League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Armando Benavides Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Morgan Hill Unified 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?

I would look at our top three priorities and ensure that the funding stream is aligned with those priorities. This alignment is crucial due to the new Local Control Funding Formula that grants more flexibility and discretion to the District to apportion funds. I would make sure that the supplemental funds for English Learners and Low Social Economic students are used to provide additional services that they may require to keep those students at grade level. I will work to ensure that our teachers and students have the latest technology tools available for classroom use so I would ensure the District invests funds towards that goal. I would ensure that we make public all documents related to our budget and priorities with greater details as to funding sources and expenditures. I would make sure budget information is posted on the District website in a format that parents can easily read. I would hold special parent meetings at each school at least twice a year to hear the priorities of parents and get feedback from them regarding budget decisions. I would present my budget decisions and get feedback from leaders at each school, such as the Principal, School Site Council, English Learners Advisory Committee, and parents. I would hold District wide forum each year to discuss the budget, assess outcomes for our budget priorities, and make new realignments to the budget based on feedback from the school personnel, parents, and District Leadership.

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

I believe we can do better. We need a more rigorous curriculum whose content is aligned to grade standards for English Learners and Low Social Economic Students to ensure that the District maintains more of them at grade level. We also need to make sure we maintain high rigorous curriculum for all students and expose more students to science, technology, engineering, and math classes(STEM). For those students interested in other fields, like art or creative writing, and our gifted students, we need to ensure that they also have a rigorous curriculum that will ensure they are successful in their academic or career goals. In regards to our special education students, the District recently decided to provide direct services to our special education students that were being served by County Board of Education programs. We need to ensure that we provide appropriate instruction and resources to those special education students.

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

My vision for five years from now is that our District is recognized as an excellent educational institution that offers high quality education to all of our students, a District that is open and transparent to parents and the community, a District where every school has achieved an API score of 800 points and getting closer to the API 900 mark. A District where students, families, and teachers and classified staff and all District personnel feel respected and valued. A District that is recognized as leading the charge in getting the latest technology to students and teachers. And finally, a District that has forged positive partnerships with governmental and business entities in the community to support our District and schools.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. The answer to each question should be limited to 400 words. Direct 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: September 24, 2014 17:04
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