Tax dollars intended for public schools belong to students, so let’s ensure that our district’s budget, which is our moral obligation, reflects this. Resources are a necessary, not sufficient condition, for the transformative possibilities of our public schools.

I will work to reimagine how we invest in our schools from the ground up by exploring bold alternative funding strategies that prioritize students over corporations and vendors. Corporate and vendor influence have cost the district millions of dollars. This district spending has had a marginal return—at best.

We must ensure that district spending reflects our moral obligation and supports students and the district’s priorities, not the other way around. In collaboration with community members, the district, and school finance experts, I will begin with a full audit of all external contracts to reveal where district dollars are actually being spent and hold recipients accountable. I will engage in outcomes-based accountability to ensure the every dollar spent is the best use of resources to support out student needs.

I will push to democratize the budgeting process, opening up decision-making power to the people. Working families, parents, and community members should not just be consulted, they should have real power over how public money is spent.

I will explore innovative progressive revenue streams for the district such as payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT).