Larry L. Redinger

District: Walnut Valley Unified
Position Seeking: Governing Board Member

Question 1: Please share a meaningful experience you had with art (visual, dance, drama, music, media arts) while growing up.

My family has always been involved in various elements in the visual and performing arts. Being part of the discipline and presentation provided me skills to excel in other areas of my adult life. Marching band, orchestra and media production with my sisters and other family members were elements of my youth that have shaped me.

Question 2: What kind of creative solutions would you suggest to support student outcomes such as English language development, closing the achievement gap, and preparation for college and/or meaningful careers?

1) Class sizes appropriate to the subject.
2) Peer assistance within the various transition classes.
3) Quality environment to learn and study.
4) Role model presence.
5) Teaching staff with opportunities to staff development in career areas related to their subject area credentials.
6) Mini sessions for career learning.

We have fostered elements of the above to enhance success!

Question 3: What do you think should be the role of the School Board in ensuring that students have access to a broad range of study?

Board members need to model what they believe and provide the stewardship for appropriate funding and community support for all of the Arts. Board members need to work with the various schools through the superintendent and district office to provide opportunities for the sites to develop well-rounded art, drama, dance, performance and media programs.
Invitations to professional and other success in those fields to visit our schools and classes have been a significant benefits to our students and teaching staff.

Question 4: In light of the Local Control Funding Formula and development of district Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs), what are your creative solutions for achieving goals in the eight priority areas?

WVUSD is a low wealth district as it relates to per student funding and we have a very difficult time making the dollars stretch to meet our needs in most areas Walnut is at the bottom of the list for funding but we have developed a very supportive and generous community base that has provided both leadership and supplemental funding to support the arts We have an extremely dedicated collection of talented and giving certificated and classified staff who go the extra mile with the students and community members to make sure our k-12 students have what they need.