League of Women Voters of California
Stanislaus County, CA November 4, 2003 Election
	Ted Dickason Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Modesto City Schools; 4 Year Term

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. Talk about planning locations for new high schools, using the new Gregori High School as your example.

The new Gregori High School to be built on Stoddard Road in the Salida area is located near the center of a proposed 2200 acre business/industrial park. This location may provide for nearby business/school partnerships that will greatly enhance the educational environment of the school. This location is also in the center of expected growth in the city of Modesto and the community of Salida. Another plus is that the property is similarly situated as the site for Enochs High School in Village I, which will allow the use of the same plans, thus achieving substantial savings. The downside of this location is the lack of existing infrastructure to the site including water, sewer, adequate roads and traffic signals. Locating schools, especially high schools, is always difficult and always involves compromises that make the site less than perfect. Gregori High School is well placed to meet the needs of students in the Salida area.

2. With the prospect of continued dwindling resources, cite your priorities for staffing and programs, and identify those that you would reduce.

The most important goal of our schools is the academic success of our children. Therefore maintaining class size reductions in the early elementary years, retaining quality teachers, and insuring the safety of our children must be top priorities. Specific spending cuts can only be intelligently identified when the amount of the spending reduction needed is known and all possibilities are carefully weighed. My experience as a business owner and certified public accountant will bring a valuable perspective to the board and I have the skills and leadership abilities to make the difficult decisions necessary to effectively meet the challenges facing our schools.

3. How should the Board of Education respond to parents who object to specific instructional material based on religious grounds? How would you respect the rights of all students?

Parents should always have the right to be well informed about the instructional materials and curriculum used in their children's education. Parents have the right to opt their children out of any instruction which they deem inappropriate for their children. The rights of all students and their parents to opt-out of instruction that violates their moral or religious values must be respected.