League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Chris Norwood Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Milpitas 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?

As a 41 year resident of the city of Milpitas and current education professional, I believe that an effective board member should possess explicit knowledge of federal funding guidelines, our Local Control Funding Formula and our Local Control Accountability Plan. A clear understanding of these elements is vital to ensuring that federal, state and local funds are being used wisely and fairly. As a result of a signed law by Gov. Jerry Brown in July 2013, the manner in which California's public education system is funded has changed dramatically. At the center of this legislation lays the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and the subsequent Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) is a historic opportunity to ensure our LEA's (Local Education Agencies), school districts and schools directly allocate funds towards improving the academic outcomes for all students, based on agreed upon academic outcomes and community input. The Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) must be developed in partnership with parents, educators, employers and community stakeholders. LCAP's are required to focus in the following 8 priority areas:

1. Provide all students with access to fully credentialed teachers, instructional materials that align with state standards, and safe facilities.
2. Implementation of California's academic standards, including the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and math, Next Generation Science Standards, English language development, history, social science, visual and performing arts, health education and physical education standards.
3. Parent involvement and participation, so the local community is engaged in the decision-making process and the educational programs of students.
4. Improving student achievement and outcomes along multiple measures, including test scores, English proficiency and college and career preparedness.
5. Supporting student engagement, including whether students attend school or are chronically absent.
6. Highlighting school climate and connectedness through a variety of factors, such as suspension and expulsion rates and other locally identified means.
7. Ensuring all students access to classes that prepare them for college and careers, regardless of what school they attend or where they live.
8. Measuring other important student outcomes related to required areas of study, including physical education and the arts. In addition to these eight areas, a district may also identify and incorporate goals related to its own local priorities.

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

The goal of every public, charter or private school is to provide a quality education enhanced by excellent instruction, to ensure ALL students are ready to become productive members of society. As we usher in the era of Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs) into our California schools, we have a landmark opportunity. We will be able to prepare future generations of learners, better understand our diversity and needs with regards to our instruction strategies and offerings.

Currently, the current metrics of academic assessment are API scores. These are also currently under review, subject to possible dissolution or refinement. The assessment of a quality education should not be based on a single tool or score. The measurement of appropriateness is not one size fits all.

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

Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) is a solid, community-based school district which is already working on plans to expand its ability and resources to meet the needs of the city's growing population. MUSD is also working diligently toward improving its facilities, technology offerings and partnerships to ensure it provides its students a 21st Century education, with access to college, vocational and entrepreneurial opportunities. In order to continue on these paths five years from now and beyond, district leadership should continually engage a socioeconomically diverse range of parents, community stakeholders and businesses, while researching best practices locally, regionally and globally.

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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: October 3, 2014 12:06
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