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The questions were prepared by the the League of Women Voters of Los Altos/Mtn. View Area and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Charter School,
Parcel Tax,
Reserves
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What ideas do you have for handling Bullis Charter School's request for a junior high school?
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Answer from Tamara L. "Tammy" Logan:
I look forward to collaborating more closely with BCS leaders to resolve the contentious location issue. As a board member, I will work to insure that all legal requirements for charter school facilities are met as we review the Proposition 39 request for the 2010-2011 school year.
Answer from Rowene Hood:
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the expansion of Bullis Charter School and the economic and social impact to the Los Altos School District and taxpayers. As a Board Memeber, my primary objectives will be fiscal responsibility and ensuring that our limited funds are utilized to create the utmost learning environment for all of our students, educators and community.
Answer from Douglas J "Doug" Smith:
The District is legally required to provide facilities for a Junior High should BCS choose to offer this program. In order to provide reasonable equivalant facilities, we would likely need to co-locate those students with an existing LASD Jr. High.
The overarching question is really, "how do we reach a truce with the Charter School?" The ongoing litigation filed by BCS against the district is not healthy for either group, and diverts precious resources from where they are most needed. We need to work openly with the Charter School to establish a truce and start behaving more like neighbors in the same community. I believe this could be accomplished through joint Board meetings where we can discuss their program requirements and work together to develop a reasonable solution that respects the objectives of the Charter School and also the needs of the LASD student population.
Answer from Mark Goines:
We need to offer them appropriate space when they begin the program, which is no earlier than 2010, likely on the Egan Campus. Ideally the Charter School agrees to become part of the Los Altos School Districts governing body to allow for more cooperation and open communication.
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2. Would you support an election for an additional parcel tax? Please explain why.
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Answer from Tamara L. "Tammy" Logan:
Given the current economic situation in our area, I think an increase in parcel taxes is not a viable short term option. In the long term, we need a strategic plan to continue our history of academic excellence and maintain a family friendly community. With current state budget trends, a future increase in the parcel tax may be required to achieve these goals.
Answer from Rowene Hood:
It has been two decades since the last parcel tax and I believe we need to revisit the option to put another tax to the voters. As a steadfast supporter of limited class size and excelling in the instruction of mathamatics, I believe that we must we must reach out to the taxpaying community to ensure we have the proper funds to support these key educational components.
Answer from Mark Goines:
I believe we need to increase our parcel tax by 200 to 300 per parcel to support the increasing costs of delivering education, particularly given the states difficulties and the needs of the Charter School.
Answer from Douglas J "Doug" Smith:
At this time it simply isn't feasible to try to pass an additional parcel tax. I was part of hte Parcel Tax Survey Committee last fall. The voters were clear in their lack of support for an additional tax. Once the economic climate improves, we may consider an additoinal tax, but it is just not appropriate at this time.
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3. Basic aid districts are recommended to maintain a higher reserve due to the volatility and unpredictability of property tax revenues. The LASD Citizens Advisory Committee on Finance recommended to the Board of Trustees building reserves up to the 8% to 10% range. This will be difficult as the district is facing decreasing revenues. Do you agree with building the reserves and how would you go about it?
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Answer from Rowene Hood:
Reserves: As a 20-year real estate broker, I recognize the economic cycles that impact our community. The key understanding is that an expanding economy will provide an opportunity to save additional funds and protect our District from the inevitable down economy. Thus, I support having a fixed reserve rate of 6.5% that is correlated to budgeted revenues that will increase to a capped 12% should revenues exceed expectations.
Answer from Tamara L. "Tammy" Logan:
Increasing reserves during a time of budget cuts is a difficult proposition. Our best approach will be to take a cautious approach to restoring cuts and to continue searching for creative ways to improve program delivery at lower cost. An excellent example of resourceful thinking is the new Fine Arts Block (FAB) program that was initiated this year in the upper elementary grades.
Answer from Mark Goines:
We should build our reserves to this range by managing costs tightly and reaching agreements with our employees on how to keep cost increases in line with revenue growth and program development requirements. Luckily, we will be near 8% this year by virtue of last years difficult cost reduction efforts.
Answer from Douglas J "Doug" Smith:
I have been an advocate for larger reserves for several years. The recently passed District reserve policy is a step in the right direction, but it could go further in articulating how we'll build reserves and how we'll spend them.
In order to build the reserves, we need to "pay ourselves first". That is, we should take the cost of the existing program and set that as our baseline. AS revenues exceed the current level, we should have an agreed opolicy for the amount of money that will be directed toward reserves. If we don't state a clear policy on how we'll save, we will consistenly spend first and be left with little to improve our financial stability.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
Candidates' responses are not edited or
corrected by the League.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
