Blog Topic 10

         Other people or organizations do not rely on my community partner to provide any type of funds. The tutorial program provides a service to the members of the community. Since it was established solely with Bel Air in mind, it's existence relies heavily on the school. The school however, is not in control of its own money. Each year, a school district allocates its funds to the schools that are within its jurisdiction. Individual schools can request a larger budget for any given specificity.  
          Part of the tutoring session consists of exercises that are completed on the computer and of quizzes that are administered through a website. The tutorial program uses Bel Air's laptops and internet when tutoring the children. The tutoring revolves around helping the children complete the given exercises and passing the quizzes, which would not be possible if the school did not have the funds to supply each student with a laptop and internet access during the tutoring sessions.With that said, you can consider my community partner to be dependent on funds, especially because the tutorial program will only stay active if Bel Air stays open. However, based on the University's continual efforts in giving back to the community, I can imagine that even if the school didn't have the funds to support the tutorial program specifically, there are people here that would  make sure that Bel Air is receiving the assistance that it needs.

Blog Topic 9

         My community partner does not have the authority to raise funds through taxation.My community partner, the Bel Air tutorial program is part of Bel Air Elementary School. Schools are funded by local property taxes and state aid. The school districts then decide how the money is budgeted As it was with the interface with local governments, my community partner has more of a secondary association with taxation and funding.
        Bel Air is facing possible closure because the district does not have the money, due to budget cuts, to support the elementary school, especially when its students are not performing. It is due to the district's reluctance to continue to fund Bel Air Elementary School that my community partner was established.

Blog Topic 8

         My community partner was established by a professor here at Notre Dame de Namur, Dr. Ferrera. He is not a leader of any kind of governmental units. The governmental unit that my community partner responds to is the San Bruno Park School District. The tutorial program was established as an effort to prevent the closure of Bel Air Elementary, which was proposed by the School District.The decisions made and actions taken by the School Board have immediate effects on the schools that it governs, like Bel Air. My Community partner is responding to the potential outcomes that Bel Air is facing by offering assistance in preventing the school's closure. Therefore, there is more of a secondary interface between my community partner and the School District, as opposed to the direct interface that Bel Air itself has with the School District.

Blog Topic 7

        The local government that has the most influence over my community partner is  the San Bruno Park School District. Currently, the school district is reassessing its finances and budgets. As a result, schools within the district with low student achievement rates, like Bel Air, are facing possible closure. School Board trustees are looking at the benefits of consolidating schools. Many disagree with this because jobs will be lost and students will be uprooted from their already familiar learning environment.
        My community partner was established in response to the possible closure of Bel Air Elementary, so they are clearly do not agree or support what the School District is proposing. Closing down even just one school would have a ripple of effects that I am sure many are not prepared to address. 

Blog Topic 6

         Once again, my community partner is not really involved in politics. When I spoke to the teacher who is in charge of the actually class itself, she could not think of any specific legislative changes that are currently being sought The proposed closure of Bel Air is not only a result of low student performance, but also a result of budgeting and proper allocation of money and resources which is determined by legislation at the School District level. The first step to having any cause heard by the legislature in attempt to make suitable changes that would be beneficial to the tutorial program would be to attend a School District Board Meeting.

Blog Topic 5

         This University was founded on the values and core beliefs that the Sisters of Notre Dame live by. A strong emphasis is placed on social justice and equality. It is very evident that the sisters live a life dedicated to serving the people. As a political science major, these values are good to have. Politics focuses on the governance of citizens, but often times, it would seem as though officials, legislators, and policy makers lose sight of what is important ans what the people really need. Sometimes it even seems like politics favors one group over another, seeding a deep root for injustices that the "forgotten" group may be facing. If more politicians were to live their life based on the hallmarks that the Sisters of Notre Dame established, more efforts would be made to make sure that no one is overlooked or left behind.These values that the Sisters live by could potentially influence graduates to choose a career based on its principle and not the paycheck. While a career dedicated to service may be challenging, the Sisters make it clear that it will be nothing less than fulfilling.

Blog Topic 4

My community partner has not taken any political stance on previous campaigns and/or candidates. Because the tutorial program was established through the University and is essentially a course offered at the University, not much time or effort is spent on politics.