League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Clara County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Trustee; San Jose Unified School District; Trustee Area 5

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 Use of Funds, Appropriate Instruction, District Goals Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 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? Answer from Sandra "Sandy" Engel: I would draw upon my extensive experience with the district budget as well as my work in the classroom and in school leadership to ensure that we are getting the most out of every dollar spent, and that any cuts are kept as far from our kids as possible. I would be honest and transparent in all my work as a trustee so that parents, teachers, and members of the community understand the challenges we face with diminished funding and the priorities that guide my decisions. Answer from Cathy Davis: By examining the financial report prepared by the Chief Business Officer and meeting regularly with the Superintendent to verify the findings. I would also meet with the principals at each of Trustee Area 5 to determine that their needs are being met, and confer during open session board meetings with my fellow school board members to be sure the entire district is meeting the federal and state guide lines. I would communicate this information through my regular attendance at PTA/Home and School Club meetings and by working with the district to be sure they include this information to all parents. 2. Are the schools offering instruction appropriate to the diverse educational abilities of all the students? Answer from Cathy Davis: San Jose Unified leads the state of California by having and maintaining high scholastic standards. This high standard requires all students to reach for the bar, not bend down to it. With the adoption of the Strategic Plan, Opportunity21, a blended learning approach will be taken to ensure that all students will be receiving the material in a manner that works best for them. Answer from Sandra "Sandy" Engel: This is a difficult question to answer with a simple "Yes" or "No". With the current standards-based curriculum, it can be difficult to personalize the educational experience on a student-by-student basis. However, it should always be our goal to reach each and every child with an approach suited to their needs and abilities. There is a delicate balancing act at work here for teachers as well as administrators, but I believe technology and new approaches can help us get closer to that goal. 3. Where do you want the District to be five years from now? What steps should the District take to get there? Answer from Cathy Davis: Our district will be teaching the skills our students need for the 21st century and narrow the opportunity gap by: 1. Providing a comprehensive high quality educational program that ensures successful opportunities for all students. 2. Building broader support for the families and community of the district. 3. Having districtwide results driven accountability that identifies students' needs. 4. Ensuring that the district's resources are aligned with the strategic plan, and demonstrating cost effective management of the budget. 5. Recruiting, supporting and retaining a highly effective workforce through a rigorous employee hiring process. 6. Still requiring a thorough and relevant standard of achievement for all our students. Answer from Sandra "Sandy" Engel: In five years, I hope to see the district's Opportunity 21 plan fully implemented. After many years of work and investment on the part of parents, teachers, administrators, and district staff, it would be a shame if the plan were left in a three-ring binder on the shelf. We owe it to our children + and their children + to bring our schools in line with the modern world, from the ground up. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Please answer each question in no more than 400 words. Direct references to opponents are not permitted. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.