League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Alameda County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Board Member At-Large; San Leandro Unified School District

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of the Eden Area and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Education Equity, Long Term Finances Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What specifically can a board member do to ensure that the education equity gap is narrowed or closed for all students? Answer from Elsie "Jeanne" Kinkella: I remember a generation ago when gender equity was an issue. Girls were not performing as well as boys, especially in math and science, and they often were not scheduled into these classes. A serious effort was made to correct this inequity. Teachers attended training workshops to learn teaching methods and management skills that focused more attention on girls and on their active participation in class. A "take your daughter to work day" was established to introduce girls to the work place. I wondered then, and still wonder, why not a "take your son to work day" too? An introduction to the work place would have benefited both girls and boys. We can see now how successful that effort to get rid of gender inequity in schools was. We no longer assume that girls can't do well in math and science because of their gender. Young women are graduating from college at, in some cases, higher rates than young men, and leading successful, professional lives. There is no reason why the education equity gap cannot be closed for all students. But we cannot wait another twenty years. With a concentrated effort by the Superintendent, the School Board, Principals, Teachers, Parents and Community Leaders, this inequity can and must be rectified. The School Board must take the initiative in this effort and find solutions. Answer from Monique Tate: Work with (include) the various stakeholders to ensure transparency. Answer from Evelyn Gonzalez: I have been involved in numerous district level discussions as well as high school equity team meetings over the last six years, and I am well aware of this issue. There is not a simple solution to this challenge; otherwise, it would have already been closed. However, many strategies can help reduce the gap. I list a few of these: First, increasing access to quality preschool education would help address the gap. In addition, more effective use of technology would afford students without access to private tutors the opportunity to receive cost effective supplemental guidance. Parental education and involvement can also help support socioeconomically disadvantaged students. Improved communication between the school and the home can help parents/guardians more effectively team with teachers to support students. Sharing best practices with other districts can also help address the challenge. Answer from Peter Oshinski: I formally worked in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District before working at Hayward Unified. My first days in Hayward allowed me to see first hand how wide the education equity gap really is. This is when I realized I needed to do something for my community who has the same free and reduced population as Hayward. My first priority would be to meet with community groups and decide on what long range goals we should have to work towards narrowing the gap. We can meet with City Officials as well and partner with them so that we all can work towards the same goal. We can conduct town hall meetings with community members to get input on how they feel this can be achieved. I have a strong business background working with budgets which will allow me to focus on spending more on education and less outsourcing of services to reduce spending. A board member can make sure that all systems are available for all students so that they may have the opportunity to succeed. 2. What is your long-term plan to assure that your jurisdiction has enough money to meet operating needs and service demands? Answer from Elsie "Jeanne" Kinkella: The School District has many obligations for which it must budget. The underlying budgeting philosophy must be one that always keeps student needs at the forefront, and prioritizes those needs in a prudent, frugal manner. Expenditures must be channeled in ways that best serve our students and support teaching and learning. Answer from Evelyn Gonzalez: First and foremost, we need to be transparent with (and accountable to) our local community with respect to our current spending. We must also work closely with our City to understand the nature and extent of anticipated residential development in our City to assure that we as a district understand the implications for our operating needs and service demands. With respect to long term obligations, e.g. bonds, we should regularly evaluate whether debt refinancing options can help the district achieve more with less. Over the long term, our school district must team with other districts to drive accountability in Sacramento, ensuring that money allocated by California voters for schools, actually makes it to schools. Answer from Monique Tate: Require budget reports quarterly for board members to review and assess the budget within the time frame and correct any inaccuracies. Answer from Peter Oshinski: One: Assure that the current budget aligns with spending in the future and is putting education as our top priority. Two: Make sure that any new bonds do affect future spending of the District. Three: Look at all outsourcing that is currently in place and look for ways to keep these services in house so that we can give our working families more jobs and reduce spending. Four: Be proactive and look forward and decide what future spending will be in areas of maintenance and repair, technology and classroom needs and make budgetary decisions today that will help achieve these goals. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.