League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 7, 2006 Election
	Bart Fisher Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Morgan Hill Unified 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?

I would work with the administration to establish and publicize annual goals for our schools' academic performance, student development, and staff development. Parallel to these annual goals would be a community-based strategic planning process that would focus on our long-term objectives for scholastic success and creating an educational system that produces graduates that have the skills, confidence, and access to resources to successfully attend and graduate from a 4-year college. I would report the results of the annual goals and progress towards the strategic objectives through a number of means, including the Home and School Club community and by partnering with our local paper to publish the results at least once a year.

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

Right now, the district is falling short in this area. I think there is a perrenial need to ensure that the funding, staff, and focus exist to ensure that all students are able to receive the instruction that they need in order to achieve their potential, given the chronic underfunding of special education programs and the need to provide enhanced opportunities for gifted students as well. Key to any improvement in this area will be the hiring of the right staff to serve these communities, which is currently an issue for the district. I will work with the rest of the Board to prioritize creating a long-term solution to this problem.

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

I want it to be graduating an increasing number of students ready to attend a 4-year college, be a magnet for teachers and other professionals who want a challenging and rewarding career in a supportive professional environment, and to have strong ties to the community that reach beyond the typical parental involvement. All of these goals fundamentally require that we open a dialogue within the district and community, tirelessly advocate for academic excellence, and create meaningful, change-oriented opportunities for teachers, parents, and community members to use their unique talents to improve our schools.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.

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

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 20, 2006 18:08
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