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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund

Smart Voter
Los Angeles County, CA March 3, 2015 Election
Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
Member of the Board of Trustees; Los Angeles Community College District; Office 5


The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Most Important Issue, Remedial Coursework, Roles of Community College

Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.

? 1. What is the single most important issue facing LACCD today? How, as Trustee, would you deal with it?

Answer from Scott Svonkin:

Restoring classes that were cut because of the recession. We must make sure our students can get their classes so they can transfer to a four year college or complete a training program that prepares them for a career.

Answer from Stephen E. "Steve" Schulte:

The primary issue for the community colleges is to deliver on their promise of solid educational performance. Their role is critical for those not ready for a four-year college, for veterans, for low-income and immigrant students, for retired persons returning to school and so on. The colleges need to deliver better education, strong remedial enforcement and excellent preparation skills for college or the workplace.

To begin with I would: 1) Put more money into student support services, 2) hire more fulltime faculty so there can be more and better classes, 3) ensure that there is a match between technical and job-oriented classes and local business people, 4) increase the opportunities for competeent students to interract and to collaborate with the faculty. By working on accountabililty improvements for the school administration and the Board these items can be put into place.

? 2. How would you address the level of resources now devoted to remedial classwork at our community colleges?

Answer from Scott Svonkin:

Since many high school students arrive at our colleges without the necessary skills needed for a college environment, we must provide many with remedial help. The only way to reduce this is to invest more in helping students before they reach college age. Working together with local high schools we are trying to ensure that both students and teachers know what is needed so students come to us ready to succeed.

Answer from Stephen E. "Steve" Schulte:

I would put more money into remedial education as well as look closely at models that have worked well in other districts: collaboration learning, financial competence courses, critical thinking----only a few of the new ideas that have been successful elsewhere.

? 3. How would you prioritize the various roles of the community college today?

Answer from Scott Svonkin:

Our main priority is to help our students prepare for transfer to a four year college or train for a career. To achieve this we must restore the classes cut during the recession so students can reach their goals.

We must ensure that the publics tax dollars are spent responsibly both in the classroom and on facilities.

Answer from Stephen E. "Steve" Schulte:

There needs first to be some research into what is done will (what works well now)----what is working, as well as building on "middle skills". The latter would not try to replicate what four-year institutions do best, but would fill a needed role by concnetrating on both remedial education and job preparation. This synthesis would be an important development for those who will not be going on to a four-year college. It would supplemnt the current curriculum. The status quo is not delivering very good results.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' answers are presented as submitted.

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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Created: March 31, 2015 18:06 PDT
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