered positively and that they are free to be who they are at school. However, there still need to be systems that support this. Apps that allow students to report bullying are a good tool.
I can tell you also what I would NOT do. I would never support a policy that requires teachers or school employees to notify parents if their student requests to use a different name or pronoun. I would not remove policies that we have worked hard to make progress on establishing equity for our students. I would never support any policy that takes away students’ rights to be who they are in a safe learning environment.
Q: Modesto City Schools has had a long history with Modesto Junior College and Stanislaus State. What are some plans you have to strengthen these relationships to help promote more students to continue to higher education?
A: These are relationships that we must continue to foster, as well as opening up more relationships with other community colleges and universities in and out of our area, such as our connection with UC Merced, allowing students from Modesto City Schools who are qualified to get guaranteed acceptance to their university. We can do the same with Stan State. I would like to see our district expand our dual-enrollment opportunities for our students. Over the past two years, we have significantly expanded these programs and more of our students this year participate in dual enrollment than ever before. That being said, we still have more work to do so that many, many more students can take these early college opportunities.
Emma Alonzo
Alonzo did not respond to the candidate profile The Modesto Bee sent out.
She was born in New York City and moved to San Fernando Valley with her late husband, Joseph Alonzo. She eventually moved to Modesto, where her daughter resides, and she has lived here for over 24 years.
She owns and operates a travel agency and is a member of the Modesto Police Department’s DARE/PAL program, an organization that tries to prevent children from using drugs or other substances.
On her candidate website, she said she is concerned with school choice and parental rights, teaching educational basics and improving transparency.
