Santa Clara County Voter's Guide On Children's Issues

Franklin-MckKinley School District Governing Board

Milan R. Balinton

http://www.votemilanbalinton.com

As your voice on the Board of Education, I will push for accountability and accessibility so that you and your children can fully benefit from all that public education has to offer. As Executive Director of a local nonprofit, I have led housing, employment, and educational programs that address long-standing inequities.

  1. In a recent poll by Choose Children 2022 of likely general election voters, more than half of parents with children under age 18 say they are likely to move out of the Bay Area in the next few years. What do you think are the top three issues affecting our children and families and how will you make our region a place where all families can thrive?

    1. Affordable Housing
    2. Cost of living
    3. Safe Daycare/Babysitter

    It’s important for families to live and thrive here in our region. I will work with the district, local, and state leadership with guidance from educators, parents, students, and the community; to ensure our region continues to be a place for our families through increasing access to resources, inspiring engagement in decision making, and working to maintain what works and removing non-effective support.

  2. As we have learned over the past three years, without quality, affordable, childcare, parents can’t go to work. What will you do to address challenges accessing childcare and preschool programs in our diverse communities?

    These past three years have illuminated disparities within our community as well as provided an understanding of the wealth within our communities that can building new opportunities. I will work to ensure continued partnerships within our region such as Childcare Resource and Referral Services Santa Clara County; the opportunity to get access to high-quality early childcare information and specific needs related to education for children in addition to increasing marketing about programs provided like children’s initiative, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, and various other programs informing of greater access to our families. This includes and not limited to conducting research and listening

  3. Much of the student achievement gap has been linked to the opportunity gap that children in low-income families and children of color confront (e.g., lack of access to healthy food, preschool, tutors, and enrichment activities). If elected, what will you do to increase equity of opportunity?

    As an elected official I will be responsible to ensure awareness to parents and students that the opportunity gap will not hinder or hold them back based on their socioeconomic status and social determinants of health. As research shows to eliminate gaps and prevent barriers it is our responsibility to ensure that we are providing programming like Franklin McKinley school district as well as what our California Teachers Association has listed in there 10 measures when we talk about a well-rounded education and continuing to ensure that students have the ability to participate in art, music, history, physical education, world languages, and more while maintaining smaller class sizes. Continu

  4. What steps will you take to support inclusion and outcomes for children with special needs or with disabilities and their families to be fully included in our community?

    I will continue to uphold policies that support our children best interest within our district focusing on inclusion, diversity, equity, access, and liberation. Making sure that we are updated on new practices that support inclusion and best outcomes for children with special needs and/or with disabilities and their families. Continue listen to teachers and parents; obtain new partnerships to bring in additional funding to support additional resources for families and children to be fully included in the community.

  5. There is a mental health crisis among children, youth, and those who care for and educate them. If elected, how will you use the resources of your new role to improve access to mental and behavioral health services?

    Inspire courageous conversations about mental health during site visits, increasing awareness through storytelling, and using new tools such as virtual therapy and community therapy by working with behavior health services with a cultural and community perspective. Create new opportunities for more free individual, group, and family wellness/therapy.