League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 7, 2006 Election
	Patricia Martinez-Roach Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; East Side Union High 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?

Open public discussion. Fiscal audits. Monthly fiscal reports. Budget Committee (including community members). Board of trustees public discussions/actions. Monthly school plan reports to the school board. Establishing mid year revisions to state/federal projects.

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

No. I believe that we have not reached the level of equal instruction needed for all students. We have many special needs students; Limited English Proficient, Special Education and many other students which require specialized instruction. The district is attempting to address these issues; however, large fiscal encroachments mandated take vital funding services for other students; i.e.: Special Education encroachment to the General Fund. I will continue to work with our Legislators to fight for equal funding for our Low Wealth Schools.

Politics and self interest groups influence how/when and why funds are spent. School board members need to be courageous and bold and make decisions which might not be popular with self interest groups; yet, the decisions will benefit the entire school district. Our current school board has not had a board retreat to establish goals and objectives in three years. I have gone on record requesting the rotation of school board officers and establish ongoing board retreats, evaluations of staff and discussion or other important matters.

It is important to elect school board members who do not have personal financial conflict of interest on school boards.

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

The only way in which the district will be able to succeed will be to have an effective school board with members who are trully dedicated to the district. In addition, a Superintedent and administration who will protect and guide the district towards meeting all the necessary steps to increase student achievement and fiscal solvency.

District goals and objectives and additional educational standards are needed for students to be able to succeed in whichever field they want to be in. Many students are college bound; however, many are not. East Side has be best Adult Education Program available for students who wish to participate. In addition, there is a JPA which offers ROP/CCO services for students to prepare them in a diverse vocational training profession.

I wish to be able to give our students a risk- a real chance to succeed. Especially those who are in our continuation schools.

I wish to continue to work with my Student/Board Relations Committee representative of all schools. Students bring many concerns and suggestions to my committee. I take their suggestions seriously and take them to the entire school board for discussion and action. Some of the current policies what been established because of student imput; for example: Health and Nutrition policies, Cleaner bathrooms, Safety badgets, etc. http://www.esuhsd.org/Administration/Board_of_Trustees/student_board_relations.html

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 20, 2006 22:05
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