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The Island’s CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

Name: Clay Pollard

Age: decline to state

Occupation: Business owner and manager 

Relevant experience: I have lived in Alameda for 24 years, so I know many Alameda

residents and businesses. This gives me the opportunity to rally support for our schools.

My daughter currently attends Encinal High School, and my involvement keeps me in

touch with the issues and needs of parents, teachers, and children in the district. As an

independent minority business owner, I can reach the business community.

Why are you running for this office?: It hurts me to see Alameda schools facing an

unprecedented crisis in finances and worse yet, in confidence. The district has ignored

parents and developed an adversarial role with the business community. I see how this is

hurting my daughter, her school, and the very future of Alameda. I would like the

chance to turn this around.

Why should we vote for you?: The old political system is not working for us. We can no

longer afford to wait for the current establishment to come up with a solution. Alameda

deserves a new, fresh face who is not tied to the old system. I can combine business

acumen and know-how, a focused approach, and plain common sense to start fixing

the problems in our school and uniting our community.

What do you feel are the roles and responsibilities of the office you’re seeking?: The role

of a school board member is to oversee decisions regarding policies, rules, and

regulations affecting the operation of schools. Responsibilities include short and long

term planning, careful financial decisions, the gathering and analyzing of community

input, and the management of school resources to maximize the quality of education for 

all district students. The board of education must provide direction for the district andhold AUSD administrators accountable.

What do you think is the most pressing issue you would face if elected and what would

you do to address it?: The most pressing issue is obvious. The Alameda school system has

severe financial needs that may affect student/teacher ratios, the closure of schools,

programs cut, and therefore, reduce academic achievement. I will address this in

several areas:

- I will examine where current monies are spent and cut and consolidate where I can.

- I will strictly control future spending.

- I will ask parents to volunteer their time and talents to help us through this time, and I will

appreciate those who do.

- I will solicit businesses to partner with education.

- I will pass a fair tax that does not place an unfair burden on businesses.

What steps do you think the school board should take to address anticipated, multi-

million dollar budget deficits?: I am in favor of a fair tax that spans a shorter period (e.g.

three years), is strictly accountable, is spent according to specific and clear line items,

and is specifically directed at maintaining today's minimum student/teacher ratios. We

can no longer have a non-specific tax. We must demonstrate to Alameda taxpayers that

their money is dedicated to maintaining class sizes and raising test scores. The district

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must reassure taxpayers that tax revenue is being directed to support teaching and to

the learning of basic core academics in the classrooms.

Do you think the board should put a parcel tax in the ballot? If so, how do you think it

should be structured?: A new tax does not necessarily have to be a parcel tax, but if we

have a parcel tax, a new parcel tax proposal would need to be a fair burden according

to square footage and not a structure that causes financial hardship to struggling familiesand businesses that will end up in litigation again. The district must learn from the failure

of Measure E in June by actively reaching out to all stakeholders in our community to

listen to their concerns and suggestions in order to come up with a new proposed parcel

tax in a collaborative manner, which will have greater likelihood of passing.

What changes, if any, would you make to the way educational services are delivered to

Alameda’s students?: We need to concentrate on improving test scores. About one third

of Alameda students are not proficient in English Language Arts. Forty percent are not

proficient in math. We need to focus on closing this achievement gap by doing the

following:

1. Gain parent and business community trust

As long as we parents feel ignored and we have an adversarial role with the business

community, it will be a battle of wills. We need to work with parents and businesses, not

work against them.

2. Solicit help from parents and businesses

Once we show appreciation to parents and businesses, we will gain volunteers and

resources to help with Alameda's education.

3. Raise test scores

Extra help from parents and businesses, and focus on the basics, will raise test scores.

4. Raise Alameda to a premier standard.

Once test scores are raised to acceptable levels, people will feel good about spending

money on education. Residents of Alameda will see the difference, and in turn, place

more effort and spend even more dollars investing in the lives of our children and the

process will repeat.

Four simple steps. We cannot wait any longer. Alameda children have been suffering

too long. We need to apply a deliberate, focused approach that unites our community

and improves the education of all students in Alameda.