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Bobbi Chavarria
Bobbi Chavarria was a candidate for an at-large seat on the Fontana Unified School District school board in California. Chavarria was defeated in the at-large general election on November 8, 2016.
Though Chavarria identified as a Democrat, the school board seat was nonpartisan.[1] Chavarria participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 school board candidate survey. Click here to read her responses.
Biography
Chavarria was elected to San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee in June 2016. She also served as a delegate to the Philadelphia Democratic National Convention in 2016. She unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2010.[1]
Chavarria is a co-founder and board member of Catalina's List. She also serves on the executive political committee for the San Gorgonio Chapter of the Sierra Club.[1]
Elections
2016
Two of the five seats on the Fontana Unified School District Board of Education were up for at-large general election on November 8, 2016. In their bids for re-election, incumbents Barbara Chavez and Lorena Corona faced four opponents: Mars Serna, Peter Garcia, Jason O'Brien, and Bobbi Chavarria. Garcia and O'Brien won the election.[2][3]
Results
| Fontana Unified School District, At-large General Election, 4-year terms, 2016 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Peter Garcia |
22.27% | 13,491 |
| Jason O'Brien |
21.36% | 12,939 |
| Mars Serna | 18.54% | 11,230 |
| Barbara Chavez Incumbent | 13.57% | 8,223 |
| Lorena Corona Incumbent | 13.18% | 7,986 |
| Bobbi Chavarria | 11.09% | 6,717 |
| Total Votes | 60,586 | |
| Source: San Bernadino County Elections Office of the Registrar of Voters, "Final Certified Election Results," accessed December 7, 2016 | ||
Funding
Chavarria reported $5,509.00 in contributions and $5,201.10 in expenditures to the San Bernardino County Elections Office of the Registrar of Voters, which left her campaign with $307.90 on hand in the election.[4]
Endorsements
Chavarria was endorsed by the community organization Evolve.[5]
Campaign themes
2016
Ballotpedia survey responses
Bobbi Jo Chavarria participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 survey of school board candidates. In response to the question "What do you hope to achieve if elected to the school board?" the candidate stated on October 25, 2016:
| “ | I believe that quality education at every school, in every classroom, for every child should not be based on where you live. I will work to ensure that each school site is given the tools, resources, and attention to enable student success and parent/caregiver partnership with teachers and administrators. - Increase parental involvement with schools serving as resource and community centers that give parents & students the tools for success - Expand opportunities for kids after graduation such as vocational training, college, or other pathways to career and contribution - Create healthy learning environments by implementing significant and key portions of the Dignity in Schools campaign's Model School Code to fulfill the full potential of children and youth in our community; ensure equity in education; and to provide dignity with an inclusive school climate that limits criminalization, expulsion, and discrimination.[6][7] | ” |
Ranking the issues
The candidate was asked to rank the following issues based on how they should be prioritized by the school board, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. Each ranking could only be used once.
| Education policy |
|---|
 |
Click here to learn more about education policy in California. |
| Education on the ballot |
| Issue importance ranking | |
|---|---|
| Candidate's ranking | Issue |
| Balancing or maintaining the district's budget | |
| Improving post-secondary readiness | |
| Improving education for special needs students | |
| Expanding arts education | |
| Improving relations with teachers | |
| Expanding school choice options | |
| Closing the achievement gap | |
| “ | California's local control funding formula has put the Fontana Unified School District at the receiving end of additional fund to target and address the particular needs of our community. The School Board needs to ensure that the proper and mandated allocation of resources is embodied in the district's operations in every aspect to remain in compliance and to allow for the success of our students. As we prepare our students for the future, school climate, expanded curriculum with an emphasis on the arts, as well as ensuring special needs students are all a part of this funding formula because emphasizing each of these components will make a positive difference.[7] | ” |
| —Bobbi Jo Chavarria (October 25, 2016) | ||
Positions on the issues
The candidate was asked to answer nine questions from Ballotpedia regarding significant issues in education and the school district. The questions are highlighted in blue and followed by the candidate's responses. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions. The candidate was also provided space to elaborate on their answers to the multiple choice questions.
| Should new charter schools be approved in your district? (Not all school boards are empowered to approve charter schools. In those cases, the candidate was directed to answer the question as if the school board were able to do so.) |
|---|
| Yes. In general, I oppose privately run and for-profit charter schools. I do support creative solutions to some of our classroom challenges, but if in a charter school format, both teacher and staff protections and right to organize are imperative, AND students’ and parents’ rights must be protected to ensure equal access to these programs and public accountability. A viable option could be on-site and satellite charter school programs as part of our existing school sites to increase options, expand curriculum and help engage students in specialized focus based on interest and skillset. |
| Which statement best describes the ideal relationship between the state government and the school board? The state should always defer to school board decisions, defer to school board decisions in most cases, be involved in the district routinely or only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. |
| The state should be involved in the district routinely. Our representatives in Sacramento should be seen as local partners in advocating for changes in policy and support for local solutions with funding, changes in the education code, and access to expanded resources and tools. |
| Are standardized tests an accurate metric of student achievement? |
| No. Standardized tests based on a narrowly prescribed curriculum and linked to specific grade levels are not a good way to judge student achievement. Using tests as a baseline to help guide curriculum and a child’s readiness to learn new skills and concepts may be helpful but as the only determinant standardized tests can run the risk of sidelining or categorizing student's in marginalizing ways. |
| What is your stance on the Common Core State Standards Initiative? |
| I support the Common Core State Standards Initiative because a balanced and baseline curriculum is imperative for parents and working families to ensure their students will receive comprehensive achievement. Parents must be involved in this process and districts must do continual outreach and provide information sessions to parents so that continual improvement and relevancy are ensured, as well as buy-in. The Common Core State Standards were developed by educators based on proven research. While the Common Core State Standards define WHAT students will learn, the standards do not dictate HOW students should learn the material, or how teaching professionals should teach it. |
| How should the district handle underperforming teachers? Terminate their contract before any damage is done to students, offer additional training options, put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve or set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district? |
| Offer additional training options. Put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve. Set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district. |
| Should teachers receive merit pay? |
| Yes. Teacher reviews, assessments and pay should be based upon clear expectations of work standards, contribution to the workplace and overall success in the classroom. However, merit pay, pay in addition to a base contract salary, should be transparent and part of the negotiated contract between the district and teachers. |
| Should the state give money to private schools through a voucher system or scholarship program? |
| No. |
| How should expulsion be used in the district? |
| As a last resort. |
| What's the most important factor for success in the classroom: student-teacher ratio, the curriculum, teachers, parent involvement or school administration? |
| Parent involvement Research clearly indicates that student achievement and engagement is improved in numerous areas when parents are engaged: attendance, participation, test scores, and increased social skills, better behaviour, and better adaptation to school. I believe that each school site should serve as parent, student and community resource centers. As we expand daily interactions on campuses to make schools hubs of safety, community-building, and to establish a culture of learning and education, we can make substantial gains in improving school climate for teachers, students and other stakeholders, and we can mitigate the limitations and challenges of our district like poverty, educational achievement of parents and language barriers. |
Political philosophy
Chavarria described the following as her political philosophy.
| “ | I decided to accept the challenge by Senator Bernie Sanders that in order for democracy to work ordinary people, progressives in particular, should run for local offices.
Being actively involved in civic and political issues since 2006, I have sought to create effective change. I have worked for local candidates with the hope of improving our city and our schools. With my children now at school age, I am hopeful that I can bring some needed changes to the Fontana Unified School District for them and for the forty thousand other students in our district.[7] |
” |
| —Bobbi Chavarria (October 25, 2016)[1] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Bobbi Chavarria Fontana Unified School District. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ballotpedia's Biographical Information Submission Form, "Bobbi Chavarria's responses," October 25, 2016
- ↑ San Bernardino County Elections, "Candidate List," August 13, 2016
- ↑ San Bernadino County, "Final Unofficial Election Night Results," accessed November 9, 2016
- ↑ San Bernardino County Elections Office of the Registrar of Voters, "County of San Bernardino Public Portal for Campaign Finance Disclosure," accessed February 16, 2017
- ↑ Evolve, "Endorsements: November 8, 2016 General Election," accessed October 13, 2016
- ↑ Ballotpedia School Board Candidate Survey, 2016, "Bobbi Jo Chavarria's responses," October 25, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| 2016 Fontana Unified School District Elections | |
| San Bernardino County, California | |
| Election date: | November 8, 2016 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Barbara Chavez • Incumbent, Lorena Corona • Bobbi Chavarria • Peter Garcia • Jason O'Brien • Mars Serna |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
