Candidates for Santa Barbara Unified school board took the stage at the Jo Ann Caines Theater on Monday for an election forum, but the real stars of the night were students.
Students and audience members asked questions on topics such as AI, racism and student input, in a forum hosted by League of Women Voters.
Victoria Martinez Peñaranda, student trustee, and Daniella Espinoza Aguilar, vice president of Future Leaders of America Santa Barbara, co-moderated the debate.
Trustee area one candidate Valerie Amparan said AI should be introduced as a tool for students and teachers but with proper age-appropriate guardrails. She said Santa Barbara Unified should be a leader in AI policy in classrooms especially as the Superintendent’s AI Task Force’s work to do so is underway.
“I think this is cutting edge stuff,” said Amparan, who previously worked in tech. “Santa Barbara is cutting edge, and we need to be that in education.”
Jacqueline Inda Karlsen, a well-known immigration activist in the community, said the district has to work with the Santa Barbara County Education Office and state leaders to implement “best practices” on AI.
“They’ve spent the time to do their research on what is effective or what is best practice,” said Inda Karlsen, who’s running in trustee area four. “We have to stop working in silos.”
In light of a recent ‘blackface’ social media incident that’s roiled San Marcos High School, Amparan said she hopes those students face the necessary consequences and that they’re properly educated about why it was wrong.
Trustee area four candidate Mark Philibosian said that management needs to be held accountable to ensure they are properly reporting and taking swift action when racism happens on campus.
On a question about how the board would truly incorporate student input, Philibosian said students should be able to join a “youth committee” that provides consistent feedback on board policies. In addition, he said students should be given an avenue to get items on meeting agendas.
He praised students who recently came out against the district’s ban on YouTube and demonstrated that as an example of the need to be proactive on policy.
“It’s clear that the students have a voice and it needs to be heard,” Philibosian said. “One of the things the board needs to do is ensure that there’s an accountability of management in taking in all of the different perspectives, which are very loud and an important voice is the students.”
Rose Munoz, the two-term incumbent running in district one, said the district should collaborate with the City of Santa Barbara’s Youth Council and Future Leaders of America.
“Students are our number one priority, and as long as you have inclusion with that, that would be really good to be connected,” Munoz said.
Newcomers Philibosian and Amparan — both of whom have worked primarily in the private sector — are riding a wave of momentum of opposition to Superintendent Hilda Maldonado and years of dissatisfaction with her leadership.
“We need new board members with fresh perspectives, new and big ideas,” said Amparan. “We need someone who’s not afraid to create accountability for a superintendent and ask the tough questions and not just go along with whatever she’s saying.”
They bring a sense of urgency to issues including stagnant test score growth and balancing the $250 million budget.
Both are backed by School Board Bridge, a nonpartisan organization preparing school board hopefuls to run. School Board Bridge’s Michele Voigt, who’s sounded the alarm on district administration raises and the $10 million deficit, supports both candidates.
Inda Karlsen appears to be on her own island, presenting as someone who’s worked inside the public education system and outside as a community activist. Her message on Monday was that the district needs to break out of its silo and collaborate more with local organizations and public agencies.
And Munoz, who’s served on the board for eight years, functioned as a stand-in for the district on the debate stage.
Often claiming actions the school district has already taken as her own personal positions, Munoz represented a culture of governance that newcomers like Philibosian and Amparan are seeking to shake up.
The event can be viewed by clicking here.
