Candidate Name: Virginia Cheung
Phone Number: 415.508.3459
Web site: virginiacheung.com
E-mail: i.am@virginiacheung.com
Name of Campaign Manager: Kara Lugtu, KMDlugtu@gmail.com
How much do you expect to spend in this contest: $75,000
Major Endorsements: Harvey Milk LBGTQ Democratic Club, SF League of Pissed Off Voters, SF Women's Political Committee, Asm Phil Ting, Mayor London Breed, Pres. Supervisor Aaron Peskin, Supervisor Ahsha Safai, Supervisor Myrna Melgar, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Supervisor Shamann Walton, more at virginiacheung.com/endorse
Incumbent whose votes are most similar to the way you would vote: Commissioner Jenny Lam
Incumbent who votes least similarly to the way you would vote: As you can see from my endorsements, I work to build consensus.
1. What is your stance on pandemic safety in the schools? Under what
circumstances might you support instating a mask or vaccine
mandate, or canceling in-person classes?
It would be a combination of guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Public Health, available data, and observation of the environment. Every life is a consideration. If there is a risk of putting others in danger, I would err on the side of caution. My primary consideration would be prevention.
What would be the main basis on which you make this decision? (e.g., would it be based on
your gut feelings, or whose advice would you listen to?)
I would pay attention to the CDC, Department of Public Health and peers in the industry.
2. What is your stance on school closures?
In decisions about school closures, our primary focus must be on meeting educational outcomes and ensuring every student has access to critical resources-qualified teachers, instructional coaches, mental health support, and tutoring. Every decision must be aimed at enhancing the student experience and providing fully supported, safe, accessible and nurturing classrooms.
Equity looks like improved student outcomes and reduced chronic absenteeism across all socioeconomic demographics. I will advocate for neighborhood-based resource hubs and transparent communication with families through regular updates and helplines for timely support. We must prioritize equity by identifying and addressing the needs of students and families impacted by the transitions, meeting them where they are at, and ensuring they receive essential resources through coordinated care such as access to food, counseling, technology, and transportation. It is imperative that we collaborate with community organizations and government programs to remove barriers and deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate support, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.
3. Do you have practical ideas on how SFUSD can be adequately funded?
SFUSD is in a financial crisis which includes overspending, declining enrollment, rising costs, and poor oversight over business operations
We must partner with the superintendent to ensure that The Resource Alignment Initiative is implemented with transparency, clear data, planning and engagement with parents, educators, staff, and students. As a leader, I understand the need to make tough decisions with compassion but keeping the focus on children - and their educational outcomes - as the basis of those decisions. While school consolidations alone won't solve the budget deficit, they are a necessary step forward in ensuring the long-term viability of our educational system.
While we consider budget cuts in the short term, we must also find ways to maintain and increase revenue. One of my priorities is to keep kids in classrooms by addressing chronic absenteeism with early intervention strategies and enabling fully staffed schools and classrooms where teachers and students feel safe. We must also attract and retain families by offering differentiated pathways in language, math, science, arts, and vocations to meet the interests of different types of learners.
In the long term, we may consider leveraging assets to generate revenue to help balance expenditures. To increase revenue, we must attract and retain students by promoting early education, enhancing special education programs, and offering specialized pathways like language, STEM, and arts. With Eastern neighborhoods growing rapidly, we can transform neighborhoods into innovative community hubs, like Mission Bay School, that integrate educational spaces into new developments to attract families and increase enrollment.
The changing SF demographics and SFUSD's budget deficit will leave numerous schools vacant. Instead of leaving them empty there will be an opportunity to breathe new life into them by converting the schools into mixed-use developments, affordable housing, community centers and office space for non-profit organizations, forming an integrated community hub. This transformation will keep families in SF, house teachers, support local businesses, revitalize neighborhoods and create a dynamic environment where people can live, work and play.
4. How are you currently involved in the SFUSD -- or how were you
involved in the past:
I'm a proud parent of a rising 3rd grader at Alice Fong Yu, and Wah Mei BASE! After school program. I am on the Parent Advisory Committee for Wah Mei BASE! program and I volunteer with AFY PTA. For over 7 years, I have worked at Wu Yee Children's Services, a grassroots nonprofit founded in 1977 to serve immigrant and marginalized families with children under age 5. The organization has partnerships with SFUSD to ensure kindergarten readiness of children served by Head Start programming.
From my personal experience, as a child who was mute for the first 5 years in elementary school, I benefited from early prevention programs and GATE. Because of a thoughtful kindergarten teacher who believed in my potential, she put me on track to be the first in my family to graduate from a 4-year university. I believe it is a right for every child to have individualized support that best suits their needs, and keeps them engaged throughout their educational journey, from kindergarten to college and career-readiness.
5. How do you feel about the current school assignment system
(including at Lowell)? Would you make changes, and if so, which
ones?
Ideally, every student will have access to excellent programming at a location that works best for their needs. I support consistently excellent neighborhood schools and merit-based pathways for students who have interest in specialized subjects, careers, or advanced courses.
Perceptions of different schools also contribute to overemphasis on some schools while some schools are under enrolled which contributes to uneven distribution of resources, segregation, and inequitable experiences.
Instead of removing merit-based standards, my primary focus is on early intervention to ensure our children are prepared to meet standards throughout their educational journey, including merit-based standards in schools, college, and careers.
6. Some of our schools receive significant funding from parent
fundraising. Are you concerned about the inequality in fundraising
between schools in rich and poor neighborhoods, and if so,
what ideas do you have to make things more equitable?
I would support a general SFUSD PTA fund that is supported by an endowment or major donors that could match every dollar raised to go to an underfunded school. This would provide double incentive for PTAs to raise money, with a raise $1 give a $1 model. This would also eliminate the perception that their hard work will not benefit their kids.
7. Are you familiar with the case of Williams et al. v State of
California: Do you believe that all schools in the SFUSD are
currently in compliance with Williams?
No, based on anecdotes of deteriorating playgrounds, broken plumbing systems, violence breaking out in schools, and 20% of classrooms without a teacher on the first day of school, I do not believe all schools are currently in compliance.
8. What is your position on JROTC in the public schools?
I do not support the military industrial complex but the JROTC program provides valuable skills sets to students who are interested.
9. Would you support district elections for school board members?
Yes, as a candidate I am observing deep inequities in representation. As a single working mom with no immediate family, I am overwhelmed. It is not often that a single mom will have the capacity or support to run. However, I am motivated to represent our working families and contribute to creating a system that works for working moms.
10. Did you support the 2016 Proposition A school bond? Do you think
funds were spent wisely? Are you supporting the current bond?
I supported the 2016 school bond. I think there are inconsistencies with how funds are being spent based on what was promised. There are projects like Mission Bay School that are now behind without a clear contingency plan. I am
11. What is your stance on allowing noncitizen parents, guardians and
caretakers of students to vote in school board elections? Did you
take a public position on previous ballot initiatives on the
subject?
I believe everyone who lives and works in San Francisco has a stake in our public education system and should have a vote. Everyone has been a child and our children will impact our future.
12. What are your thoughts on the various non-profit organizations that partner and/or contract with SFUSD?
I believe that non-profits may be better equipped to directly represent and provide support to the neighborhoods and communities they serve. I believe that our schools can leverage the expertise of existing organizations to better coordinate resources and meet the needs of families within their own communities.
13. How do you see the role of the School Board in comparison to the role of the superintendent?
The role of the school board is to act as fiduciaries, set the long-term vision of the school district, and support the superintendent and staff. The superintendent is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the vision established in collaboration by the board, staff, parents and students, holding staff accountable, and providing transparent data.
14. Do you think that SFUSD currently serves the transportation needs of its students? Would you make changes to the current system?
No, particularly for single parent households and families without cars. I will advocate for car service on demand in emergency circumstances, for example, a single parent gets sick and can not drive their kids to school. We need to ensure that families without reliable transportation can walk their kids to school or to a school bus stop. For many low-income families and families for communities of color, public transportation is their only choice to go around the City, that includes taking public transit to school and back home. If elected, I will ensure the School District will continue to work with SFMTA and the Mayor's Office to ensure “Free Muni For Youth” program will be continually funded every year.
15. Would you ensure that all San Francisco students have access to a public pre-K program? If so, how?
Yes, SFUSD can work closely with the Department of Early Childhood to ensure a placement for every child.
16. Have you read Diane Ravitch's book, The Death and Life of the
Great American School System? What lessons should the District
take from this work? Whether or not you've read the book, what
role do you see for charter schools in the public education
system?
There may be certain circumstances to consider a charter school that meets the specific needs of a community, however, it should not be a districtwide strategy or focus to increase the number of charter schools in the city. Studies show that they cost more to maintain and may contribute to increased isolation between communities. It also may also divert funding from the overall school district which may create more inequities. Public schools need to remain as a public good that serves all children. Standardized testing can not be the only indicator of success. A school system is responsible for getting all of its children to the finish line, regardless of the challenges the children face.
17. What do you think of the current requirements that students take
the SBAC test, and what are your thoughts on standardized testing
in general?
Standardized testing can not be the only indicator of success. A school system is responsible for getting all of its children to the finish line, regardless of the challenges the children face. Standardized testing may also fail to capture a student's unique skills, talents and creativity and potentially neglecting other important aspects of learning. It limits a teacher's capacity to provide differentiated education for different types of learners and does not take into account socioeconomic factors that would impact students' ability to learn.
18. How can the public schools better address the needs of Special
Education students and ESL students?
Our public school system must serve all children and provide the appropriate support to ensure that every student has access to an equitable education. Studies show that inclusive classrooms have positive impacts on both academic and social skills. Students with disabilities score 15-20% higher on reading and math scores than those in segregated settings. They also develop more independence throughout their lives and have better outcomes in college and career readiness.
Special education students deserve to have the same access to the same general curriculum as non-disabled peers with accompanying support and interventions. Inclusive classrooms ensure that students and teachers are held to higher expectations, remain motivated to succeed and perform at par with peers, and improve social engagement and communication skills.
Inclusive education also cultivates empathy and acceptance among students, which can reduce bullying and promote positive social relationships and strengthen a sense of community. Students with disabilities in inclusive settings have higher attendance rates, as they feel more included and valued within the school community.
Additionally, including students within general education settings may result in cost savings. Schools utilize existing resources more effectively, reducing the need for specialized personnel and facilities. I believe in the curb-cut effect that states that when you design for disabilities, you make things better for everyone in the process. When our environments are designed for those in highest need, everyone benefits.
For ESL students, we must engage parents in their home language and provide culturally and linguistically competent support. ESL students may need additional English language instruction, differentiated instruction, and peer support to help them assimilate. Bilingual learning materials and language immersion pathways are also effective supports.
Due Date: Friday, August 23, 11:59 pm
Please submit by email to cc@sfgreens.org. For more information, call
Barry Hermanson at 415-255-9494. Please return your answers in plain
text (not HTML, PDF, or Word format), so that we can post all
candidates' answers in the same format.
The SF Green Party will invite selected candidates who return
completed questionnaires on time to speak and answer questions at our
candidate forum and endorsement meeting. To be given time on our
agenda, each candidate needs at least two active Green Party members
to request their invitation. This will be a hybrid meeting, so
invited candidates may also speak with us via Zoom.
Our endorsement meeting is scheduled for Wed, August 28 from 6:30-9:30
pm at our office, 2973 16th St, #300, SF - note that this is across
the street from our old office in the Redstone Building. The first
two hours will be for interviews of selected candidates, and the last
hour will be for decision making.
Completed questionnaires will be posted on our website,
https://sfgreenparty.org.