Response to League of Women Voters Questionnaire

By Rose Marie Filicetti

Response to League of Women Voters Candidates' Questionnaire, Filed September 28, 1998

• Board President
• Campaign Co-Chair, successful $36 million School Bond (83%)
• Member, Mountain View Schools Fund and all six schools' PTA's
• Slater, Huff and Graham Parent; District-wide Volunteer
• Executive Director, Santa Clara County School Boards Assn.
• MBA, Finance and Banking; Former Corporate Banker, 15 years

Effective communication is regular, clear, and two-way. Parents should expect regular, periodic communication from their child's Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent, in multiple (bilingual) forms such as Newsletters, Homework Folders, and Report Cards. Introductions should precede any Personnel change and detailed explanations should precede any Program change.

Informal two-way communications such as Principal coffees, parent conferences, and school-wide events can clarify expectations. Surveys and parents who serve on Advisory Committees are effective communicators and change-agents.

"De-mystifying" high school for students and parents should begin early with the regular exchange of information and participation between students, parents and teachers of both districts.

2. In addition to the basics of reading, writing, and math, what other curricular areas would you like to see strengthened and why?

To compete in a global economy, today's students need a strong foundation in reading, writing, and mathematics - and a deeper understanding of science, social science, technology and the arts.

American students are criticized for having a knowledge of science that is "a mile wide and an inch deep". They need the building blocks of chemistry, biology and physics. They also need the tools of technology.

Tomorrow's leaders need a sense of our humanity and our place in the world - through the social sciences, history, and geography. Their world can be expanded through the study of the arts, music and language

3. As a board member, how will you monitor the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of school facilities? What role do you forsee for the Community Oversight Committee? How would you provide input from the staff, parents and community?

As a Board Member, Facilities Assessment Committee member and Bond Campaign Co-Chair, I have a fiduciary responsibility to invest our community's money wisely in facilities improvements at all six sites.

Parents and Staff can provide regular input through participation in Site-level Facilities Committees. Representatives from each Site and community members with experience in construction or finance can serve as an Advisory Community Oversight Committee to the Board.

Their regular reports should include detailed site plans, and recommendations for construction priorities, labor and suppliers that will keep our projects at or under budget. The ultimate decisions, however, remain with the Board.