League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Ken Dauber Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Palo Alto Unified School District

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

Questions & Answers

1. What steps need to be taken to foster better communication among the school board, superintendent's office, and the local school communities?

The arrival of our new Superintendent, Max McGee, is a real opportunity. We need to make improvements in transparency, clarity, and accountability of decision-making. Effective parent and community participation requires that the public's business is done in public, and I will make available all communications with district staff. I will also work to ensure greater clarity in decision making, and to put in place clear metrics for communicating and assessing progress against our goals.

2. What approaches would you support to help students of diverse educational abilities achieve their educational goals?

In a 21st-century economy, all students need to leave high school with strong skills and the ability to work collaboratively with others, whether they are going on to college or not. We need to prepare students for college and for life. That requires supporting teachers at all levels in differentiating instruction to provide all students with appropriate challenges, whether they are struggling, in the middle, or doing advanced work. It also means ensuring that we deliver high-quality academic advising and college guidance services at both high schools.

3. Do you agree with the Common Core standards and if so, how should they be implemented?

Yes, I agree with the Common Core standards. Their emphasis on critical thinking is an excellent fit with our district's strengths. It is valuable to have standards and assessments that align with our own educational goals, as does the Common Core. We need to ensure that our teachers are supported with professional development and other resources during the transition. Strategic Plan surveys indicate that a large percentage of teachers feel that they need more such support, underlining the importance of being proactive in this area.

4. Do you see instituting a pre-school program for children younger than the "early 5s" age as desirable for the PAUSD? If so, have you any ideas on how it might fit into the school structure?

Early educational enrichment is a proven technique for improving achievement in later years, particularly for children who come from lower-income or otherwise challenged families. We should improve our ability to reach those children by providing the services they need to take advantage of our existing programs (including Springboard to Kindergarten and Transition to Kindergarten), such as transportation and extended care hours. We should also ensure that all children in the district have access to excellent nutrition through providing fresh, local, healthy foods for our school breakfast and lunch program. Better nutrition is a cost-effective intervention for young children that is demonstrated to improve both learning and behavior.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. The answer to each question should be limited to 400 words. Direct 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: September 28, 2014 08:25
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