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For thirty years, the night before school opens is a restless night of sleep because of the anticipation of going back to school. This year was no exception. However, what was different about visiting schools on the first day, Aug. 11, was that instead of experiencing excitement and nervous energy that emanates from school campuses,...
Funk: East Side schools committed to equitable access during distance learning
School districts across Santa Clara County are scrambling to put into place plans for opening school for the 2020-21 school year. Each district must apply the guidelines provided by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and meet the specific guidelines and expectations from the state budget and trailer bills supporting the return to school,...
Funk: Guidelines and funding for reopening schools is lacking
Everyday we hear something from either Gov. Gavin Newsom or State Superintendent Tony Thurmond about the need to open schools this fall for in-person learning. However, the support and guidelines has been shockingly lacking from the California State Department of Education or from the Governor’s Office. In fact, the COVID-19 Industry Guidance released on June...
Funk: COVID-19 has exacerbated the crisis in education
In my 30 years of being in public education, I have seen trends come and go, as well as calls for reform. The system of public education has not drastically changed in the last 150 years. It was designed to provide immigrants, farmers and the working poor an opportunity to be trained for entry level...
Funk: COVID-19 worsens the digital divide in San Jose
Districts across the state have been forced to move to distance learning from physical classroom, creating costs, shifts in structure, training and mindset. The unknown is always the infrastructure at home. Our classrooms are modern, well lit, safe and equipped with power and robust internet connections. Our students’ homes are too often not equipped to...
Funk: Distance learning amid COVID-19 crisis explained
As we all adjust to the new normal, while fighting the spread of COVID-19, the impacts on educators, students and families has increased the fear and anxiety among all of us. Although schools across the Bay Area have been closed, we are thankful for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-26-20 to continue funding schools at...
Funk: Our broken public education state funding model
All the reports I have read since the release of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget point to his education budget as being good for public education. There is some truth to that statement. His proposed budget is great for early learning education and for increasing funding in special education in grades K-3. He also proposes...
Funk: Early learning center in East San Jose is a jewel
As we await Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed state budget in his second term, early education advocates are hopeful he’ll continue his pledge of closing the opportunity gap by providing universal preschool. During his first year as governor, Newsom’s first budget included a proposal of nearly $1.8 billion for an array of cradle-to-kindergarten initiatives. Recently, presidential...
Funk: Why I’m grateful this holiday season
As Superintendent of East Side Union High School District, I am very thankful for a plethora of amazing things happening in our district and across the East Side Alliance. I’d like to highlight five areas I am thankful for during this Season of Giving. Downtown Doors – When I was principal at Lincoln High School,...
Funk: Employee housing bond is a win-win for the community
Every day, approximately 1.7 million students attend public schools. Families place an enormous amount of trust on teachers, counselors, coaches and administrators to take care of their child for six or more hours per day. Yet, with the cost of living skyrocketing in Santa Clara County, the ability to attract and retain highly qualified school...