Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Dale Kinnear
Current job title: Riverside school board president, retired high school principal
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Riverside
Campaign website or social media: www.dalekinnear.org, Facebook, Instagram
How can the school district best meet the needs of all students, including those learning English, those who need mental health service, those in special education programs and those from low-income backgrounds?
Student achievement and learning must be our priority. Effective initial instruction aligned with grade-level standards must be our focus. Our culture and climate must connect students to school. Additional support for students must be provided along with incentives for their use.
Some school districts have adopted transgender notification policies to notify parents if a student says they are transgender. If your district has such a policy, do you support or oppose it? Why? If yours does not, would you support or oppose such rules? Why?
I support all students, particularly those who are often underrepresented. I took an oath to abide by the laws and I’ll follow the state and federal guidelines to best serve every student without bias.
What is the biggest issue the school district faces, and how would you address it?
Although I dislike that I’m still talking about COVID and its continued impact, lagging student achievement, chronic absenteeism with nearly one of every five of our students absent more than 10 days a school year, safety concerns and more opportunities for students who aren’t interested in college after high school are the biggest areas needing our attention. In these controversial polarizing political times, we must keep these priorities at the center of attention.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities within the school district?
I’m excited about a second term on the board. I really am thrilled. In these challenging times, it’s critical we re-elect a Riverside USD trustee with first-hand experience leading schools. As a former classroom teacher and celebrated high school principal at Riverside Poly and J.W. North, my focus has always been on students. What does experience bring to the board? I do my homework all of the time. If you don’t know that, talk with someone who is connected to the district. I know the questions to ask. People have seen that. I will be prepared to tackle difficult budget decisions. Our students, their families, our teachers and staff deserve no less.
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