Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Nicholas Dibs
Current job title: Teacher (Career Technical Education & Science credentials) and Nonprofit CEO
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: GGUSD’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC) and Human Relations Task Force, elected ASB Officer (Pacifica HS)
City where you reside: Garden Grove
Campaign website or social media: http://www.nickdibs.org
Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for heavier restrictions on smartphones in schools, pointing to studies that show the harmful effects of social media. How do you see schools restricting smartphone use? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
In accordance with and recommended by AB 272 to help protect children and improve academic success, the GGUSD should restrict student use of smartphones during school time. Smartphones should be banned during school time with each student having his/her phone in a secure pouch.
The surgeon general’s report “Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory” emphasizes the need to safeguard the mental well-being of young people in the face of digital technology and social media. It addresses concerns such as excessive screen time, online bullying and digital addiction. The report provides evidence-based recommendations for promoting positive digital well-being and calls for collective action from parents, educators, health care professionals and policymakers. It highlights the importance of education, responsible social media use and establishing a balance between screen time and other activities. Overall, it serves as a call to protect the mental health of youth in an increasingly digital world.
For the past several years I have advocated/spoken at GGUSD School Board meetings to convey concerns and research — including the surgeon general’s interviews and report regarding the urgent need to protect children from screen, social media and online addiction, including but not limited to restricting use of smartphones during class time. Over a year ago, I submitted written requests to GGUSD School Board members that they ban the use of smartphones district-wide during school time, per AB 272, which documents findings and research showing that doing so will help protect children from online bullying and increase academic success. Unfortunately, the incumbent failed to support and vote for this.
How can your district better harness artificial intelligence technology for learning while also protecting kids from another tool that can be used for bullying? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
GGUSD needs to establish and implement AI safeguards in keeping with protecting children from online bullying and screen addition, etc.
The surgeon general’s report “Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory” emphasizes the need to safeguard the mental well-being of young people in the face of digital technology and social media. It addresses concerns such as excessive screen time, online bullying and digital addiction. The report provides evidence-based recommendations for promoting positive digital well-being and calls for collective action from parents, educators, health care professionals and policymakers. It highlights the importance of education, responsible social media use and establishing a balance between screen time and other activities. Overall, it serves as a call to protect the mental health of youth in an increasingly digital world.
What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
– Bring back skilled trades shop classes cut/eliminated in grades 7-12 by GGUSD — and add more career technical education (vocational) shop/training classes so students who do/may not want to attend college (to earn an academic degree) can have training in one or more skilled trades in order to have more choices for obtaining living-wage career jobs. For over eight years, I have been attending GGUSD School Board meetings asking that this be done. Unfortunately, the incumbent has failed to take effective action to accomplish this important goal. If elected, I will work to advocate and reestablish these classes using proven initiatives being done at Santa Ana USD, Anaheim USD, Long Beach USD and Fullerton School District’s tiny home project eighth grade students completed in May 2024.
– Improving protecting children and reducing students’ online bullying and screen time/social media/esports addiction, etc. The incumbent and GGUSD have not done enough in this regard.
– A third important item is establishing/having a nonprofit GG education foundation to help raise additional funds to support and enhance sports, arts, music, more field trips and after-school programs, science camp, etc.
What experiences and priorities do you bring to the table for this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that make you the person for this job? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
For over 16 years, I have worked for GGUSD as a fully credentialed teacher filling in for absent teachers at all grade levels and virtually all subjects in hundreds of classrooms throughout GGUSD. I have also worked at three or more other public school districts and therefore I am aware of what other good practices and resources can be brought to GGUSD.
California has a new law, set to go into effect in 2025, that prohibits districts from enforcing what’s been called parental notification policies, rules for school employees to contact parents if their child may be changing their gender identity. What do you see as the role of parents in education? Is there a limitation? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
This is a contentious issue per a new state law because many parents feel they have a right to know how their son or daughter is doing at/in school and that no information should be withheld from them by school staff. If elected, I will uphold laws and fairness to the best of my ability.
What role do you see your district playing in combating climate change? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Both science and history/civics can provide cross-subject collaboration to help students be critical thinkers and problem solvers by considering alternatives and solutions to global warming and climate change.
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