The city of Antioch is at a crossroads. Either look back or move forward. It is no secret that Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) is a institution that has been in decline for years. Families are fleeing and test scores are falling. Families that leave Antioch public schools cite a lack of safety and poor test scores. In the last four years (During Mary Rocha’s tenure) 2,278 students have left the district while the same dubious programs are clung to with fruitless fidelity. This means the equivalent of a comprehensive high school has left Antioch, yet we find ourselves in a familiar place, lead by familiar people. Mary Rocha has been on the Antioch political scene for 51 years! A lot has changed in Antioch in the last 51 years. The city’s population has population and it has become much more ethnically diverse. The needs of students are different yet Mary Rocha’s campaign still operates under an outdated paradigm in a city that is seeking to move forward. Mary Rocha has been on the Antioch School Board twice (first in 1971 and again in 2018) and now she is asking the public for four more years. Mary Rocha is endorsed by the same individuals: retired police officers, teacher unions that protect that the status quo, familiar elite acquaintances, (many who do not live in Area 5) and local right wing newspapers. Mary Rocha’s slogan is ‘Mary Cares’, therefore it is fair to ask: What does she care about? In the 2021-22 school year: 19% of AUSD students did not graduate high school. 83% of AUSD students are not proficient in Mathematics 70% of AUSD students are not proficient in Reading (Source: National Center for Education Statistics/ NCES) These are the things Antioch families care for. We want safety, civility, and 21st century responsive services. These are the exact things Dominique King cares for. AUSD pays their teachers better than most local school districts yet are unable to recruit and retain the proper number of qualified instructors. Local teachers cite stress, lack of safety, and lack of institutional identity. AUSD has one foundational problem: It is trying to be what is was, instead of embracing what it could be. We all know the definition of insanity and on Election Day if we do the same thing, how can we expect a different result? Antioch cannot afford another four years of business as usual. We KNOW what we will get with another term of Mary Rocha: -Unsafe schools -Low test scores -Increased family flight -Low teacher recruitment and retention -Divisive partisan politics -Blind Rubber stamp voting. Antioch needs a fresh face. We need a school board trustee who will take action day one and who is not caught up in the old town divisive politics. Antioch families need someone who will fight for SAFTEY in schools and CIVILITY on the board. Dominique King is a working wife and mother. She understands the common struggle of parents in Antioch. She has two children currently attending AUSD schools and is active on her school site council implementing impactful change. Dominique King is a business owner, a sheriff’s deputy’s wife, and an Antioch Parks and Recreations Commissioner. She believes in healthy schools and healthy kids. As a school board member, Dominique King will fight to make sure: (1) children have safe, supported learning environments and access to high-quality education; (2) teachers and staff have the tools to meet the growing demands of our diverse community; (3) families feel connected to our neighborhood schools; (4) we embrace technical training and education, not just college preparation; and (5) we build appropriate support systems for all at-risk youth. This year social media photo-ops and large campaign donations from the old Antioch elite will not win this election. This election is not a lifetime achievement award. This election is about pushing past old time politics. It is about progression, this election is about the will of the people. Antioch let's move forward; Area 5 on November 8th 2022 vote CONFIDENCE, vote COURAGE, vote CHARACTER, vote KING!!
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