
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.
Murad “Moe” Sarama
Bio provided by candidate: I’m a proud father of five, a Sacramento State Hornet, businessman and a community advocate with graduate education in business and public administration. I’ve been involved in community service all my life, including my kids’ PTA, school campus volunteer, nonprofits, and regional boards. As a member of the SJUSD Facilities Committee, I’ve advocated for safe infrastructure of schools, sports facilities, greener school campuses and enhanced transportation. I’ve been directing business relationships, contractual agreements, and safety measures for Fortune 500 companies, which gave me fiscal responsibility/experience to achieve retention and productivity results that will be valuable to the SCOE board. (Edited for length)
What are your top 2-3 priorities for improving education in Sacramento County, and how do you propose to fund them?
- Safety: Our utmost responsibility is to keep our kids safe by investing in the infrastructure of each campus, providing more resources and support staff.
- Decline in enrollment and Low-test scores in certain parts of the county, especially here in Citrus Heights. This is something I will diligently review collaboratively with a task force to review root causes and address accordingly.
- Workforce stability: education agencies face enormous pressures in securing highly qualified staff in many areas of operation. Part of the budget needs to be allocated for retention, recruitment, and development as a foundation to improve outcomes.
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 am always interested in new innovative ideas to improve my kids’ education. Having actively participated in meetings for this committee, I have come to find that forming a new district would take extensive data analyzation, financial evaluations, and funding that are beyond our means. I do not believe the City of Citrus Heights, nor our local taxpayers, can financially afford to form an independent school district. Our community and the city should continue to work collaboratively with SJUSD, one of the largest districts in the state that has adequate funding, to address the quality of our schools.
Concerns about school safety are top of mind for many parents. What are two specific ways you would pursue addressing this concern?
As a father this is personal. Our utmost responsibility is to keep our kids safe by investing in the infrastructure of every campus via engineering controls with main entry points while optimizing and enhancing the security systems. Furthermore, investing in the safe schools’ programs and allocating more funding for staffing, training with the collaboration of local law enforcement agencies. Furthermore, investment in more funding for counseling services is paramount for our kids’ safety. Safety is a precondition for our schools across the county and the largest budget allocation should be for our kids’ safety and security while on campus.
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.
As education leaders, and parents our core value should be to strive to improve school culture to be more inclusive and provide diverse representation within SCOE sites; while ensuring to build a culture that embraces courageous conversation to address racial inequalities with expanding and prioritizing parent and student voices. Furthermore, providing professional development training with equity and inclusion. If elected, I will champion to bring more grants that will elevate the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at the Sacramento County Office Of Education.
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)?
School choice is here to stay. Charter schools play a crucial role in meeting nontraditional students’ needs. I do recall this specific denial, and I believe the SJUSD did not see their facilities’ plans as sustainable and provided feedback to the applicants. The school’s enrollment has not turned out as projected forcing them to reevaluate their site plans. I will support a charter school if they meet all the application requirements; to ensure it has the foundation and the financial ability to serve students without risking their education during a school year, while ensuring taxpayers’ money is well allocated.
Who are your top 3 endorsements?
- Ray Ward, IP Chair, Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce
- Citrus Heights Council member, former mayor, Porsche Middleton
- Democratic Party of Sacramento County
Editor’s Note: Moe Sarama’s candidate questionnaire was received as a late submission, but was still published in an effort to inform voters of where candidate’s stand on local issues. To view other candidate’s responses to The Sentinel’s questionnaire, visit: citrusheightssentinel.com/category/education
What are your top 2-3 priorities for improving education in Sacramento County, and...
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