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The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles and asked of all candidates for this office.
See below for questions on
Most Important Issue,
Transfer Preparation vs. Workforce Training,
Management/Budget Experience,
AB 2572
Click on a name for candidate information. See also more information about this contest.
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1. What is the single most important issue facing LACCD today? How, as Trustee, would you deal with it?
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Answer from David Vela:
One of the most important issues is funding for the LACCD. As a trustee I will ensure that our administration cut wasteful spending, increase revenue, apply for outside foundation, corporation and federal government dollars. The increase in funding should improve student's access to courses and streamline their educational experience.
Answer from Nancy Pearlman:
I believe funding to maintain classes and to increase class availablity is the single most important issue facing LACCD.
I will work to obtain more Federal grants for our nine Community Colleges and to get more state funding.
I also will strive to insure that all our campusues are accredited.
Answer from Tom Oliver:
Fiscal uncertainty is the challenge of the future, and the role of leadership is to prepare our community colleges for the future. Since the State of California does not provide sufficient resources, the college must augment its financial base with fundraising, grants, and a strong community based foundation. Some of the ways of planning for the future are in establishing solid community and business partnerships, building long term endowments, local bond issues, aggressive donation programs, expanding community services and extension classes, contract education, and economic development programs.
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2. What do you think should be the balance in LACCD between preparing students for transfer to four-year institutions and programs that provide workforce training?
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Answer from David Vela:
I believe that both are just as important, however, we need to improve both. Provide the necessary tools to have our students achieve their educational and vocational goals.
Answer from Tom Oliver:
One of the missions of a community college is to help all students meet their educational goals and be successful students. College success means different things to different people. Success can mean graduating from college, transferring to another collegiate institution, completing a course, achieving basic skills for college entry, upgrading existing work skills, or mastering new skills needed to get a job. The colleges should provide both transfer and workforce training classes. LACCD needs to promote the theme of the nurturing college by providing the finest educational programs to help students achieve their specific educational goals. A "Student Success Plan" is key that focuses on goal completion and outcome assessment strategies. The Student Success Plan is part of the college's road map identifying campus and student issues in helping students become successful in achieving their specific educational goals and making sure each student reaches his/her goal. This is missing throughout the LACCD system. Each college needs to set the balance between transfer and workforce development depending on its specific student needs and the communities each serves.
Answer from Nancy Pearlman:
I believe Community Colleges should provide both vocational and avocational programs for transfer and special creditentail programs.
I also believe that work force training is imnportant to our programs.
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3. What experience in general management, fiscal management and budgetary oversight would you bring to the job of Trustee?
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Answer from Tom Oliver:
I have 31 years experience in a variety of educational and administrative positions. I served as the President of Pierce College, providing continued leadership to its campus and implementing the vision and Master Plan for the College's future. The College enjoyed a renaissance through an unparalleled era of both increased enrollment and revenue. I helped direct the development of an educational master plan and increase student enrollment from 13,000 to 19,000, while using my business management experience to turn the College's $2.3 million deficit into an $8 million surplus. I was also the President of D Cubed, Inc, a computer consulting company in Chatsworth and later served as President and Owner of Edison Technical Institute.
I have been a statewide advocate for community colleges, serving on the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, California Community College Foundation Board of Directors, and Chief Instructional Officers Board of Directors.
Answer from David Vela:
As a 5 year school board member at the third largest school district in LA County, I have managed to balance the budget without permanent teacher lay offs. By cutting at the top and keeping our jobs in the classroom. I worked closely with my superintendents to think outside the box and look at ways to increase revenue. Including implementing a perfect attendance campaign which increased average daily attendance (ADA). I also spent ten years as a Sr. Field Deputy for the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in charge of Unincorporated areas. As a Deputy I was responsible for administering large capital projects, law enforcement and public works projects. In this capacity I successfully managed the budget of these projects and ensured their delivery on budget and on time.
Answer from Nancy Pearlman:
I am currently serving my third term as a Trustee where we have annually voted on billion dollar budgets.
For 40 years, I have run a non-profit organization where I have handled the finances and fundraising.
As a video & radio documentarian, I have produced over 2,500 television and radio programs where I have been responsible for all the management, production, and funding.
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4. AB 2572 (Furutani) seeks to give the LACCD Board of Trustees authority to make changes in the way Trustees are elected (e.g. by district instead of 'at large') and make it possible to eliminate one round of the two-round LACCD election. Where do you stand on this legislation and the issues involved?
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Answer from Tom Oliver:
I support this legislation, but as a member of the Board of Trustees would seek to ensure that eliminating a run-off election would not discourage new candidates from entering future LACCD races. It is estimated that this bill could save the District $3 million to $5 million every two years - funds that could be effectively utilized to better serve our students.
Answer from Nancy Pearlman:
This legislation will save the district millions of dollars which could be used to provide more classes at the nine Community Colleges.
Answer from David Vela:
I am in support of what is more fair and what would not harm distribution of support for lower-income area students.
Responses to questions asked of each candidate
are reproduced as submitted to the League.
The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.
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League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
