Rick Shea, 76, the current vice president of the San Diego County Board of Education, is running for re-election to his District 5 seat.
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Shea, an Encinitas native, has served on the board since 2015. He previously worked for the San Diego County Office of Education and was a teacher.
The San Diego Union-Tribune emailed a series of questions to Shea and other candidates to help inform voters about their positions, priorities and plans if elected.
Shea said he did not use AI in responding to the Union-Tribune’s questions.
1.) Why are you running, and what makes you the best candidate? (150 words max)
I want to continue to serve on the County Board of Education because I believe in the importance of public education and the opportunities it provides to each student. I have benefited from a public education system, and I want to repay the community.
I will continue to advocate for public education to assure it remains available for every child in San Diego County. My proven commitment to education, my direct experience working with the most vulnerable students and my dedicated history of public service make me the best qualified person to continue this work.
2.) What are the top 3 issues facing schools and students in San Diego County? (150 words max)
There are many issues facing schools and students in San Diego County today.
We have a very diverse student population of almost 500,000 students in 42 school districts. One of the current issues that affects most every student is the reduction of available funds to serve students. This means many schools must do more with less.
Another issue facing many of the school districts is declining enrollment. This began as a result of the pandemic and has continued with very modern challenges, such as the crackdown on immigration that affects many students throughout the county.
Another continuing issue is student academic performance. Although many students excel in their academic performance, other students struggle because of language issues, homelessness and other social issues affecting the students but not caused by them.
3.) What are the first 3 things you would do in office if elected? (150 words max)
I will provide the necessary funding and staff to help students succeed in their educational pursuits. I will assure alternate programs that help struggling students achieve their academic success that they need and deserve. I will continue to work collegially with my fellow board members so that we can be united in purpose in providing quality education for the students and parents in San Diego County.
4.) The county office’s core goal is to “reduce poverty and increase belongingness through public education.” In addition to its current plans, what more would you do to achieve this?
Our North Star goal is to reduce poverty and increase belonging through public education.
We know that higher education levels result in higher income, which in itself helps reduce poverty. To help achieve this, we provide the assistance to students to complete their education, graduate from high school and go on to higher education or be ready to enter the workforce upon graduation.
5.) What do you think is driving student absenteeism and declining enrollment across San Diego County, and what would you do to improve both?
Student absenteeism and declining enrollment across San Diego County are issues that we need to and will continue to address. Our North Star goal of providing belongingness to the students will encourage them to attend and stay in school.
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Other external factors affecting absenteeism include homelessness, immigration laws and other social issues. We have designed and are operating special programs, such as the Monarch School for homeless students to meet the needs of these students.
6.) In light of changing federal policy, how can the county office better serve vulnerable students, including those whose families have mixed immigration status and those with disabilities?
We’re currently serving the most vulnerable students in our county with specialty schools for homeless children, foster children, migrant children, deaf and hard-of-hearing children, special education students and those going through the juvenile court process. As to the changing federal policies that have negative effects on children, we will continue to advocate for change in policies that help support students. We do this locally, statewide and nationally.
7.) Because of the unique student populations it serves, the San Diego County Office of Education is often at the forefront of tackling issues that districts around the county face — including ones exacerbated by current challenges like the region’s affordability crisis and a federal immigration crackdown. What unique perspective and plans would you bring to these efforts?
My unique background provides me with the skills, education and experience to successfully serve on the county Board of Education. This includes extensive hands-on classroom experience working with vulnerable student populations as head teacher for the juvenile court schools as well as an administrator for student programs. I earned undergraduate and graduate degrees, completed the Masters in Governance (MIG) program with the California School Boards Association and earned California credentials in K-12 teaching, counseling and administration and California Community College credentials.
8.) Career and technical education is particularly important to students served by the San Diego County Office of Education. How will you ensure they are both prepared for life after high school and also equipped to pursue college later in life if they wish?
I believe in the importance of academic and technical education, and we currently offer many innovative opportunities at our new Linda Vista Innovation Center. It is important that students explore a variety of options for them to find the option that appeals to them and one that helps guide them to future success in education, career or both.
9.) As a member of the county board, you would hear appeals concerning student expulsions and charter school petitions. What principles would guide your approach to this responsibility?
When we hear appeals, whether it’s on student expulsions or inter-district appeals, we are guided by state law and county board policies. My main focus and decisions are based on the best interest of each individual student. Sometimes that involves assisting the parents to understand all the alternatives available to them for the benefit of their child and assure that the school district is making all available alternatives available and understood by the parent(s).
When hearing a charter school appeal, it also involves providing the best outcome for each individual student. We hear appeals from school districts who have denied the charter school. We learn why the charter school was requested and why it was denied. We review each case individually based on state law and our county board policies, and we make the best decision or the best interest of the students involved.
10.) What degree of oversight do you think the county should have of charter schools, both those that are authorized by the county and those that are authorized by districts? Should anything change about how the county handles charter school approvals or oversight?
Charter school oversight has been both controversial ongoing and changing over time. Recently the State Board of Education has reduced its role, resulting in additional schools sent to us to oversee. We have an excellent charter school department that provides us with ample information to help us decide whether to authorize the school or not.
I believe it is appropriate for the parties involved — school district, charter school, parent and student — to have an appeal. To hear an appeal from a school district, it seems like there’d be two logical parties, one to assure you uniformity throughout the state (the State Board of Education would be one option). To hear the matters based on local concerns and conditions, the County Board of Education would be the appropriate body.
I support the recent changes brought about through Education Code 47607 and 47607.2, which rated charter schools’ likelihood of approval based on academic performance. Because of the well-documented charter school fraud instances, I would like more attention and research and resources devoted to assure this doesn’t reoccur.
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