THE ADRIAN FAMILY

Name: Larissa N. Adrian

Age: 36

Resides: 12-year resident of Temescal Valley

Family: Husband — Matt (police officer); son Chris, 20; daughter Aliyah, 16; daughter Keira, 10; daughter Madison, 9; daughter Isabell, almost 7

Occupation: Before I chose to become a full-time Mom, I was the Business Risk Manager for Ameriquest, overseeing the Audits, Customer Complaints and Fraud Investigation departments. I loved the challenge that type of work provided me; however, having four daughters has definitely upped my negotiating skills!

Education: High school; some college

Community Involvement:

• Sycamore Creek Homeowners Association board member and a member of the Design Review and Social committees
• Todd Academy PTA parliamentarian and member of Todd’s School Site Council
• We Are Temescal Valley citizens’ group, chairman of the Education Committee and a member of the Development Committee
• My kids’ “volunteer” chauffeur to and from games and practices for Horsethief Canyon Soccer Association, Corona Girls Softball Association, Mavericks Volleyball Club, CHAWP Water Polo Club 

Learn More About Me: Facebook: ADRIAN4CNUSD; Email: adrian4cnusd@gmail.com

Why are you seeking election?
I have been a Temescal Valley resident since 2004 and have seen how severely the community has been underrepresented by CNUSD. Watching my five children attend district schools, it has become evident that issues regarding traffic, class sizes, school boundaries and services have been pushed off year after year. I have endeavored to find out why we are not being given the same considerations as our neighboring areas. I am running for election to address concerns like these and other relevant issues such as “When and where will our high school be built?”

What are the predominant issues facing the Corona-Norco Unified School District and how would you address them?
One of the district’s most pressing issues is the lack of schools for middle and high school students. CNUSD has taken a “Wait and See” approach that has left parents and students stuck in traffic and, at times, driving over an hour to get to assigned high schools, often arriving late due to freeway and surface road gridlock. CNUSD must take a stronger position on community growth and development. Currently, the board waits to hear from the community before issues are addressed. I believe this is backwards. There needs to be a proactive approach to this situation and the community needs to know there is transparency across the district on how issues are handled. I will continue to attend county and city council meetings to learn firsthand about new development proposals to ensure that CNUSD has the information it needs to plan for and manage the educational needs of current and future students. 

Our district is the eighth largest in California. Another problem facing such a large district is student achievement. Our students need a balanced curriculum. We need to provide quality educational opportunities for students that are not only college-bound, but for those who might prefer vocational training or preparation for a technology career. We should be offering advanced learning opportunities at every school and at every grade level. 

Using my background in audit and fraud investigations, I believe this can be accomplished by closely monitoring the expenditures of the school bond funds to assure they are spent on projects as promised in a fiscally responsible manner. I would make sure we maximize our tax dollars by developing partnerships with businesses, government and educational entities to avoid a duplication of services. 

What are the predominant school issues facing Temescal Valley and how would you address them?
If I’m elected to the board, Temescal Valley will finally have a voice in addressing issues that impact our community now and in the future. For well over a year, I am the only candidate that has consistently attended board meetings, asking questions and speaking out on issues that affect us. I have a vested interest in my community and my kids’ future and have identified several issues that need to be corrected.

Our high schools and middle schools are at capacity and this is affecting the education our children receive. If a new high school was built in Temescal Valley, it would provide a more even distribution of students within the district, giving all students a better education based on a lower population within our schools.

Additionally, traffic is a major stress factor in many families’ lives and the overall well-being of our community. It will not get better anytime soon and regardless of the district providing transportation for our students, it does not change the commute time or alleviate traffic.

Students who pay for district transportation also arrive late to school, but kids who are driven by parents and arrive late, or at the same time as a late bus, receive a detention. We need a consistent means to handle this situation regardless of how our students are transported to school. 

Temescal Valley continues to grow and with the possible influx of thousands of more homes and apartments, and the lack of planning for our students, this will only make life more stressful and hectic for our community. I will make our voice heard and work diligently to ensure we are not forgotten and are provided with the best possible solutions as are other families and students throughout the Corona-Norco Unified School District.