This is an archive of a past election.
See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/scl/ for current information.
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
Smart Voter Political Philosophy for Fred Tovar

Candidate for
Board Member; Gilroy Unified School District

[photo]
This information is provided by the candidate

● Students First - Student Achievement + Work with the district, teachers and entire community to introduce an innovative initiative designed to increase student academic achievement. Continue a commitment to quality education, so that the future of our children is always the number one priority. We need to continue to work to ensure that every student reaches their highest potential, as well as working to improve the achievement of students who are underperforming.

● Financial Sustainability and Accountability - Examine and safeguard the district's budget and expenditure patterns to prevent unexpected surprises and sudden program cuts that will affect all students. I will also fight to protect taxpayers by expecting high financial standards from district administrators and demanding the efficient use of any bond funds.

● Parent & Community Involvement - The bulk of learning happens at home, and the support of parents is invaluable. I will work to facilitate parental involvement and continue to involve the parents and the community. As we know, community input is essential for the success of our school district. I will also work with the community to fight for stronger School Safety Plans to make sure that our students and employees are safe when they get to school every day

● Great Teachers Can Change Lives - They engage students, stimulate imagination, and raise performance. One of the Board's prime responsibilities is to attract and retain excellent teachers. I am committed to recruiting and retaining qualified teachers and administrators to ensure academic excellence for all students. I'm also committed to making sure that our school employee's are well-compensated and have a good environment in which to teach. A system of accountability would help to identify those who excel. We must provide incentives for teachers. Professional development, as well as school and community service, should be rewarded.

● Partnerships - Develop new and strong ties to local community initiatives through student service learning in non-profit, educational institutions, internships, local businesses, and with the entire City of Gilroy .

● Leadership - Work with students, teachers, staff, parents, board members, and the entire community to continue to develop and promote Gilroy Unified School District, as well as working with State legislation on funding and regulations that support the mission of the K-12 system and Gilroy Unified School District.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Now is the time to raise the bar for all our schools in Gilroy. With your support, I will work hard for positive change and infuse new ideas into the district, and with your help, we can turn all of Gilroy 's good schools into GREAT schools".

Next Page: Additional Endorsements

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Contest
November 2008 Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter


The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any candidate or political party.
Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 22, 2008 21:54
Smart Voter   <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://ca.lwv.org