Candidates running for Mesa 51 County School Board Pat Kanda Michael Lowenstein Gregory Mikolai (Declined to complete

questionnaire) Thomas Parrish (Declined to complete questionnaire) John Sluder Lonnie White (Declined to complete questionnaire) John Williams (Declined to complete questionnaire)

Color Coded Answer Key Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree

Questions 1 The districts reform efforts at present are not on pace to meet the needs of all of the students. 2 The district is moving in the right direction with the districts current leadership. 3 Too many students are not graduating with the skills they need to be successful. In determining teacher employment, student achievement (growth test scores, college and career prep) should play a significant factor (roughly 50%). In determining teacher pay, student achievement (growth test scores, college and career prep) should 5 play a significant factor (roughly 50%). 4 6 Teacher pay should be based primarily upon years of experience and educational attainment. 7 The district needs more focus on measuring effectiveness of programs and spreading best practices. The district results should be compared to results from districts around the world to assure our students can compete in the global market. Turnaround interventions for struggling schools as well as the creation/establishment of charters and 9 other new schools are BOTH important strategies to improving student success. 8 10 Charter schools should receive bond and mill levy funding equal to other public schools (including funding for facilities).

Kanda Agree Disagree Strongly Agree Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Agree Agree Agree Agree

Lowenstein Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree Agree Agree Strongly Disagree Agree Disagree Agree Neutral

Sluder Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree Agree Agree Disagree Agree Strongly Disagree Agree Agree

The district should welcome and assist high-quality charter schools which include allowing high 11 quality charters to operate in one of the districts recently closed facilities, or to co-locate in one of its underutilized facilities even if it means nearby schools might lose enrollment. 12 The district should support high-quality public schools in every neighborhood, regardless of whether the school is managed by the district or is public charter school.

Agree

Agree

Agree

Agree Disagree Agree Agree Agree Agree Neutral

Agree Neutral Neutral Agree Disagree Agree Agree

Strongly Agree Disagree Agree Agree Strongly Disagree Strongly Agree Strongly Agree

13 The district must have more funding to improve academic achievement. 14 The district must find a way for funds to go directly to schools. The district's finance system needs to be redesigned so that 70% or more of funding follows students to their public school or program of choice. 16 Funding for schools should be weighted to particular needs such as poverty. Spending should be more transparent and have "return on investment" measures so that we all have a 17 clearer understanding of where taxpayer money is spent and what brings the biggest return on public education investments. 18 Negotiations with all associations (unions) should be held in the open. 15

Each candidate was asked to answer addition questions. See below.

School Board Candidate Name: Pat Kanda

Please rank what you believe are the most important areas of concentration for the district to raise student achievement. AFP is listing their top 3. 1. Effective literacy and math programs 2. Quality teachers 3. District support for principals and teachers

Please rank what you believe are the most important priorities for K-12 education in this district. AFP is listing their top 3. 1. Provide better support for teachers 2. Ensure that the high school degree is aligned with college readiness 3. Reward and hold educators responsible for student results

What do you believe is the most important role a school board member should play in ensuring all students in the district receive the education they need and deserve?

I believe that the most important role of a school board member is to hire a qualified superintendent and establishing policies with high expectations that the student body must be able to achieve and demonstrate competency.

If you have children who do or did attend schools in the district please list those schools. Please print or type your response. Central High School, Cornerstone Christian School

Do you support the nearly one billion dollar tax increase on the ballot this year? Why or why not?

No. I feel additional funding would be a benefit, but in the current economic climate I don't feel additional taxes are the solution. If a constitutional amendment is going to be used to increase K-12 funding, maybe we should look at amending the allocations from lottery funds.

Were you endorsed by the union? Unsure. Probably not.

School Board Candidate Name: Michael Lowenstein

Please rank what you believe are the most important areas of concentration for the district to raise student achievement. AFP is listing their top 3. 1. Quality curriculum 2. Quality teachers 3. Meeting high standards

Please rank what you believe are the most important priorities for K-12 education in this district. AFP is listing their top 3. 1. Provide better support for teachers 2. Redesign teacher evaluation and pay to retain the most effective teachers 3. Reward and hold educators responsible for student results

What do you believe is the most important role a school board member should play in ensuring all students in the district receive the education they need and deserve?

The school board's role is to find ways to improved schools so that they provide students the education they need for life and to find ways to provide teachers the tools that they need to make this school improvement happen.

If you have children who do or did attend schools in the district please list those schools. Please print or type your response. No response.

Do you support the nearly one billion dollar tax increase on the ballot this year? Why or why not? No response.

Were you endorsed by the union? No response.

School Board Candidate Name: John Sluder

Please rank what you believe are the most important areas of concentration for the district to raise student achievement. AFP is listing their top 3. 1. The school board that speaks with one voice. 2. Community involvement 3. District ensuring schools are accountable for performance

Please rank what you believe are the most important priorities for K-12 education in this district. AFP is listing their top 3. 1. Revise collective bargaining agreements so that principals have more authority to hire and fire 2. Redesign teacher evaluation and pay to retain the most effective teachers 3. Ensure that the high school degree is aligned with college readiness

What do you believe is the most important role a school board member should play in ensuring all students in the district receive the education they need and deserve?

The most important role is to ensure the viability of our District no matter the outcome of funding initiatives. The key to education lies in the effectiveness of our great teachers. My role will be to assure that policies and procedures support those teachers to do quality work. As a School Board Director, I will direct the administration to account for every bit of taxpayer's money in both direct cost and the unfunded mandates, which place a burden on school funding, while assuring that those reports are fully communicated to the public. I also feel that just throwing more money at the problem is not the solution. A role of the School Board is to be a good steward of the tax payer's money.

If you have children who do or did attend schools in the district please list those schools. Please print or type your response. Taylor Elementary, daughter Mount Garfield, Son - Daughter Palisade High School - Son - Daughter Orchard Avenue Elementary - Grand Children

Do you support the nearly one billion dollar tax increase on the ballot this year? Why or why not? I am personally opposed to raising taxes on individuals and families in a progressive model, especially when so many in our state are struggling. Nevertheless, as a candidate for the Board of Education, my job is not to lobby for fiscal policy. It is to ensure the viability of our District no matter the outcome of the initiative. So, I am against Amendment 66, and the associated SB 213.

Were you endorsed by the union? NO!