BUSD Candidate: Armond Aghakhanian
- Share via
At a Glance:
Age: 43Occupation: Teacher, Woodbury University
Political affiliation: Democrat
Education: Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology -- Doctor of Education (Ed. D.) in Organization Leadership
Woodbury University -- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Cal State University, Northridge -- Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science
Online Resources:
Twitter Feed
Facebook Page
drarmonda@gmail.com
Questionnaire:
Have you run for office previously?
Yes. Burbank School Board 2013. Lost by by a little more than one hundred votes.Why are you running?
I am running for the School Board to guarantee that all of Burbank’s children have access to the best public education leading to career success. Together, we can prepare our children for entry-level careers, college, university, and workforce training programs, while ensuring the highest level of academic achievement from our schools, small class sizes for individualized learning, and the most professional teachers and staff on all campuses.
What is the most important issue facing the school district?
Decrease in the percentage of Burbank High School’s graduates enrolling in colleges and universities with sufficient workforce and entry-level career preparation and training.
Name a recent issue or policy the current board has decided that you agree with. Why?
The current pathways for public school students via the Verdugo Creative Technology Consortium is a great example of a collaborative effort designed to develop pathway programs that prepare students for what the current workforce needs.Name a recent issue or policy the current board has decided that you disagree with. Why?
I am extremely proud of the proactive role taken by the Burbank school board, Burbank school teachers and administrators, and Burbank residents, in preserving our phenomenal school system. Unfortunately, two of our board members who are former teachers are about to leave the board. As a teacher with real classroom experience and someone who has worked both in the private and public sector, I know what it takes to prepare and educate our students for today’s technological and educational changes.
What is the best thing about how the school district is run?
The sense of community. It is a place where all members share a feeling of belonging, a feeling that members matter to one another and to the group as a whole. This includes teachers, staff, students, parents and members of the community. A place where education matters and teachers are a source of inspiration, such as Rebecca Mieliwocki, “2012 National Teacher of the Year.” That is why it is so hard to for the entire community when teachers and staff leave due to budget cuts or retirement.What is the worst thing about how the current city government is run?
We must do a better job in informing parents, local businesses, organizations, school administrators and teachers on an ongoing basis about what is currently happening in the district. That is why one of the first things I asked for as a member of the BUSD Facilities Oversight Committee was to alternate our regular monthly meeting between 7:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. every other month so all members of our community will have the opportunity to attend the meetings.
What programs or areas do you believe deserve priority or additional spending? Why?
As a community we must work together to guarantee that all of our students have access to the best public education leading to career success. This means that we must increase programs designed to prepare our children from an early age for post-secondary education with sufficient workforce and entry-level career preparation and training. A seamless education program designed to create a college and university-bound culture with an expectation of success in achieving academic and career goals.
What qualities should BUSD’s next superintendent have?
The Next BUSD Superintendent must be:
• Honest
• Visionary
• Inspiring
• Innovative
• Committed
• A good listener
• A team player (foster collaboration)
• Able to unravel bureaucracy when it delays action
Open Response:
Like any other parent in Burbank, I want my three-year-old son to have the best opportunities available to him in the Burbank school system. There’s a reason why my wife, Dr. Gayane Gasamanyan, and I decided to make Burbank our home: to raise our family to give back to the community because we believe in the city and its public school system. However, the public school system can only thrive if people like you and me roll up our sleeves and become actively involved.
I have over fifteen years of experience in the field of education and public service, serving on several local non-profit boards, commissions, and teaching. Currently, I serve as a member of Burbank School Facilities Oversight Committee and Burbank Parks, Recreation and Community Services Board.
Together we must establish a seamless education program that will guarantee a pathway to college and university for all of our students. In order to achieve this, we must:
• Get students and parents involved early;
• Increase the number of counselors at our high schools and top two grades (currently we only have 5 for 2500 students);
• Increase partnerships with governmental and nongovernmental agencies, local businesses, non-profits, community groups and parents to promote college and university attendance;
• Identify projects, business partnerships, funding and fit;
• Create ongoing internships and network opportunities, to find professionals willing to mentor and employ our students;
• Create and promote year-round workshops to increase training opportunities;
• Proper implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs by adding Arts to learning, technology and manufacturing.
Furthermore we must address concerns about our budget shortfalls- Managing Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), Cost of implementation and maintenance of the Common Core State Standards and aging infrastructure.
As cities all over California face steep cuts from Sacramento and a sluggish economy, our schools are facing many financial challenges. The LCFF is a new system for redistributing funding, not a source of new funding. The current California Standards Tests have been replaced by computerized exams that can adapt immediately to a student’s performance. One of the biggest concerns with the change is the cost of technological integration into the learning of reading, writing and training teachers regularly. Burbank schools’ facilities quality and safety are in dire need of improvement. Classrooms need to be upgraded with new technology and computers. Aging portable classrooms, electrical systems, plumbing and sewer lines, site irrigation, gas lines, roofs and play areas need to be replaced.
Here are some solutions:
• Implementation of Master Plans laying out actions and services designed to increase academic achievement in areas which need more focus from the district.
• A smart and conservative approach to implementing Common Core by focusing on teacher training and investing in our current infrastructure.
• Following the passage of Measure S Bond, the school district has been able to invest some of the funds in new technology and infrastructure using the bond money but we must do more, especially when it comes to investing in sustainable and green technology;
• We must use this funding wisely by converting our aging schools’ infrastructure into new and more sustainable infrastructure. This will keep the cost of maintenance down, while complying with all new standards. For example, we can convert all of our current auditoriums in to multi-use facilities with new HVAC systems and technology, (such as overhead projectors, computers, and internet access) providing additional functional space, which can be used for different purposes thus keeping our class sizes small.
As a school board member, I will continue working with the committee and members of our community to make sure that we continue spending our limited funds wisely and I will work to implement safe schools for all of our children, technological advancement at all our schools, and a transparency in our budgetary process.
Public Records & Legal Information:
Endorsements:
Burbank Elected Officials
Mike Gatto - CA State Assemblymember, 43rd Assembly District*
Dave Kemp- Member, Burbank Unified Board of Education *
Ted Bunch- Member, Burbank Unified Board of Education *
Charlene Tabet- VP, Burbank Unified Board of Education *
Jess Talamantes -Council Member & Former Mayor of City of Burbank*
Emily Gabel-Luddy - Council Member & Former Mayor of City of Burbank*
Former Elected Officials
Jef Vander Borght- Former Mayor of City of Burbank *
Marsha Ramos - Former Mayor of City of Burbank *
Vincent Stefano- Former Mayor of City of Burbank*
Anja Reinke- Former Mayor of City of Burbank *
Tim Murphy- Former Councilmember of City of Burbank/ Former LA Superior Court Commissioner *
Organizations
Burbank Teachers Association
Los Angeles County Democratic Party*
Armenian National Committee of America-Burbank*
Burbank Community Leaders
Lynn White-Shelby-Member of Burbank Senior Citizens Board/ Education Chair of American Business Women’s Association/ Board of Directors of Boys & Girls Club of Burbank & Greater East Valley*
Mickey DePalo- Chairman of Burbank Veterans Committee*
Mary Lou Stefano- Retired Burbank Unified School District teacher*
Lee Wochner- Business owner/Vice-chair of Burbank Chamber of Commerce/Past President of Leadership Burbank;
Barry S. Gussow- Chair of Burbank Park, Recreation & Community Services Board*
Jonathan Barta- Secretary of Burbank Park, Recreation & Community Services Board*
Greg Jackson-Chair of Burbank School Facilities Oversight Committee*
Rommil Fernandez-Chairman of Burbank Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce)*
Walter Brennan, Jr. – Member of Burbank School Facilities Oversight Committee*
Kevin Harrop- Member of Burbank School Facilities Oversight Committee*
Robert Vincent- Vice-chair of City of Burbank Civic Pride Committee*
Bruce Clarke- Alternate, Burbank School Facilities Oversight Committee*
Ara Boyadjian- Member of Burbank Civic Pride Committee*
Cynthia Ann Faust- Educator
Janet Diel
Diane Cripe
Mike Elman
Bruce W. Lilly, D.D.S.
Nancy Serpa
Harvey Branman-Past President of Burbank Noon Kiwanis*
Jacqueline Lewis-Former President of the Burbank Jaycees (Junior Chamber of Commerce), Former ex-officio Member & current member of Burbank Chamber of Commerce*
Hagop Hergelian- Vice Chair, Burbank Police Commission*
State, County & Other Elected Officials
Tom Torlakson- CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction*
Kevin de León- CA Senate President pro Tempore*
Scott Svonkin- President, Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees *
Steve Veres - Vice President, Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees *
John Chiang -CA State Controller/ CA State Treasurer-elect*
Jeffrey Prang- LA County Assessor*
Zareh Sinanyan-Mayor, City of Glendale*
Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian- City Clerk, City of Glendale*
Carol Liu - CA State Senator, 25th Senate District, Chair of the Senate Education Committee
*For identification purposes only
Funds raised by Aghakhanian:
