League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Michael Snyder Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Campbell Union 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 board member, I will make sure that the schools are using funds wisely and fairly. I shall prudently manage and administer our tax dollars. I will make sure that all decisions are weighed carefully and that the ultimate goal is the success of our children's education. I will continue to seek out advice regarding the laws and regulations that govern our spending. All funds need to be accounted for and there has to be constant evaluations happening to determine if the programs for intervention are successful. All money spent needs to be aligned with the District's Strategic Plan. I will report my findings to the community at large. I plan to visit the local neighborhood associations and give them updates about what the board is doing. I will make sure that the teachers, principals, parents, classified staff and community members are continually informed about what is happening in the district.

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

Yes, the schools are offering appropriate instruction to the diverse educational needs of all students. Some strengths are; improvement in API, new construction, full day kindergarten, pre-school, class size reduction, and being a choice decision for junior high. Campbell schools continue to improve their API. Many of Campbell schools are over 800. This is truly awesome. Children who attend full day kindergarten learn about 40% more reading and math than half day students. That can help close the achievement gap. Children who attend preschool can help learn social skills, basic school interactions and procedures as well help with the achievement gap. Class size reduction still in effect is huge. Many schools have to raise class sizes to 25 to 30 which make it difficult for differentiation in the classroom and meeting the needs of all students. Finally, giving parents the choice for their children to stay at their home school through 5th grade is awesome. Campbell is also leading the way in Positive Behavioral Intervention System. Technology continues to play an important role in the Campbell Union. There is a 1 computer to every 4 students. Most of the computers are under five years old too.

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

I want the district to continue to provide a great education to our students. Students who leave the Campbell Union School district should be proud of the education they received, the way I was. I want to be proud that I was a team player on the board and we met the needs of the strategic plan and wisely completed it. I think there are many changes on the horizon for school districts. Many of those changes will come through the issue of common core standards. Common core standards are going to provide new benchmarks, technologies, and textbooks. Implementing the common cores must to be communicated and implemented wisely. In five years, I hope the board is picking the right interventions to close the achievement gap for the kids who are far below basic. We are in an age of technology that has many benefits and also disadvantages. It is a powerful medium for teaching, but it has also caused disconnect among people. We are teaching our children through this medium, but are they truly learning how to interact with society? Changes in curriculum are happening and yet all kids are concerned about is T.V., video games, computers and phones. Kids don't play anymore outside. They have become sedentary and that is why we have an obesity problem in the United States. Education has to implement this new technology but also keep the rudimentary aspects of school.

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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.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 14, 2012 20:40
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