The League of Women Voters sponsored a forum in the Saratoga High School library for four candidates—Cindy Ruby, Ken Schulz, Shinku Sharma and John Waite—running for two seats on the Saratoga Union School District board. They also hosted another forum the same evening for the five candidates—Rosemary Rossi, Michele van Zuiden, Carol Barmeier, Steven Kahl and Dr. Lorrie Wernick—running for two seats on the Los Gatos­Saratoga Joint Union High School District's board of trustees.

After each candidate's three-minute introductions, moderator Patricia Weber fired away questions generated by the audience.

Saratoga Union School District candidates were asked how they'd honor their commitment to serving as school board members. Ruby, an incumbent with 12 years on the board, said not only did she have the time to serve since her children were grown, but she had the experience.

"I'm a child advocate and an education advocate and have been all my life," she said.

Schulz said he had more than 20 years of professional experience in finance from Stanford University and was hoping to bring his talents to the board.

"I want to enhance the academic excellence of our schools," Schulz said. "They're good, but they can get better."

Waite, also an incumbent, said he understood who he represented and was in touch with the school community since his son attends Redwood Middle School. Waite also attended the school as a child when it was called Fruitvale School.

"I think it's critical to constantly understand and recalibrate what the community is wanting, and I work hard to do that," Waite said.

Sharma, who has lived in Saratoga for eight years, stressed her electrical engineering background and involvement and volunteer work districtwide in many programs and organizations.

When questioned about how the candidates would help the "middle" or average student succeed, Schulz said his passion was bringing smaller class sizes to the district. Sharma also suggested differentiated strategies of learning for students, such as the Math Olympiad program she helped implement, which makes each student feel confident and successful.

"We all want to keep [class sizes] as low as possible to provide the best education for all the students in the district," Sharma said.

Ruby mentioned continual training for teachers in varied approaches to meet the needs of every student, while Waite supported the uses of technologies to help the "middle" student.

The candidates also addressed ways to continue to improve relations with the city of Saratoga, and what they'd do to encourage low-performing teachers to leave the district. The candidates each stressed assessment of all district teachers and staff, as well as accountability.

During questioning of Los Gatos­Saratoga high school district candidates, they were asked what they thought were the three largest issues at Saratoga and Los Gatos high schools. Kahl centered on the importance of retaining the district's basic aid and funding status, character development of students and sustaining quality teachers while offering them professional development opportunities.

Van Zuiden, a resident of Los Gatos and Monte Sereno for more than 20 years, placed importance on offering students a more balanced and less stressful high school experience. Wernick—the only incumbent running, with eight years of experience on the board—spoke about maintaining both schools' newly renovated facilities, offering competitive salaries to attract the best teachers and maximizing the learning of all students.

The candidates were also questioned about college acceptance rates and making sure the district's students stay competitive in the process.

"I think most college admissions officers will tell you the candidates they are really looking for are highly motivated, capable students," said Barmeier, an eight-year resident of Saratoga and involved community member.

Rossi, a Saratoga parent with experience serving on school boards, stressed the importance of educating parents in that it doesn't matter where their children get accepted to college to become successful.

The candidates were questioned about articulation of the curriculum between the middle and high school levels, how to address the needs of the "middle" student and what they'd do to prevent cheating. Cheating problems and questions of student morality surfaced last year at Saratoga High.

Kahl, a Mountain View English teacher who lives in Saratoga, again stressed teaching "character education" such as human rights, social justice and ethics. Rossi said if a student is invested in what they're learning, there's likely to be less cheating.

"If teachers are demanding in their classrooms and set the tone, the students respond," she said.

Van Zuiden emphasized how teaching good values starts at home with parental responsibility, while Barmeier said personal connections between teachers and students need to be further developed because they enhance honesty. Wernick brought up the district's integrity policy, of which all students in the district should be aware.

In addition to the League of Women Voters, the forum was also sponsored by Saratoga High School PTSA, Saratoga Union School District's PTAs, Saratoga News and the American Association of University Women.