Keep the kids in school, LBUSD incumbent
Board member talks Covid lockdowns, all-gender locker rooms, and more.
By Brian Maquena
June 4-5, 2022 (Article was originally published via print.)
Long Beach Unified School District encompasses much of southern Lakewood and features an incumbent facing off against a retired youth counselor turned substitute teacher. The Lakewood Populist emailed district 5 board member, Diana Craighead, several questions that she answered.
Below are the summaries of Craighead’s responses.
Post-Covid: Students struggling
Craighead cited isolation and online learning as partly why students now struggle.
Negative learning impacts in the post-Covid world are global, said Craighead.
“The affect was widespread and not anything we have experienced prior to the pandemic,” she wrote.
Craighead pointed to the district’s Learning Acceleration and Support Plan as to how the district will address these post-Covid challenges that her opponent, Melissa PittsCutler, mentioned as having encountered as a substitute teacher for the school district.
Future Covid lockdowns?
“We learned during the pandemic that students learn better with in-person instruction,” Craighead wrote. “It is my personal belief that schools should remain open as long as we can provide a safe environment for both students and staff.”
Mask wearing was cited as one such precaution that should be used when positive Covid case rates increase and “transmissions once again become a danger.”
She noted that public schools are state funded and subject to follow mandates.
All-gender locker rooms
Breitbart, a conservative news site, published a big story on the school district’s move to all-gender locker rooms at Wilson High School. The LA Times also did a story.
According to Craighead, the high school will have a “central, universal area” with individual changing stalls with showers. Yet the locker room will also feature “separate areas for girls and boys,” she wrote.
The girls and boys areas will have lockers, changing stalls with showers and a bathroom. Plans can be found on the district’s website.
Popular district program
The Center for International Curriculum is not being reduced, said Craighead. Rather, the district is experiencing declining enrollment.
District challenges
Craighead serves on the California School Board Association. Creating a 5-year plan with a $1.2 billion annual budget she cites as challenging.
Motivation to run
“I have always had a passion for serving my community. I believe in the power of public education.”
Disclaimer: To be fair to both candidates, the Lakewood Populist is not endorsing either Diana Craighead or her challenger Melissa PittsCutler for Long Beach Unified’s district 5 board seat. The Lakewood Populist has not covered the school district extensively and so did not feel right endorsing one candidate. We thank them both for their time.