League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 7, 2006 Election
	Denise Apuzzo Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Gilroy Unified School District

The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. How would you determine that the schools are using federal, state and local funds wisely and fairly and how would you report your findings to the community?

The School District talks about accountability, but I have a different view on accountability than the District. I know that distributing our resources equitably is a major concern of this community. I would carefully scrutinize the district budget and individual school site budgets to make sure that our tax dollars are being utilized in the most efficient and fair manner for all the students.

2. Are the schools offering instruction appropriate to the diverse educational abilities of all the students?

Not at all the sites. With the demise of school choice for Gilroy families, where you live determines where your chidren attend school. Our newer schools have vastly superior facilities than our oldest schools. Special programs such as dual immersion, self contained GATE classes, afterschool enrichment programs and on-site daycare are not available at all campuses. Geography should not determine what opportunities are available to the students.

3. Where do you want the District to be five years from now? What steps should the District take to get there?

I would like the District to be recognized for their excellent public schools. I would like all campuses to be safe, healthy learning environments where the students, parents, teachers and staff are proud of their school. I would immediately promote contracts for parents and students so that they know what will be required for our children to succeed. I would call for an end to the social promotion of middle school students who are failing at the end of the school year. Promoting on to high school those students who need intense remediation must be a thing of the past.

I would like the District to be fiscally responsible and have the full confidence of Gilroy taxpayers. This piece of accountability is in short supply right now.

To get to be this kind of District, we must set higher expectations of parents, students, teachers and administration. The District office must listen to the community and work to restore the confidence of the teachers and parents.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 27, 2006 11:18
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