Orange County Register: Candidate Questionnaire

By John Palacio

At the end of the day, it is about educating our students. Instructional days have not been reduced. Our success is not only dependent on all employees working together but having sufficient staffing and resources to do the job while minimizing the impact in the classroom. We need to reduce the use of outside consultants. Workers compensation, health care benefits, capital outlays and litigation costs need to be better managed, prioritized and reduced.

QUESTION NO. 2: A recent movement has urged linking teacher raises to student success. Do you agree with the idea? How would make it work?

Due to its complexity, the idea of linking employee raises to student success is one of those issues that require substantial discussion and cooperation between District management, employee bargaining units and members of the school board. This issue needs to be addressed at the bargaining table because of existing contracts with employee bargaining units include provisions for addressing employee salaries, including raises.

QUESTION NO. 3: Test scores for poor students lag behind those of their wealthier classmates. What steps would you take to eliminate the achievement gap in your district?

Kindergarten, pre-school and head start programs need to be expanded to ensure early academic success. Students with limited English skills need to be in smaller classrooms and required to attend summer school for additional English instruction. If a student with limited English skills attends summer school from the first grade through the 12th grade, students would have picked up two additional school years of instruction. After-school tutoring services need to be expanded.