Mountain View School Board Candidate Surveys, Fall 2011
Click a name below to view responses from candidates running for Mountain View School Board.
1. Your district has embarked on an initiative to restore meaningful sequential arts education into its core curriculum. What do you feel are the strengths and weaknesses of the plan?
Click on a Candidate's name to see his/her response to a question.
Candidate has not yet submitted a response.
I believe that the strengths are that our district is striving to offer art/music opportunities for our students. We are having to contend with a 25% decrease in enrollment in addition to the state's fiscal woes that have affected us greatly.
Candidate has not yet submitted a response.
2. If you are not familiar with the plan, what do you think your district can and should do to make this work more visible?
Candidate has not yet submitted a response.
I am not familiar with the plan but I believe when our declining enrollment ends we will be better able to be more visible. Now I believe we are doing as much as we can do.
Candidate has not yet submitted a response.
3. What role do you think the arts can play in supporting key priorities of the district such as reducing the dropout rate, closing the achievement gap, and preparing more students for college eligibility and/or meaningful careers?
Candidate has not yet submitted a response.
I believe that the arts are very important in supporting the students. It gives them something that they can truly enjoy and be successful in. I think of a 5th grade student in the 80's that took band lessons at school. Today he is a part of a symphony orchestra that tours all over Europe. One of our advanced art classes is computer driven. One of our board members and I were talking about that class (he is an architect). He said he would hire one of those students without reservations. That teacher is that good.
Candidate has not yet submitted a response.
4. In light of the current budget crisis, the state is now allowing local school districts flexibility to redirect their allocation from the “art and music block grant” to fund other local priorities. How would you balance the need to invest in arts education with the other financial challenges facing your district?
Candidate has not yet submitted a response.
In our two middle schools we offer through general fund $ Band and Marching Band. These two teachers go to the primary schools and offer band for 4-6 grades. Both middle schools have advanced art and wood shop paid through general funds. Our 9 elementary schools use catagorical funds for different art projects. "Meet the Masters" has been very popular with them Half of our schools have hired a graphic designer to work with the students in planning and painting murals at their sites. Drill team/Tall flags is funded through catagorical funds Through Migrant funds our migrant students have had summer art assemblies. Through Title 1 funds we have had teacher inservices on "Meet the Masters"
Candidate has not yet submitted a response.
5. What meaningful experiences with art (visual, dance, drama, music) did you have growing up? Please tell us about those experiences.
Candidate has not yet submitted a response.
Music was very important to me in both elementary school through highschool. I believe I was in the 3rd grade when my twin brother and I sang in a musical. I was always in choir.
Candidate has not yet submitted a response.
