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The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
State and Federal Funds,
Instruction,
Future
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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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?
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Answer from Susan Pyne:
As a school board member, I carefully review a variety of financial information, plans and reports to ensure that district resources are used wisely and fairly. Examples include: monthly warrant lists (lists of itemized expenditures), school plans, annual district budgets, mid-year and year-end comparisons of actual expenditures to budget, and annual audits. When Cambrian began its five-year school modernization program, I worked with the program manager, district administrators and other board members to develop a reporting system that enabled the Board to carefully monitor construction costs and the related state and local funding sources. We were very pleased to complete the five-year project last year on-time and on-budget.
One of my top priorities is to maintain fiscal responsibility, with a focus on aligning budgets with district priorities. Last year, Cambrian updated its district mission, vision, goals and priorities. This work was guided by the results of a community survey and supported by a task force comprised of community members, parents, teachers and staff, and administrators. Administrators and school site councils have been asked to prepare school plans in a format which will reflect, and communicate to the community, the alignment of programs and related budgets with the District's priorities. School plans are available on school web sites and are discussed publicly at meetings of the School Board, School Site Councils and Home & School Clubs.
Answer from Randy J. Scofield:
As a school board member a top priority is the responsibility to wisely manage the public's money. To meet this responsibility, I look at a variety financial reports and district plans to ensure that the resources are being used wisely and fairly. The annual district budget, the mid-year and year-end comparisons of actual expenditures to budget, the annual audit reports, school plans, monthly warrant reportst(the detailed list of expenditures) are a few examples of the information I review. As part of our five-year modernization program, we established a citizen bond oversight committee that reviewed and monitored those program funds. I worked with my fellow board members, the program manager and the district administration to develop a reporting system that enabled the Board to carefully monitor construction costs, monitor state and local funding sources. From these actions, we were very pleased to complete this five-year project last year on-time and on-budget.
As mentioned above, a top priority is to have strong fiscal responsibility, but it needs to be aligned to the district priorities. As part of this process Cambrian last year conducted a community survey with the results provided to a strategic planning task force which I was a member of. This task force was comprised of community members, parents, teachers and staff, and administrators whose charge was to update the district mission, vision, goals and priorities. These results were adopted by the Board and all administrators and school site councils have been asked to prepare school plans in a format that reflects the alignment of programs and related budgets with the District's priorities. The school plans communicate this information to the community and are available on school websites and are discussed publicly at meetings of the Home and School Clubs, School Site Councils, and meetings of the School Board.
Answer from Donald R. Rocha:
I would analyze the budget reports presented to the Governing Board by the District Administration. I would request that these findings be:
-distributed to the school site committee and home and school clubs,
-make it available online,
-and ensure it is reported in each school newsletter.
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2. Are the schools offering instruction appropriate to the diverse educational abilities of all the students?
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Answer from Randy J. Scofield:
The district offers a variety of programs designed to meet the needs of students of diverse educational abilities. The differentiated instructional strategies that all teachers are trained in, materials provided to support this are base of our approach to meeting all students' needs.
Cambrian continues to look a innovative ways to meet these needs as an example, we introduced a program last year that took a portion of the language arts time to group all students across each grade level by their level of complexity teaching the same standard at the same time across the entire school. This coordinated effort provides a seamless transfer of students to different levels of instruction based on the individual needs of each student. The additional challenge or support needed by students is focused as a single objective of the entire school. This is just one example of efforts by Cambrian to provide effective and appropriate instruction to students.
The variety of programs and our differentiated instruction in all classrooms and all subject areas are supported by our partnerships with the community in homework centers, before and after school tutoring, a wide variety of Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) and enrichments programs and special education services. I support Cambrian's efforts to continuously improve and look for innovative opportunities to help children learn.
Answer from Donald R. Rocha:
Yes
Answer from Susan Pyne:
Cambrian schools offer a variety of programs and instructional strategies designed to meet the needs of students of diverse educational abilities. All teachers are trained in, and provided with materials to support, differentiated instruction strategies.
Last year, an innovative program was introduced in Cambrian to support struggling students in smaller group settings, while also challenging higher achieving students to reach new heights. During a designated portion of the language arts block, students of all levels receive instruction on the same standards at the same time, but at varying levels of complexity. The coordination of instruction facilitates a seamless transfer of students to different levels of instruction as their individual needs dictate the need for additional challenges or additional support. This program is one example of Cambrian's efforts to offer effective and appropriate instruction to students of diverse educational abilities.
In addition, Cambrian continues to emphasize differentiated instruction in all classrooms and subject areas, and supports before and after school tutoring and homework center programs, Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) programs, and a wide variety of enrichment programs and special education services. As a school board member, I support Cambrian's efforts to continuously improve its programs and to look for innovative approaches to help all children learn.
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3. Where do you want the District to be five years from now? What steps should the District take to get there?
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Answer from Randy J. Scofield:
I believe in encouraging a district culture that values collaboration, innovation, and effective communication and challenges itself to reach their common goals. I participated in the District's strategic task force and as a board member voted to approve the Strategic Goals for the District.They are reviewed by the community and updated every three years.
They are:
- All students will meet and exceed student learning goals at each grade level.
- All students will demonstrate and apply critical thinking skills.
- All students will exhibit effective interpersonal skills and value diversity.
The district has programs in a variety of academic and social areas to meet these goals. Achieving the goals requires an ongoing and deliberate focus. We have adopted a methodology across all schools that enable the specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely goals (SMART) to be set at each level of our district. Our goals are aligning in support of our common vision and strategic view. This is the foundation on which we move forward to meet the future.
Answer from Susan Pyne:
Last spring, I participated in developing, and voted to approve, the following Strategic Goals for the District:
All students will...
- Meet and exceed student learning goals at each grade level.
- Demonstrate and apply critical thinking skills.
- Exhibit effective interpersonal skills and value diversity.
The district has in place a variety of academic and social programs designed to achieve these goals. As a board member, I believe in encouraging a district culture that values innovation, effective communication and collaboration, and deliberate efforts toward common goals. Achieving the goals requires ongoing discipline and focus. One step to ensure steady progress toward goals is to set specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely goals at each level of the organization. Goals for the District, schools, administrators, grade level teams and teachers should all be aligned in support of the same ultimate targets.
Answer from Donald R. Rocha:
I would expect the dsitrict would have higher testing scores, and it would be achieved through in-class and at-home focused efforts by the teacher, student, and parent for those students who need extra attention.
I believe what the District can do best is to provide greater resources, funds, and support to the individual schools, administration, and most important - the teachers.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' responses are not edited or
corrected by the League.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
