Debbie Cotton: Rethinking public outreach

RACE FOR OCEAN VIEW SCHOOL DISTRICT

Name: Debbie Cotton

Age: 34

Occupation: Attorney/homemaker

Family: Married with a son (daughter on the way)

Community activities: Women’s Jail Project, 2000-01; Children’s

Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), since 1999; CHOC Sponsorship

Council, since 2000; Public Law Center, since 1997; Stay in School

Program, since 1998 and Orangewood Volunteer Day

Education: Bachelor’s from UC Irvine; doctorate from Western State

University College of Law; wholesale exemption certificate from

California State Board of Pharmacy; certificate in mediation from The

Mediation Center; admitted to practice law in the state of California

by the California Supreme Court

Favorite leader: Ronald Reagan, although President George W. Bush

is pretty much tied

COTTON ON:

* Student safety

I think education is the key. The parents, students and staff of

each school need to be communicated with and informed on any

potential and/or actual situations that exist.

* Raising student test scores

The smaller class size was a huge first step. I think the current

administration (superintendent and staff) is keeping a close eye on

the test scores. I do, however, feel that each child needs to be

looked at individually for his/her capacity/ability to learn. Each

child should be sufficiently challenged to be able to reach the best

possible education they could receive. I don’t feel this happens in

all cases and some children are not challenged enough. I think this

needs to be looked into further.

* Fiscal improvements to the district

At this point, the information I have shows the district is

fiscally sound. If elected, I would probe more into the budget and

expenditures to make sure the district is taking advantage of all

possible ventures and not spending wistfully.

* Biggest issue facing the district

Communication with the public.

The feedback I have received is that the public is unaware of the

decisions the district is making that affect, or potentially affect,

them. In addition, it is my understanding that when the district

communicates with the public they do it via the newspaper. I know a

lot of people do not receive the newspaper, or gloss over it.

Therefore,

a newer, more effective way of

reaching the community needs to be looked into.