League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Gary C. Howard Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Castro Valley Unified School District

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Eden Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What specifically can a board member do to ensure that the education equity gap is narrowed or closed for all students?

The board of education sets policies, allocates resources, and reviews the performance of the district staff and schools. Thus, the board can make closing the achievement gap a priority for the district (particularly in accord with the LCAP process), insure that appropriate resources are made available, and regularly review process toward those goals. In addition, board members must maintain good contact with teachers, principals, and parents to insure the processes are working.

2. What is your long-term plan to assure that your jurisdiction has enough money to meet operating needs and service demands?

During my first year on our board, I have urged my colleagues to prepare a strategic plan that will set our goals for what we want our district to look like in the next 5-10 years. The plan will combine the answers to questions about how we want to implement the Common Core curriculum, facilitate the LCAP process, close the achievement gap, and otherwise improve the educational opportunities for every student whether they intend to go to college or begin a career. Those decisions will inform of facilities master plan and help us determine if we need new educational facilities and whether we should seek a school bond in the near future. Our district has had essentially no lay-offs or furlough days. This careful management of funds has served our staff and, most importantly, our students with a stable learning environment. I will work to continue that tradition.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. 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 3, 2014 23:54
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