Meet the Candidates

HOW CAN THE DISTRICT SUPPORT HOMELESS STUDENTS?

Darlene Cossio

We have so many opportunities to help homeless students. Working with local officials to present the best options to these students would be a great place to start. We could connect homeless students to wrap-around services provided by local nonprofits and state-funded agencies. I also believe many in our community would be willing to provide shelter.

Erika  Simmons

Homelessness is an important consideration relating to children in education. In my current position, I work with over 400 teachers, principals, and superintendents to deal with this exact issue. There is actually a federal law named the McKinney-Vento Law that requires all school districts to ensure that homeless students have access to the same free and equal education beginning in preschool. This includes creating any necessary programs that are needed to serve homeless students to achieve the same level of educational success as other students. The intention of this law is to educate disadvantaged children and end the cycle of homelessness, which benefits everyone. Alpine schools are required to do this as well. It is important to understand that the school district cannot take on the issue of homelessness in and of itself. What the Alpine School District can do is to ensure the district is intimately familiar with the circumstances of every student in its schools and addresses these issues specifically. Nothing is more important or effective in education than understanding the circumstances and needs of every single child. With this understanding, our schools in Alpine can ensure that we meet students’ needs through nutrition programs and ensure that these students have everything they need to excel in their education.

Glenn Dickie

Our students who are homeless are offered a range of options including free hot spots and are prioritized with tutoring and after-school care if needed. Counseling and support services are also available on campus and families are provided free outpatient support services through at no charge.

Eric Wray

We currently work very closely with the County of San Diego, the County Board of Education, and we actually have a good relationship with the community and with the parents on who needs the assistance. We are aware of approximately seven families that need additional assistance and help, and we have put them in touch with certain resources to make sure that they have a place to stay and take care of their kids. We also have universal breakfast and lunch for the children, so we have made sure that those kids are taken care of when it comes to hunger. And, if a child needs additional food, we have no problem supporting them if they ask or reach out to us.

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