Kahllid Al-Alim, LAUSD District 1 Candidate, 2024 Election Questionnaire – Daily News

Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group has compiled a list of questions to ask the candidates you want to represent. The full questionnaire can be found below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar and length, and in some cases hate speech and offensive language have been removed.

MORE: Read all candidate responses in our voter guide

Name: Kahllid Al-Alim

Current job title: Environmental Compliance Inspector

Affiliation with a political party: Non-partisan

Incumbent: NO

Other political offices: President of the Park Mesa Heights Community Council

City where you live:

Campaign website or social media: The website for this campaign, kahllidforschoolboard.com, is inactive.

1. As the second largest school district in the country, LAUSD serves a diverse community of staff, parents and students. What are your top priorities for the district and how will you engage community voices? (Please limit to 250 words)

Stop wasting time, talent and money. LAUSD can be successful by listening to the voices of the school site councils, leadership committees, district learning council, parent council and community councils, all of which I have served on. Hire positions of critical importance, such as superintendent. Board members must use their oversight powers to make the budget process transparent.

2. California spends billions on its K-12 public school system, yet the schools are seeing declining enrollment. How would you address the financial impact of declining enrollment? (Please limit to 250 words)

Support, resource and promote our community schools as hotbeds of creativity and ingenuity. Support and procurement of head start/early education. Our community schools are not mini-correctional institutions! Work with community-based organizations and industry partners to adopt Steam/Stem and Magnets and develop youth workforce development initiatives. We need internships and training opportunities that finally end the school-to-prison journey.

3. LAUSD lags behind other California school districts in reading and California has one of the lowest literacy rates in the United States. What do you think about the best way to increase literacy rates? (Please limit to 250 words)

Look at other countries and how they handle their diverse student populations (PISA or Program for International Student Assessment, where the US ranks 34th in math, 9th in reading, and 16th in science). Look at how we can continue to implement a culturally relevant curriculum that includes civic engagement, financial literacy, and a rigorous focus on math and science.

4. Charter schools are prominent in Los Angeles, but the district’s relationship with LA’s more than 200 charter schools is strained. How do you think the district should approach the division of resources between charter schools and district-run schools? (Please limit to 250 words)

Restore leadership to the Charter Department and establish open access to community accountability focused on assessment, evaluation and monitoring of budgets. Community town halls, which include charter school board officials, local district officials, community council members and parent groups.

5. The trauma and learning loss caused by COVID-19 will be felt for years to come. How do you think the district should continue to address these issues? (Please limit to 250 words)

Ensure the Division of Emergency Management has the staff and support to provide schools and the community with information and essential supplies. Work with local authorities such as fire, emergency services and police to ensure safety is a priority. County health officials must work with LAUSD wellness centers, county officials and community-based organizations so that we have real-time data on the issues we face. Train and deploy key workers such as nurses, counselors, counselors, and mental health staff in a mission-focused manner to serve schools and support the community. Give educators the opportunity to prepare for lessons in a variety of ways.