League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Patty Buchanan Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Saratoga Union School District

The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. How would you determine that the schools are using federal, state and local funds wisely and fairly and how would you report your findings to the community?

The budget process in any district should be a transparent one. Community members should always be welcome to attend any meeting or proceeding where discussions about revenue and expenditures are taking place. That being said, I realize it is difficult for parents and staff to attend all meeting dealing with this subject.

It is the board's responsibility to ensure that information regarding any budget issue is communicated to all stakeholders. This can be done using district-wide email communication tools, putting information on the website in a timely and accurate manner, and making ourselves available to discuss this with any member of the community.

The annual Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) that every district has to file requires that conversations be held with stakeholders in the community when setting goals for student achievement and determining a spending plan to reach these goals. Making sure that our community is engaged and a part of these conversations is important when determining if the schools are using funds wisely. As a board member, I intend to be an active partner with our community when crafting the LCAP.

2. Are the schools offering instruction appropriate to the diverse educational abilities of all the students?

Our students have a vast array of educational abilities and interests. Although our teachers do a great job of differentiating instruction so that they can engage every learner, there is still room for improvement.

I plan to champion new, innovative programs that enhance our students' learning experience, focusing on student well-being as well as academic rigor. These programs need to include the use of technology as a tool for learning and professional development for our staff so the technology can be used effectively.

3. Where do you want the District to be five years from now? What steps should the District take to get there?

Five years from now, I hope we have fulfilled our mission statement; to create an innovative public school system that stimulates intellectual curiosity, providing academic rigor for each and every learner, and instills leadership, responsibility, and global citizenship in a safe and nurturing environment where learners thrive.

In order to do that, we need to be committed to a culture of continuous improvement. We need to try new programs and learn from best practices so the we can help each student achieve at their highest potential. We also have to engage our community, our parents and our staff to work together toward this goal. We have to do all that while maintaining a safe, caring environment where learning takes place.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. The answer to each question should be limited to 400 words. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 21, 2014 21:20
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