Voter Information for Michael B. "Mike" Smurthwaite
Santa Clara County, CA November 3, 1998 General
Smart Voter
Michael B. "Mike" Smurthwaite

Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Gilroy Unified School District; Trustee Area 1

The information on this page and on all pages linked below is provided by the candidate.
Biographical Highlights
  • Party: Republican
  • Occupation: Education Administrator
  • Doctorate: Educational Administration with empahsis in leadership and curricular design
  • Active in Gilroy District Planning Committees; Brownell School Refurbish Committee; Chamber Choir Fundraisers.
  • Certified School Facility Planner for two urban school districts
  • Licensed Marriage/Family Counselor in part-time private practice 20 years
  • Multilingual/Migrant Education Director for Ravenswood City Schools; Program Administrator for Santa Clara County Office of Education.
  • Recognized for family support service to Military Order of the Purple Heart
Top Priorities if Elected
  • Goal: Increase overall rigor of school curriculum to better prepare diverse studentbody for post-high school opportunities.
  • Goal: Far more closely align daily classroom curriculum to state and district standards, texts, to required norm-referenced (SAT9 , SAT) tests.
  • Goal: Establish community partnerships in planning new schools, infuse job-orientation into a curriculum designed for success in free economy.
Key Endorsements
  • Wayne Young, Former Board Member
  • Phil Robb, Gilroy High Music Department
  • Eileen Walker, Gilroy High, Classified Staff member
Position Papers
Reaching and Teaching Parents Precedes Reaching and Teaching Students
Adopting and Adapting Successful Reform Processes the El Paso Schools Could Enhance Effectivness of Gilroy's Reform Efforts
The Pros and Cons of Implementing Proposition 227, The Unz Initiative
The passage of prop 227 has re-focussed attention on English learning. The vagueness of the law is also causeing anxieties to many bilingual teachers and parents.
Proposition 8 - the Cure for What Ails Education?
Prop 8 just camoflages the creation of a new State Office of Chief Inspector of Public Schools by surrounding it in the middle of a bouquet of popular proposals.
Campaign Contact Information
E-mail: mbsmurth@hotcity.com
Phone: 408 - 842-7382
Address:
1310 Fernwood Lane
Gilroy, CA 95020


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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 22, 1998 11:13
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