League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Sandra C. Stattion Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Alum Rock Union Elementary 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?

I have a background in accounting and I was a former auditor. Upon appointment, I intend to thoroughly review the district financials and discuss with the business services personel to clarify any and all questions I may have in terms of the allocation of funds. The public education system is a PUBLIC system, and the community has a right to know if the local funds are being allocated fairly and wisely.

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

No. Much effort is spent on testing and improving test scores that many children in the district that are proficient or above are not being serviced.

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

In 5 years, I want the district to:
-be financially solvent and have excellent relationships with external funding agencies that can sustain long term growth and improvement
-be in the top 50 percentile of the district

First, the district needs to take a long hard look at how monies are spent and identify alternatives to the current expenditure models. Secondly, the district needs to be open to working with outside agencies (educational foundations, businesses, non-profit organizations) to allow for additional funding and opportunities to come into our district. And finally, the district needs to work with the teachers in a collaborative fashion that allows the teachers the freedom to teach, rather than dictate what is to be taught and how.

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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: September 22, 2008 20:30
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