League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Patricia Midtgaard 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?

GUSD Trustees on the Board of Education are periodically informed at regularly scheduled board meetings regarding budgetary revenues and expenditures in all categories. Upon any board member's request, a separate Budget Study Session (which is open to the public) is scheduled to discuss items at length. For example, additional time and study was required in 2014 to better understand the requirements of the new LCFF (Local Control Funding Formula) as board members were held accountable for determining the designation of funding categories previously determined at the state level.

Information is generally shared with our constituents through bimonthly board meetings, the Superintendent's Newsletter, community presentations, and by invitation at Home and School Club Meetings.

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

I believe GUSD continues to offer a variety of educational options that fit the needs of our diverse population of students:

• Dual Immersion Program for students who desire to study and achieve in two languages;
• GECA (Dr. T.J. Owens Early College Academy) for students in 9-12 grades who wish to focus on achieving a high school diploma while completing advance credits at the community college level;
• GPS (Gilroy Prep School), a charter school with a defined academic approach for elementary school;
• Advance Path for secondary students who need to recover units and graduate from high school in a computer-based tutorial system;
• Advance Placement classes at the secondary level.
• Special Education classes for students who learn with a specific approach.

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

1. WHAT: A district in which our students are offered the most current technology in their classrooms and instructional settings so that they can be competitive with other students in the state and nation.
1. HOW: Opportunities for funding that are focused on technology (i.e. a parcel tax, grants)
2. WHAT: A district in which employees are paid commensurate not only to their expertise, but also to employees in other districts. This is vital in attracting and keeping a viable workforce.
2. HOW: Making budgetary decisions with an unrelenting focus on how our staff is being compensated. Also, looking at opportunities that the community can support (perhaps a parcel tax designated only for improving staff compensation).

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. The answer to each question should be limited to 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 4, 2014 14:34
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