League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Michael McMahon Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Alameda Unified School District

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

Questions & Answers

1. How do you define the responsibilities of this position?

As an elected School Board member I am part of a six person governance team (including the Superintendent) that makes policy decisions for Alameda public schools that are consistent with the principles of public education against the backdrop of a very political environment that will change in coming 20 years . One of the primary roles I can fulfill as an individual Board member is to serve as a link between the schools and the public and between the public and the schools.

The primary work of a school board is conducted during school board meetings (the only place where a school board member has any authority). The minutes of school board meetings are records of action taken by the school board.

During the school board meetings, the school board oversees a number of areas including: Accountability, measuring achievement against state and federal mandates, Finances, insuring the ongoing operations of the District, Facilities, providing for safe and effective learning environments and charter school oversight.

2. Elaborate on your top three priorities for the Alameda Schools; what problems do you foresee in implementing these?

1.) Securing sufficient and stable funding. Relying on State funding will not be sufficient or stable. We need to work with community to establish sufficient and stable funding.

2.) Rebuilding trust with the community. By appointing a new superintendent we can establish a new governance team that begins to rebuild trust.

3.) Implement Common Core curriculum. The big challenge will back end testing to measure the effectiveness of Common Core curriculum.

3. What qualities and skills will you seek in a new superintendent?

A collaborative educational leader who knows Alameda.

4. How would you propose that the use of any new bond funds be transparent to the community?

Ensure active participation of school site stakeholders in the prioritization of school site projects before the school board approves the expenditures of funds.

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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 2, 2014 22:20
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