League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
	Alex Bantis Answers Questions Candidate for Member; Santa Clara County Board of Education; Trustee Area 4

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. What do you see as the role of the County Board of Education in relation to local school districts and the State Department of Education?

The Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) provides instructional, administrative, business and technical support services to the county's 32 school districts. By centralizing services such as payroll, employee fingerprinting, and Internet connections, the SCCOE helps districts to achieve greater efficiency and cost-savings.

SCCOE programs that provide direct instruction include Special Education, Head Start, Environmental Education, Regional Occupational Programs and Alternative Schools. An additional program, Migrant Education, supports the special needs of migratory children.

The Santa Clara County Office of Education is a champion for children, schools and the community.

2. What should be the role of the County Board of Education with regard to charter schools?

The roll of the Board County Office of Education is 1. to listen to petitions for Charter Schools, 2. to be a conduit for monitoring Charter Schools in the County, 3. review requests for Charter Schools wanting to change or modify their charter.

3. What changes, if any, would you recommend in the County's special education programs?

The County special education programs are goverened by Federal laws and regulations. Therefore, we must comply to the laws and regulations.