Clay Pollard
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Transcript of Clay Pollard
8/8/2019 Clay Pollard
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/clay-pollard 1/2
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
8/8/2019 Clay Pollard
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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.