Schools

On the Issues: Jay Martinez, Candidate for Board of Education

Date: February 17, 2024

Jay Martinez, candidate for Sacramento County Office of Education, Area 4. // Image provided by candidate.

Note: As part of The Sentinel’s 2024 coverage of local elections, we have asked a series of identical questions to each of the candidates running for a seat on the Sacramento County Office of Education, Area 4, board. The questions are designed to give each of the candidates an opportunity to introduce themselves to the community and give voters an opportunity to learn more about each candidate’s background and positions. Candidates replied via email, and those who responded to each question in less than 100 words have their answers published word-for-word.

Jay Martinez | Age: 36
Bio provided by candidate:

BA Philosophy, concentration in Applied Ethics and Law – Sacramento State
CEO – JVM Landscape Construction, Inc.
Orangevale CPAC Vice Chairman / Citrus Heights Water District Customer Advisory Committee Member
Sacramento County Republican Party – School Districts Sub-Committee

What are your top 2-3 priorities for improving education in Sacramento County, and how do you propose to fund them?

My top two priorities for improving education in Sacramento County, would be to expand charter school choices, and to invest more in literacy programs at the elementary school level.

As far as proposing to fund charter schools, I plan to apply my professional and networking skills in working with charter school leaders and our other local leaders I know in exploring new opportunities for charter schools that are needed, or will be needed in the future. As a parent, I believe in more options for our students, and believe both public and charter schools systems can thrive in our area.

Citing low test scores and quality of education, the Citrus Heights City Council formed a committee last year to look into the feasibility of breaking off from the San Juan Unified School District and forming its own district. Do you support this idea (why/why not?)

I have spoken to parents and local Citrus Heights City Council officials on the matter of potentially separating Citrus Heights schools away from the SJUSD, and I have found that there is a slightly more of the opinion that we should not move in favor of separation. I can see the alure of wishing to separate from the SJUSD in order to carve out their destiny, due to the lower test scores and enrollment figures. However, I am of the belief that there should not be separation quite yet, yet I believe that this decision ultimately should be decided locally.

Concerns about school safety are top of mind for many parents. What are two specific ways you would pursue addressing this concern?

Once specific way I would address school safety is advocating for and proactively and formally requesting the idea of a SRO (School Resource Officer) at potentially all middle schools and high schools. This may not make sense of be financially feasible applied to every school, however, I believe that this is idea is worth exploring and expanding on. Our kids should be afforded the very best possible protection. Another way would be to proactively and formally request an audit of existing long term proposed spending of infrastructure replacements as it pertaining to safety (e.g. new partitions, robust locking systems).

A key objective of SCOE is to “Cultivate a culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.” Would you keep this as a key objective, and if so, what are two ways you would seek to advance this during your term in office, if elected.

It would not be up to me, one member, to decide whether or not to keep this as a key objective, as any extraction of any key objective would need to be decided by a majority vote, should the matter even come up. Professionally, I respectfully disagree in keeping this objective because it misses the mark of prioritizing academic achievement, preparing students for the workforce, and building collaborative partnerships

In February 2020, SCOE’s board voted 5-2 to allow a new public charter school within the San Juan Unified School District, overriding a vote to deny the charter by the SJUSD board. Do you support SCOE’s decision (why/why not)?

In this instance, I would support SCOE’s decision in this particular instance, merely because of the niche duty of approving a charter school falling within the purview of SCOE. However, substantial effort should have been made to coordinate with SJUSD local board members, parents, and community partners, to ensure they would not be seriously impacted in terms of less students, or other inconspicuous situations in supporting a new school. I am a proponent of local control for our school districts in SCOE’s jurisdiction, and SCOE should certainly continue to meaningfully support SJUSD fully.

Who are your top 3 endorsements?