Wake County School Board District 2
Monica Ruiz
Are you an incumbent?
No
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
No
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
No
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
No
4. If elected, what are your plans for working with the Wake County Board of Commissioners to achieve our schools’ needs?
I will work with them to ensure that our schools get the funding that they need. I will work with them to see that partnerships with developers and businesses can be developed to help fund schools instead of relying on taxpayer spending.
5. How do you plan to engage and build trust with parents, employers, and other stakeholders of your school district?
I will listen to their concerns. I will follow through with what I have said that I plan to do. The finances will be analyzed thoroughly so that we can maximize every dollar spent. Change the curriculum so that we are no longer in partnership with Open Up Resources. I will get our schools safe and make them secure in a short amount of time. I will work to improve the snail pace of the WCPSS.
6. What will you do to improve school safety in Wake County?
I will improve school safety by ensuring that every school has at least one School Resource Officer. I will add vestibles to the entrances to school buildings so that metal weaponry can be detected. I would like to see floppy-earred K-9s used to help with sniffing out drugs. We also need a comprehensive district-wide discipline policy that actually has consequences.
7. What are the growing trends in student needs, and how should the Wake County Public School System address them?
Learning loss is a major issue. Every school should have at least 30 minutes to an hour designated to address students' specific needs as it pertains to learning loss. Students that are at or above proficiency can be given extension projects.
8. How do you propose the Wake County Public School System overcome its current labor shortage? Please give specific steps you wish to see taken.
A comprehensive district-wide discipline policy will encourage staff members to stay in the school system. Wake County needs to enlist high school students to help tutor elementary students. They can earn service hours. Community volunteers can assist with tutoring, as well. We also should provide bus monitors in addition to bus drivers. Bus drivers need to focus on driving the bus. Long-term sub positions should be incentivized by offering higher pay than a one-to two-day sub position.
9. What should the school system focus on to ensure children are ready for the jobs of tomorrow?
Allow for more hands-on opportunities to learn. For example, cooking and gardening can be used to teach both math and science. Allow for more vocational options, rather than assuming every child is college-bound. Partner with area companies to have high school students serve as apprentices.
Are you an incumbent?
No
1. Do you support the City of Raleigh’s $275 million parks bond on the ballot this November?
No
2. Do you support the $353.2 million Wake Tech bond on the ballot this November?
No
3. Do you support the $530.7 million Wake County schools bond on the ballot this November?
No
4. If elected, what are your plans for working with the Wake County Board of Commissioners to achieve our schools’ needs?
I will work with them to ensure that our schools get the funding that they need. I will work with them to see that partnerships with developers and businesses can be developed to help fund schools instead of relying on taxpayer spending.
5. How do you plan to engage and build trust with parents, employers, and other stakeholders of your school district?
I will listen to their concerns. I will follow through with what I have said that I plan to do. The finances will be analyzed thoroughly so that we can maximize every dollar spent. Change the curriculum so that we are no longer in partnership with Open Up Resources. I will get our schools safe and make them secure in a short amount of time. I will work to improve the snail pace of the WCPSS.
6. What will you do to improve school safety in Wake County?
I will improve school safety by ensuring that every school has at least one School Resource Officer. I will add vestibles to the entrances to school buildings so that metal weaponry can be detected. I would like to see floppy-earred K-9s used to help with sniffing out drugs. We also need a comprehensive district-wide discipline policy that actually has consequences.
7. What are the growing trends in student needs, and how should the Wake County Public School System address them?
Learning loss is a major issue. Every school should have at least 30 minutes to an hour designated to address students' specific needs as it pertains to learning loss. Students that are at or above proficiency can be given extension projects.
8. How do you propose the Wake County Public School System overcome its current labor shortage? Please give specific steps you wish to see taken.
A comprehensive district-wide discipline policy will encourage staff members to stay in the school system. Wake County needs to enlist high school students to help tutor elementary students. They can earn service hours. Community volunteers can assist with tutoring, as well. We also should provide bus monitors in addition to bus drivers. Bus drivers need to focus on driving the bus. Long-term sub positions should be incentivized by offering higher pay than a one-to two-day sub position.
9. What should the school system focus on to ensure children are ready for the jobs of tomorrow?
Allow for more hands-on opportunities to learn. For example, cooking and gardening can be used to teach both math and science. Allow for more vocational options, rather than assuming every child is college-bound. Partner with area companies to have high school students serve as apprentices.