LOS ALAMITOS, CA — The Griffin Gazette is conducting interviews for candidates making their last-minute pitches to voters. Diana Hill of trustee area 3 has served on the Los Alamitos Board of Trustees for over a decade; she is vying for another term in office. Unfortunately, the Griffin Gazette could not reach Hill’s opponent, Rona Goldberg.

The Griffin Gazette requested written interviews from all candidates from both trustee areas. Questions for each candidate are the same to ensure that there is a level playing field. The candidates themselves provided every response.

Q1: What were your motives for running for the school board?

I love serving our students, families, staff, and community and believe that public education is the great equalizer. I want our students to have the very best opportunities for their future. I am honored to do the work so that your futures can be bright. 

Q2: Are there any central themes to your campaign message?

I listen to all stakeholders, and I want to provide as many choices for students and parents as possible.

Q3: How do you differ from your opponent? And, why do these differences make you the better option for Los Alamitos Unified School District?

I have 11 years of experience in governance for our school board, and I have learned how to work toward compromise to get things done.

Q4: What experiences do you have that make you qualified to serve on the school board?

I have the experience of being a parent in this district without the distraction of my own children being currently enrolled in the schools. I think this gives me the vision without possible bias.

Q5: Many are tired of the constant protests and long, drawn-out meetings at the Los Alamitos district office. How do you plan to unify a polarized and divided bloc of parents?

By continuing to listen, messaging all the great things our district is doing, and learning to accept that you cannot satisfy everyone and that is okay. We still need to do the work. 

Q6: Sometimes students and parents want different things. Take the Ethnic Studies course, it was a student-requested course, but many parents objected to its creation. If such a disagreement were to happen again, how would you appeal to both students and parents?

I believe we would work through the same process we used for the Ethnic Studies class. This was a class that was asked for before. It is still the responsibility of the parent to work with their student on what is appropriate for their education and family values.

Q7: Overcrowding in classrooms is a major problem, especially at the high school. How do you plan to reduce classroom sizes?

The Master schedule is ever-evolving.  You might have large classes, but you also have some classes that are smaller.  I trust our administration to keep working on the balance. There is no doubt that we want to keep classes at the level that is best for our students and staff, but there are no easy solutions.

Q8: The high school has focused heavily on STEAM. However, some students do not want to go into a field pertaining to STEAM and want to pursue blue collar jobs instead. Should the high school start vocational training programs? Do you think that vocational training programs would be useful for students who do not want to pursue blue collar jobs, too? Is there too much of an emphasis on getting students to college when there are a myriad of other career pathways?

We say all the time that we are preparing students for college and careers. There are many examples of courses that are career ready, and we have things like a relationship with Cypress College where students can get into a certificate program. We belong to the NOROP [North Orange County Regional Occupational Program], which allows students to take a variety of classes to prepare them for a job. They might not all be offered on our campus.  We do offer 17 opportunities: Fire Tech, Sports Medicine, and Engineering, to name a few. Last year we had a trade fair and will bring that to students again this year.

Q9: Many students feel uninterested in school. Sometimes, this is due to students feeling a lack of purpose in the classroom, which can influence graduation rates, grades, and mental health. In what ways can you, as a school board member, facilitate more purposeful education?

Diana Hill answered this question with question 10 below.

Q10: There are some safety concerns among different groups of people. At the high school, some students fear the rise in drug use, especially with some students vaping in bathroom stalls. Others worry about gun violence due to the likes of Columbine, Sandy Hook, Parkland, and Uvalde. Minority and LGBTQ+ groups worry about their safety. What proposals do you have to make students feel safe and ready to learn?

I feel we are always working on safety – both physical and mental. Just this year we have secured the campus with the new building, fencing, and badge system. We have provided opportunities for students to engage in the growing of acceptance of others as well as a strong mindfulness program, and soon we will open a wellness center on campus.

One of our core values is kindness. We care and support all students and their unique journey. 

Q11: What have you been doing in the closing stretches of your campaign? Where can voters reach you?

Calling voters, sending out mailers, and having coffees in local parks to connect with voters.

Where to contact Diana Hill

For more information about Diana Hill, contact her via email at [email protected] or phone at 310-720-7677. Information can also be found on Hill’s website, www.Hill4Losal.com.