F.A.Q.

By Mike Davenport

Frequenty Asked Qustions - with Mike D's answers.

A - Over 1.5 years

Q - What is the most important issue in this election? How would you tackle it if you were elected?

A - Restore pride in our School System by first re-establishing the team of the School Board and Administration as a respected and admired force in the community.

Q - What leadership roles have you held in Morgan Hill?

A - Leadership Morgan Hill + Refurbished Machado School, Jackson Elementary Home & School Club, Charter member of Britton Middle School's Technology Council.

Q - How do you think development Coyote Valley will impact Morgan Hill Unified School District, and what do you think the district should do to prepare for it?

A - The inevitability of Coyote Valley's planned growth forces the District to act. My sense is to influence San Jose to form a subcommittee that is tasked with providing a binding recommendation as to how to deal with the issue. The subcommittee shall be a joint effort and cross functional with San Jose, Coyote, and Morgan Hill representatives. The district should be prepared to interact and advise the subcommittee.

Q - The past year has been a difficult one for the district (recall, budget cuts, etc.). How would you help the district recover and move forward?

A - We have to understand the true situation + in navigation it is called "a fix". That is, the true situation with the budget is not forthcoming at this point. We need to open the books to all, prioritize our needs, pull the community together to plan and strategize initiatives that will drive success of three sets of goals + Board set, Administration set, and Community set. Each set of attainable goals shall drive the vision of the District.

Q - What is Morgan Hill Unified School District's best attribute? What do you think needs fixing?

A - We have a vast set of resources that are being mismanaged. We have the unprecedented opportunity to accelerate a good School District to greatness. We are uniquely positioned to be a model for other districts in the state, if we execute well.

Q - Why do you want to be a Morgan Hill Unified School District trustee?

A - I bring to the team a set of proven skills that drive mediocrity out as excellence displaces it. I have a successful track record of taking dysfunctional teams of good players, not unlike what we have today, and leading them through transformation into a high performance team of exceptional caliber and accolade. I want to take this team and create greatness + not for the members of the board but for the students. They are our community.

Q - Problems come up in any school system. How do you approach controversy?

A - My approach is to be honest and straightforward. Take the situation head-on, remain objective that there is a solution, focus on the issue and not the emotions associated with it, and, when appropriate, have the controversy provide an opportunity that we can learn from and grow.

Q - This year the district settled its years-long anti-gay harassment lawsuit known as the Flores case and agreed to provide sensitivity training to its employees and students. What is the board's role in making sure all students feel safe on campus?

A - Each student has a right to pursue academic excellence free of harassment. The Board must provide guidance in policy and practice to promote such an environment. I would volunteer as a Board member to attend the training alongside our faculty and workers.

Q - What's something that the voters might not know about you?

A - I am a local person, raised in Cupertino, and a success of the public school system. As such, I believe in the public school system and have a desire to lead greater successes of publically educated students. I am a very energetic and positive person. I drive for results and enjoy celebrating successes. Failure is nothing more that a learning event to promote growth and further excellence. I derive my sense of self by those I associate. I have fun at all I do.