League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Butte County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
	Gary M. Loustale Answers Questions Candidate for Governing Board Member; Chico Unified School District

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

Questions & Answers

1. In light of existing and anticipated budget cuts in every governmental service and shrinking tax bases, what are your ideas to keep education in our district the creative and productive experience our children deserve?

Testing creates extra financial burden on the district. I am in favor of cutting back some of the benchmark testing - not only to save money but to allow teachers to have more time to teach. We should also get more volunteers in classrooms without cutting aide positions. More help in the classroom equals more individual attention to students plus more time for creativity on the part of teachers.

2. What are the key benefits and drawbacks to parents selecting schools for their children, including the relatively new phenomenon of charter schools?

Benefits are allowing schools of choice with more flexibility and parent involvement. Drawbacks are that charter schools can weaken public education when the strongest parent involvement is held in charter schools. Charter schools may contribute to a type of "tier" system because they are not required to provide specials programs for certain students such as English Learners and Special Needs students.

3. Charter schools are public schools supported by taxpayer dollars. How should they be held accountable to the public? Should their governing boards be required to adhere to the Brown Act?

Charter schools should be overseen by the local school boards and by the county offices of education. They should be accountable by their test scores, by their methods of education, and by their programs to meet needs of students. Yes, they should be required to adhere to the Brown Act.

4. There is widespread agreement –- and adopted learning standards –-affirming the role of the arts in a complete education. And yet, among schools and districts across the state, access to the arts is inconsistent or nonexistent. How should the state ensure that the arts have their rightful role in every K-12 curriculum?

The state needs to mandate that art must be taught in every grade by an art teacher. This is currently being done in Chico Unified in our elementary schools, where students receive fine arts (includes music, drama, and/or dance) instruction for 2 ½ hours 11 times a year. Jr. High and High School students are required to take at least one art class to graduate. Classroom teachers do not have time to provide this type of service to children with the rigorous academic requirements they face. The state should have this as a minimum requirement for all schools statewide.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. 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: November 3, 2012 12:38
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