NEIGHBORHOOD VOTER NETWORK-NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH ‘SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE SURVEY - 2011 Northwestern Lehigh School District Please answer YES, NO, or UNDECIDED, and include an explanation if you wish. In 2003-04, NWL ranked 96" of 624 Pennsylvania high schools (top 15%). In 2009-10, NWL ranked 426" of 672 Pennsylvania high schools (63%, near the bottom third), down 241 from previous year. (yw. schoolsiager.com] In that same period, local taxes and spending increased more than 40% (twice the rate of inflation), while enrollment remained flat. Question 1: Test scores ‘Should parents and taxpayers be concemed by the drop in test scores over this period of substantially higher taxes/spending and flat enrollment? YES No. XX_UNDECIDED Comment: | question the accuracy of the statistics/comments cited and have concerns regarding the rigid yes/no question format. The misleading interpretation of either could result in influencing the outcome of an election by an unregistered political action committee. Please review my positions set forth in the League of Women Voters survey published in the Morning Call. In 2009-10, combined PSSA test scores for the top 10 schools were 186. In 2009-10 combined PSSA test scores for NWL were 118, (Math - 47.8, reading 70). iwwnw schooldigaer.com) Question 2: Stuoy CURRICULA OF STATE’S TOP 10 SCHOOLS ‘Should NWL study the curricula of the State’s top 10 schools to determine what those schools are doing right? YES No XX_UNDECIDED Comment: | question the accuracy of the statistics/comments cited and have concerns regarding the rigid yes/no question format. The misleading interpretation of either could result in influencing the outcome of an election by an unregistered political action committee. Please review my positions set forth in the League of Women Voters survey published in the Morning Call. Question 3: MERIT PAYIMERIT RETENTION FOR TEACHERS ‘Should salaries of teachers/retention of teachers be based on merit? YES NO XX_ UNDECIDED Comment: | question the accuracy of the statistics/comments cited and have concerns regarding the rigid yes/no question format, The misleading interpretation of either could result in influencing the outcome of an election by an unregistered political action committee. Please review my positions set forth in the League of Women Voters survey published in the Morning C:NWL school district officials recently opted not to publish the 2011-12 preliminary budget and other documents, choosing to invoke “pre-decisional document” status. This decision prevents residents from studying such documents until after a vote is taken. [Northwestern Press; 2/3/11] Question 4: TRANSPARENCY Should all documents to be discussed in open meetings (including preliminary budgets and meeting agendas) be posted on line in advance of final approval? Yes No XX_UNDECIDED Comment: | question the accuracy of the statistics/comments cited and have concerns regarding the rigid yes/no question format. The misleading interpretation of either could result in influencing the outcome of an election by an unregistered political action committee. Please review my positions set forth the League of Women Voters survey published in the Morning Call. Question 5: TRANSPARENCY Should detailed budgets be posted on line in advance so taxpayers can see how tax dollars are being spent? YES No XX_UNDECIDED Comment: | question the accuracy of the statistics/comments cited and have concerns regarding the rigid yes/no question format. The misleading interpretation of either could result in influencing the outcome of an election by an unregistered political action committee. Please review my positions set forth in the League of Women Voters survey published in the Morning Call. Question 6: ACCOUNTABILITY ‘Should check registers be posted on line so taxpayers can see how tax dollars are being spent? YES __NO__XX_UNDECIDED Comment: | question the accuracy of the statistics/comments cited and have concerns regarding the rigid yes/no question format. The misleading interpretation of either could result in influencing the outcome of an election by an unregistered political action committee. Please review my positions set forth in the League of Women Voters survey published in the Morning Call. The Pennsylvania School Board Association, a taxpayer-funded lobbying group, is lobbying against school choice. [Office of State Senator Jeffrey Piccola] Question 7: SCHOOL CHOICE ‘Should the concept of school choice be considered, including vouchers for private schools, charter schools, home-schooling/cyber schools, and among public schools? YES NO XX_ UNDECIDEDComment: I question the accuracy of the statistics/comments cited and have concerns regarding the rigid yes/no question format. The misleading interpretation of either could result in influencing the outcome of an election by an unregistered political action committee. Please review my positions set forth in the League of Women Voters survey published in the Morning Call. Question 8: USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS BY LOBBYISTS. ‘Should tax dollars be used to lobby for/against issues such as school choice? YES No. XX_ UNDECIDED Comment: | question the accuracy of the statistics/comments cited and have concerns regarding the rigid yes/no question format. The misleading interpretation of either could result in influencing the outcome of an election by an unregistered political action committee. Please review my positions set forth in the League of Women Voters survey published in the Morning Call. Question 9; REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL TO RAISE LOCAL PROPERTY (SCHOOL) TAXES ‘Would you support a voter referendum to approve local property tax increases? YES No XX_ UNDECIDED Comment: | question the accuracy of the statistics/comments cited and have concerns regarding the rigid yes/no question format. The misleading interpretation of either could result in influencing the outcome of an election by an unregistered political action committee. Please review my positions set forth in the League of Women Voters survey published in the Morning Call. tA, 4-1 I] Sally L. Gchoffstall