League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 3, 2009 Election
	Rowene Hood Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Los Altos School District

The questions were prepared by the the League of Women Voters of Los Altos/Mtn. View Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What ideas do you have for handling Bullis Charter School's request for a junior high school?

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the expansion of Bullis Charter School and the economic and social impact to the Los Altos School District and taxpayers. As a Board Memeber, my primary objectives will be fiscal responsibility and ensuring that our limited funds are utilized to create the utmost learning environment for all of our students, educators and community.

2. Would you support an election for an additional parcel tax? Please explain why.

It has been two decades since the last parcel tax and I believe we need to revisit the option to put another tax to the voters. As a steadfast supporter of limited class size and excelling in the instruction of mathamatics, I believe that we must we must reach out to the taxpaying community to ensure we have the proper funds to support these key educational components.

3. Basic aid districts are recommended to maintain a higher reserve due to the volatility and unpredictability of property tax revenues. The LASD Citizens Advisory Committee on Finance recommended to the Board of Trustees building reserves up to the 8% to 10% range. This will be difficult as the district is facing decreasing revenues. Do you agree with building the reserves and how would you go about it?

Reserves: As a 20-year real estate broker, I recognize the economic cycles that impact our community. The key understanding is that an expanding economy will provide an opportunity to save additional funds and protect our District from the inevitable down economy. Thus, I support having a fixed reserve rate of 6.5% that is correlated to budgeted revenues that will increase to a capped 12% should revenues exceed expectations.

---

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).

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Contest
SmartVoter Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter

---

Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 8, 2009 13:43
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://www.lwvc.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.