Here is the video of the League of Women Voters Forum for the SCCBoE candidates for Area # 1 — Grace Mah, incumbent, residing in Palo Alto vs. Dave Cortright, challenger, residing in Los Altos — Los Altos, the scene of the LASD vs. Bullis Charter School dispute. This was recorded the evening of Oct. 10, 2012 at Crittendon Jr. High School, Mountain View, CA.
LALAHPOLITICO: I am happy that Mr. Cortright presented himself accurately. He is a classic one-issue candidate. He is passionate about restricting the growth of charter schools to low-income areas, and rejects the possibility of charters stimulating innovation in middle-class districts like Los Altos. It’s pretty open and shut case. You decide. Grace Mah is a person who is wired into the broader issues of education in the county and the nation. Listen to her talk at 34:05 describing the 3 initiatives for the county she will promote (outside of the narrow Los Altos vs. Bullis Charter spat). Mr. Cortright is focused on the BCS vs. LASD spat and also the larger national issue of crushing Charter Schools as a vehicle for educational innovation. You decide.
USE THIS TIME SCHEDULE TO JUMP TO THE QUESTION OF YOUR INTEREST.
If you are time-starved, the producer suggests Q3, Q10, Q11.
00:15 15 seconds
Moderator – Jeannie Conners – Explains Process
3:00 OPENING CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
Grace Mah
Dave Cortright
6:50
Q1. Please describe County Board interactions with local school boards and services the county provides to their local districts?
9:25
Q2. How would you evaluate and prioritize “achievement gap” when making a decision on a charter school?
***12:15 12 mintues and 15 seconds
Q3. With the trend to more school choice, what do you consider the role of public schools?
14:20
Q4. Many individuals must work together bringing varying and sometimes opposing viewpoints. Can you give an example of how you managed this in the past?
18:30
Q5. The association for charter authorizers help authorizing agencies learn how to better scrutinize charter applications and charter renewals for quality and propriety. Would you support this training for all Santa Clara County Board of Education members so they can do a better job a reviewing charter applications and renewals?
21:00
Q6. Would you consider consolidating the Los Altos School District and Mountain View-Whisman District which both feed into the Los Altos Mountain View High School District?
24:25
Q7. What do you as an Area #1 trustee propose to help achieve San Jose 2020? [sic an achievement gap narrowing initiative]
28:30
Q8. How would help each of the districts in the county use social media to increase 2-way communication between a district and their parent and larger community?
[ both candidates misheard the question, and spoke about use of social media in the classroom]
31:10
Q9.. Can you describe your experiences helping in the community?
***34:05 34 minutes and 5 seconds
Q 10. Can you describe 3 other initiatives – other than the charter school – that you would wish to promote as a school board member?
***38: 33 38 minutes and 33 seconds
Q. 11 As you know, the Los Altos and Los Altos Hills communities are torn over the current situation between Bullis Charter School and Los Altos School District. What do you see as the role of the SCCBoE in resolving this?
39:00 Cortright on County role… helping find facilities….helping with mediation
40:00 Mah on County role… can only oversee BCS…Bullis had practices, but has changed…Facilities? Board has no property…Mediation? Our attempt came along way, collapsed in last stretch….Healing at Los Altos Methodist…
CLOSING STATEMENTS
42: 25 – Grace Mah
43:25 – Dave Cortright
