League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Dom Payne 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?

As a strong proponent of government transparency, I would work to create a system and culture of self-assessment by the school board. This would include a committee comprised of board members, but also including parents and educators, to review budget decisions made by the board. The committee would report their findings at board meetings. I would also work to ensure that budget decisions are publicized on the internet.

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

I believe we can do a better job at offering innovative and diverse instruction. We have recently seen what that can look like at some of our schools, and I believe the board should support academic innovation and replicate it at all our schools. We must prepare all students, to increase the overall academic performance of all subgroups, so that they are successful and ready for college and employment in a world that is increasingly technological. Rethinking our High Schools' vocational programs is one example of this possibility, training students to design projects on computers, before creating actual models, and preparing them for the technology industry. Partnering with nearby colleges is another possibility, to implement a curriculum that better prepares our students for college.

3. Where do want the district to be 5 years from now? What steps should the district take to get there?

I would like the district to be on the cutting edge of inclusive and innovative instruction. I would like to see an academic achievement standard of excellence as the result of investigating all teaching techniques, and utilizing those that work. In five years, I would like to see a school district that has made education an exciting cultural achievement. Being so near to the silicon valley, I believe our students should be well prepared for a future that is undeniably technology based, and they should be the first choice for employers in the technology industry. The district should practice a strategy of constant self review and an adherence to research, and working with teachers and parents, push for a curriculum and culture that achieves these goals.

---

Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League. Answers must not refer directly or indirectly to another candidate.

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 13, 2010 21:11
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.