Comments made at the LWV/PTAC Candidates Forum

By Rose Marie Filicetti

Comments made by Rose Marie Filicetti, Candidate for Mountain View School Board, at the LWV/PTAC Candidates Night, Tuesday, October 13. 1998

Good Evening! I would like to thank the League of Women Voters and my fellow members of the PTA Council for providing an opportunity to share our views with the voters. In particular, I would like to thank the League for their participation in the Smart Voter Website and encourage voters to find addition information there on the issues and candidates in the upcoming election.

Four years ago, when I began my first term on our elementary School Board, our community had just established new strategic goals to improve the education of our children.

The Board took a leadership role in the implementation of that long-range vision, and our school community has celebrated many major achievements. We have improved rigor and curriculum consistency across the five elementary schools.

Through our school bond campaign, we brought parents, staff, and communities together to provide funding for facilities that make room for smaller classes and permanent space for enrichment programs.

We can take pride in the respect shown in our district for diversity through the selection of instructional materials, celebrations that promote understanding, and staff training.

But there is still challenging work to do!

As a member of your Board and Co-Chair of our successful Bond Campaign, I have visited each of the six schools in our District. I have attended Back-to-School and Open House events; I have taken classroom tours and talked with the principals and the teachers; I have attended PTA meetings and other gatherings of parents and community members involved in our schools. I have listened carefully to their ideas, concerns and expectations.

Let me share what I have learned about the challenging work ahead! Our School Community wants to continue working: · To expand consistent expectations for behavior and achievement from Kindergarten through High School · To provide curriculum that links standards, assessment, and accountability · To build public support for long term funding at a community level · To invest in quality instruction, staff development, and student enrichment · And to create a climate where all students and staff feel safe and respected, challenged and supported, especially here at Graham Middle School.

This spring, the Mountain View School District community will create its vision for the next three years. Clearly, it is time to raise the bar, again. Please elect a School Board that can provide that leadership vision!

Concluding Remarks

I have enjoyed my first term on your elementary School Board. I have found it to be the most rewarding volunteer work I have done for the community. I have tried to listen to the ideas, concerns, and expectation of all of the stakeholders - and feel I have done good job representing the community's interests.

Public education is one of Mountain View's most critical investments in the future. Please continue to be active participants in the education of our children and please elect a School Board that can provide leadership vision!

Please Vote for me, Rose Filicetti, on November 3!