League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
	Derek Grasty 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?

All budgets are subject to audit and oversight by the superintendent and the Board. The ESUHSD Master Plan would outline priorities where money should go and create equity in education within the district. The district Master Plan would include input from all stakeholders: parents, teachers, administrators, union leadership, and representation from business and the community.

Each school will have a School Site Plan that will adhere to district goals while addressing site specific needs. Sites will prepare a budget to address their school goals and objectives. The Site Plan will be approved by the School Site Council and then submitted to the Board for approval. Once the Board has approved the plans the Master Plan and School Site Plans will be available on-line and in the school and district offices for review by the public.

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

The superintendent via principals will ensure that the state standards are being taught and the district adopted-curriculum is implemented at the school sites. But the standard curriculum alone does not meet the needs of our diverse population. Teachers need the academic freedom and support to introduce other standards-based materials to students that are culturally relevant.

http://www.derekgrasty.net

3. Where do want the district to be 5 years from now? What steps should the district take to get there?

The East Side Union High School District needs to be in a better place financially. This includes reinstating programs, days of instruction and personnel. Our students are my number one priority. I am a parent and I want the same high quality education for your child as I want for my own. We need to reduce the drop-out rate, close the achievement gap, make sure we have safe and welcoming schools for all, continue high levels of teaching and learning, and align our graduation requirements with the admission requirements of the University of California and California State University systems.

We need to enhance our work and articulation with our feeder schools and school districts. That is, teachers talking and planning with teachers and students talking to students. This will enable our entering ninth graders to come more prepared academically and mentally for the rigors of high school. We also need to involve the local colleges for support with tutoring and mentoring as well as local volunteers and community agencies. Additionally, our needs will include outreach and communication to parents and assisting and helping them to be more involved with school activities and their child's academics.

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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. Answers must not refer directly or indirectly to another candidate.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 22, 2010 09:19
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