Candidates running for Denver School Board Joan Postman Barbara O'Brien (Declined to complete questionnaire) Landri Taylor

(Declined to complete questionnaire) Meg Schomp (Declined to complete questionnaire) Michael Kiley (Declined to complete questionnaire) Mike Johnson (Declined to complete questionnaire) Roger Kilgore (Declined to complete questionnaire) Rosario C de Baca (Declined to complete questionnaire) Rosemary Rodriguez (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

Poston Agree Disagree Agree Disagree Disagree

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).

Neutral Agree Neutral Disagree Neutral

The district should welcome and assist high-quality charter schools which include allowing high - quality 11 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.

Neutral

Agree Agree Agree Disagree Disagree Agree Neutral

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: Joan Poston

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. District ensuring schools are accountable for performance 2. A school board that speaks with one voice 3. Quality curriculum

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 to teachers 2. Reduce class size 3. Increase K-12 funding

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 for a school board member is to be a representative of the people of Denver. I believe that the present board has done a poor job of listening to the needs and desires of the parents, students, and neighborhoods. Often they are driven by the districts leadership agendas and do not involve the people of Denver in the decision making process.

If you have children who do or did attend schools in the district please list those schools. Please print or type your response.

I have one daughter that has attended Samuels Elementary, Highland Academy, Hamilton Middle School.

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

No I am not in favor of Amendment 66. This bill is a large and unhelpful law. The people are getting to vote only on the funding portion of the amendment and not the whole bill. This bill redistributes the management of the funding raised from local control to state control and I believe that schools are a local concern and should be governed and funded by the people that the school district serves. The people closest to the school are the ones that would understand the needs best.

24. Were you endorsed by the union?

Not to my knowledge