Join Us: School Board Candidate Questionnaires

Read the Candidate Responses to Issues Affecting Oakland and Our Students

Jack Holzman | June 25, 2016

As part of our 2016 school board candidate endorsement process, GO Public Schools Oakland Advocates asked each candidate to complete a questionnaire. This year, we split our questionnaires into two sections. The first addresses a candidate’s positions on various issues, while the second focuses on their leadership experience.

These questionnaires provide critical information about the school board candidates. The feedback we gathered from the questionnaires help inform our Leadership Council’s decision about whether and whom to endorse.

QUESTIONNAIRES

District 1:

• Director Jody London – Issues | Leadership 
• Don Macleay – Issues | Leadership

District 3:

• Director Jumoke Hinton Hodge – Issues | Leadership
• Benjamin Lang – Issues | Leadership

District 5:

• Director Rosie Torres – Issues | Leadership (Did not submit)
• Michael Hassid – Issues | Leadership
• Mike Hutchinson – Issues | Leadership
• Huber Trenado – Issues | Leadership

District 7:

• Board President James Harris – Issues | Leadership
• Chris Jackson – Issues | Leadership

VIDEOS

District 1:

Director Jody London

• Question 1 (Two Minutes)
  • What makes you the most qualified leader to serve Oakland’s students in your district’s school board seat and in what specific areas will you bring expertise to the board?
• Question 2 (Four Minutes)
  • What is your assessment of the district’s current priorities? In addition, please describe your top three personal priorities for the district as a school board member and explain why these are your top priorities.
• Question 3 (Four Minutes)
  • In addition to increased pay, which every candidate supports, what are the best ways to increase student access to effective teaching? What will you specifically do as a board member to make effective teaching a true priority?
• Question 4 (Four Minutes)
  • Statement 1: I believe that schools should have decision making authority over their operations.
  • Statement 2: I believe that the central office should manage most decisions in the district.
  • Which of these statements best describes your opinions on district/school governance and what do you see as the implications for schools, families, and teachers? Please specifically address the areas of staffing, program, and budget in your response.
• Questions 5A and 5B (Four Minutes Total)
  • Do you support the Equity Pledge initiative? Why or why not? Do you believe that, as a school board member, you hold some responsibility toward charter school students? Why or why not? How will this affect your decisions as a board member?
• Question 6 (Four Minutes)
  • Without speaking about the current superintendent, what actions will you take as a board member to ensure that the superintendent has a scope of work that is high impact, clear, and achievable? After you have taken those actions, what information would you need to know in order understand whether a superintendent is being effective?
• Question 7
  • Two Minute Closing

Don Macleay

• Question 1 (Two Minutes)
  • What makes you the most qualified leader to serve Oakland’s students in your district’s school board seat and in what specific areas will you bring expertise to the board?
• Question 2 (Four Minutes)
  • What is your assessment of the district’s current priorities? In addition, please describe your top three personal priorities for the district as a school board member and explain why these are your top priorities.
• Question 3 (Four Minutes)
  • In addition to increased pay, which every candidate supports, what are the best ways to increase student access to effective teaching? What will you specifically do as a board member to make effective teaching a true priority?
• Question 4 (Four Minutes)
  • Statement 1: I believe that schools should have decision making authority over their operations.
  • Statement 2: I believe that the central office should manage most decisions in the district.
  • Which of these statements best describes your opinions on district/school governance and what do you see as the implications for schools, families, and teachers? Please specifically address the areas of staffing, program, and budget in your response.
• Questions 5A and 5B (Four Minutes Total)
  • Do you support the Equity Pledge initiative? Why or why not? Do you believe that, as a school board member, you hold some responsibility toward charter school students? Why or why not? How will this affect your decisions as a board member?
• Question 6 (Four Minutes)
  • Without speaking about the current superintendent, what actions will you take as a board member to ensure that the superintendent has a scope of work that is high impact, clear, and achievable? After you have taken those actions, what information would you need to know in order understand whether a superintendent is being effective?
• Question 7
  • Two Minute Closing

District 3:

Director Jumoke Hinton Hodge

• Question 1 (Two Minutes)
  • What makes you the most qualified leader to serve Oakland’s students in your district’s school board seat and in what specific areas will you bring expertise to the board?
• Question 2 (Four Minutes)
  • What is your assessment of the district’s current priorities? In addition, please describe your top three personal priorities for the district as a school board member and explain why these are your top priorities.
• Question 3 (Four Minutes)
  • In addition to increased pay, which every candidate supports, what are the best ways to increase student access to effective teaching? What will you specifically do as a board member to make effective teaching a true priority?
• Question 4 (Four Minutes)
  • Statement 1: I believe that schools should have decision making authority over their operations.
  • Statement 2: I believe that the central office should manage most decisions in the district.
  • Which of these statements best describes your opinions on district/school governance and what do you see as the implications for schools, families, and teachers? Please specifically address the areas of staffing, program, and budget in your response
• Questions 5A and 5B (Four Minutes Total)
  • Do you support the Equity Pledge initiative? Why or why not? Do you believe that, as a school board member, you hold some responsibility toward charter school students? Why or why not? How will this affect your decisions as a board member?
• Question 6 (Four Minutes)
  • Without speaking about the current superintendent, what actions will you take as a board member to ensure that the superintendent has a scope of work that is high impact, clear, and achievable? After you have taken those actions, what information would you need to know in order understand whether a superintendent is being effective?
• Question 7
  • Two Minute Closing

Benjamin Lang

• Question 1 (Two Minutes)
  • What makes you the most qualified leader to serve Oakland’s students in your district’s school board seat and in what specific areas will you bring expertise to the board?
• Question 2 (Four Minutes)
  • What is your assessment of the district’s current priorities? In addition, please describe your top three personal priorities for the district as a school board member and explain why these are your top priorities.
• Question 3 (Four Minutes)
  • In addition to increased pay, which every candidate supports, what are the best ways to increase student access to effective teaching? What will you specifically do as a board member to make effective teaching a true priority?
• Question 4 (Four Minutes)
  • Statement 1: I believe that schools should have decision making authority over their operations.
  • Statement 2: I believe that the central office should manage most decisions in the district.
  • Which of these statements best describes your opinions on district/school governance and what do you see as the implications for schools, families, and teachers? Please specifically address the areas of staffing, program, and budget in your response
• Questions 5A and 5B (Four Minutes Total)
  • Do you support the Equity Pledge initiative? Why or why not? Do you believe that, as a school board member, you hold some responsibility toward charter school students? Why or why not? How will this affect your decisions as a board member?
• Question 6 (Four Minutes)
  • Without speaking about the current superintendent, what actions will you take as a board member to ensure that the superintendent has a scope of work that is high impact, clear, and achievable? After you have taken those actions, what information would you need to know in order understand whether a superintendent is being effective?
• Question 7
  • Two Minute Closing

District 5:

Director Rosie Torres (Did not attend)

• Question 1 (Two Minutes)
  • What makes you the most qualified leader to serve Oakland’s students in your district’s school board seat and in what specific areas will you bring expertise to the board?
• Question 2 (Four Minutes)
  • What is your assessment of the district’s current priorities? In addition, please describe your top three personal priorities for the district as a school board member and explain why these are your top priorities.
• Question 3 (Four Minutes)
  • In addition to increased pay, which every candidate supports, what are the best ways to increase student access to effective teaching? What will you specifically do as a board member to make effective teaching a true priority?
• Question 4 (Four Minutes)
  • Statement 1: I believe that schools should have decision making authority over their operations.
  • Statement 2: I believe that the central office should manage most decisions in the district.
  • Which of these statements best describes your opinions on district/school governance and what do you see as the implications for schools, families, and teachers? Please specifically address the areas of staffing, program, and budget in your response
• Questions 5A and 5B (Four Minutes Total)
  • Do you support the Equity Pledge initiative? Why or why not?
  • Do you believe that, as a school board member, you hold some responsibility toward charter school students? Why or why not? How will this affect your decisions as a board member?
• Question 6 (Four Minutes)
  • Without speaking about the current superintendent, what actions will you take as a board member to ensure that the superintendent has a scope of work that is high impact, clear, and achievable? After you have taken those actions, what information would you need to know in order understand whether a superintendent is being effective?
• Question 7
  • Two Minute Closing

Michael Hassid

• Question 1 (Two Minutes)
  • What makes you the most qualified leader to serve Oakland’s students in your district’s school board seat and in what specific areas will you bring expertise to the board?
• Question 2 (Four Minutes)
  • What is your assessment of the district’s current priorities? In addition, please describe your top three personal priorities for the district as a school board member and explain why these are your top priorities.
• Question 3 (Four Minutes)
  • In addition to increased pay, which every candidate supports, what are the best ways to increase student access to effective teaching? What will you specifically do as a board member to make effective teaching a true priority?
• Question 4 (Four Minutes)
  • Statement 1: I believe that schools should have decision making authority over their operations.
  • Statement 2: I believe that the central office should manage most decisions in the district.
  • Which of these statements best describes your opinions on district/school governance and what do you see as the implications for schools, families, and teachers? Please specifically address the areas of staffing, program, and budget in your response
• Questions 5A and 5B (Four Minutes Total)
  • Do you support the Equity Pledge initiative? Why or why not? Do you believe that, as a school board member, you hold some responsibility toward charter school students? Why or why not? How will this affect your decisions as a board member?
• Question 6 (Four Minutes)
  • Without speaking about the current superintendent, what actions will you take as a board member to ensure that the superintendent has a scope of work that is high impact, clear, and achievable? After you have taken those actions, what information would you need to know in order understand whether a superintendent is being effective?
• Question 7
  • Two Minute Closing

Mike Hutchinson

• Question 1 (Two Minutes)
  • What makes you the most qualified leader to serve Oakland’s students in your district’s school board seat and in what specific areas will you bring expertise to the board?
• Question 2 (Four Minutes)
  • What is your assessment of the district’s current priorities? In addition, please describe your top three personal priorities for the district as a school board member and explain why these are your top priorities.
• Question 3 (Four Minutes)
  • In addition to increased pay, which every candidate supports, what are the best ways to increase student access to effective teaching? What will you specifically do as a board member to make effective teaching a true priority?
• Question 4 (Four Minutes)
  • Statement 1: I believe that schools should have decision making authority over their operations.
  • Statement 2: I believe that the central office should manage most decisions in the district.
  • Which of these statements best describes your opinions on district/school governance and what do you see as the implications for schools, families, and teachers? Please specifically address the areas of staffing, program, and budget in your response
• Questions 5A and 5B (Four Minutes Total)
  • Do you support the Equity Pledge initiative? Why or why not? Do you believe that, as a school board member, you hold some responsibility toward charter school students? Why or why not? How will this affect your decisions as a board member?
• Question 6 (Four Minutes)
  • Without speaking about the current superintendent, what actions will you take as a board member to ensure that the superintendent has a scope of work that is high impact, clear, and achievable? After you have taken those actions, what information would you need to know in order understand whether a superintendent is being effective?
• Question 7
  • Two Minute Closing

Huber Trenado

• Question 1 (Two Minutes)
  • What makes you the most qualified leader to serve Oakland’s students in your district’s school board seat and in what specific areas will you bring expertise to the board?
• Question 2 (Four Minutes)
  • What is your assessment of the district’s current priorities? In addition, please describe your top three personal priorities for the district as a school board member and explain why these are your top priorities.
• Question 3 (Four Minutes)
  • In addition to increased pay, which every candidate supports, what are the best ways to increase student access to effective teaching? What will you specifically do as a board member to make effective teaching a true priority?
• Question 4 (Four Minutes)
  • Statement 1: I believe that schools should have decision making authority over their operations.
  • Statement 2: I believe that the central office should manage most decisions in the district.
  • Which of these statements best describes your opinions on district/school governance and what do you see as the implications for schools, families, and teachers? Please specifically address the areas of staffing, program, and budget in your response
• Questions 5A and 5B (Four Minutes Total)
  • Do you support the Equity Pledge initiative? Why or why not? Do you believe that, as a school board member, you hold some responsibility toward charter school students? Why or why not? How will this affect your decisions as a board member?
• Question 6 (Four Minutes)
  • Without speaking about the current superintendent, what actions will you take as a board member to ensure that the superintendent has a scope of work that is high impact, clear, and achievable? After you have taken those actions, what information would you need to know in order understand whether a superintendent is being effective?
• Question 7
  • Two Minute Closing

District 7:

Board President James Harris

• Question 1 (Two Minutes)
  • What makes you the most qualified leader to serve Oakland’s students in your district’s school board seat and in what specific areas will you bring expertise to the board?
• Question 2 (Four Minutes)
  • What is your assessment of the district’s current priorities? In addition, please describe your top three personal priorities for the district as a school board member and explain why these are your top priorities.
• Question 3 (Four Minutes)
  • In addition to increased pay, which every candidate supports, what are the best ways to increase student access to effective teaching? What will you specifically do as a board member to make effective teaching a true priority?
• Question 4 (Four Minutes)
  • Statement 1: I believe that schools should have decision making authority over their operations.
  • Statement 2: I believe that the central office should manage most decisions in the district.
  • Which of these statements best describes your opinions on district/school governance and what do you see as the implications for schools, families, and teachers? Please specifically address the areas of staffing, program, and budget in your response.
• Questions 5A and 5B (Four Minutes Total)
  • Do you support the Equity Pledge initiative? Why or why not? Do you believe that, as a school board member, you hold some responsibility toward charter school students? Why or why not? How will this affect your decisions as a board member?
• Question 6 (Four Minutes)
  • Without speaking about the current superintendent, what actions will you take as a board member to ensure that the superintendent has a scope of work that is high impact, clear, and achievable? After you have taken those actions, what information would you need to know in order understand whether a superintendent is being effective?
• Question 7
  • Two Minute Closing

Chris Jackson

• Question 1 (Two Minutes)
  • What makes you the most qualified leader to serve Oakland’s students in your district’s school board seat and in what specific areas will you bring expertise to the board?
• Question 2 (Four Minutes)
  • What is your assessment of the district’s current priorities? In addition, please describe your top three personal priorities for the district as a school board member and explain why these are your top priorities.
• Question 3 (Four Minutes)
  • In addition to increased pay, which every candidate supports, what are the best ways to increase student access to effective teaching? What will you specifically do as a board member to make effective teaching a true priority?
• Question 4 (Four Minutes)
  • Statement 1: I believe that schools should have decision making authority over their operations.
  • Statement 2: I believe that the central office should manage most decisions in the district.
  • Which of these statements best describes your opinions on district/school governance and what do you see as the implications for schools, families, and teachers? Please specifically address the areas of staffing, program, and budget in your response
• Questions 5A and 5B (Four Minutes Total)
  • Do you support the Equity Pledge initiative? Why or why not? Do you believe that, as a school board member, you hold some responsibility toward charter school students? Why or why not? How will this affect your decisions as a board member?
• Question 6 (Four Minutes)
  • Without speaking about the current superintendent, what actions will you take as a board member to ensure that the superintendent has a scope of work that is high impact, clear, and achievable? After you have taken those actions, what information would you need to know in order understand whether a superintendent is being effective?
• Question 7
  • Two Minute Closing