Here is some of Heather Murtagh's article on the SMUHSD Trustees race. The full article is here.
Rebuilding a sense of community for the district as a whole, instead of individual schools, while working to maintain the choices to better the financial situation top the concerns of the five candidates hoping to fill three spots on the San Mateo Union High School District Board of Trustees.
Five candidates — Board President Peter Hanley, Vice President Linda Lees Dwyer, Trustee Bob Griffin and challengers Mike Loy and Guadalupe Ortiz — entered the race for three four-year seats on the board. The five candidates congregated at the Daily Journal offices Thursday to discuss issues facing the district.
Although the district is in a relatively good place financially, it has faced a number of challenges in recent years. The budget is at the crux of many district issues — massive mid-year budget cuts, refinancing of bonds, extending the number of periods offered to students daily, protests by teachers and students and working with three different superintendents during it all. More recently, the topics centered on finding new revenue via a parcel tax. Examining such a tax is one of the goals put forward by Superintendent Scott Laurence.
Candidates’ opinions varied on the topic.
Griffith and Hanley noted it would need to be vetted through surveying first, but were in favor of it in general. Ortiz supported the idea as an excellent way to create a steady revenue stream. Lees Dwyer is in favor, but not right away. The district has millions in bond money currently at work. She thought it should be spent first. Loy felt a parcel tax should be a last resort noting many constituents were still upset at the district.
While not everyone favored the parcel tax right away, they each had a plan as to how funds from a successful parcel tax could be used: Academics and extracurricular activities.
Hanley would fund programs like athletics, drama and art while dedicating the funds it opened up to the seven-period day. Griffin and Lees Dwyer both saw it going toward academics. Lees Dwyer and Ortiz saw using it toward supporting faculty and staff as a great idea. Loy hoped to put extra funds into arts and technology, with an emphasis on bringing vocational opportunities back into the classroom.
Each candidate covered some of the background for the interviews as well:
Twenty-three-year-old Ortiz, the last challenger to enter the race, pointed to her current work with high school students as something that makes her a unique asset to the board. While not a parent, she works with children managing an after-school program at a charter high school in San Jose and acts as the director of academic outreach for the San Mateo Youth Foundation. Working with the students helped her understand how some needs weren’t being met.
Loy, an Aragon graduate and parent, has served on the Aragon PTO for four years, currently as president. For him, it comes down to communication. If given a chance, Loy promised to scrutinize issues without being a yes man.
Incumbents all pointed in some way to wanting to oversee projects currently underway, like the bond projects.
Lees Dwyer, who joined the board in 2005 after serving on the Burlingame Elementary School District Board of Trustees, was notably excited talking about opportunities to be fair when making decisions while having children in mind. She noted beginning her work in education volunteering as a room mom and graduating along with her children to different leadership roles, offered a variety or experiences from which she could draw.
Hanley, first elected in 2001, pointed to his experience on the board and work in education policy as a unique attribute. He hoped to serve another term to ensure Measure M funds are used wisely and projects are finished on time.
Griffin is running for what would be his fifth term. Born and raised in San Mateo, Griffin said his experience in finance and working with construction contracts would be a continued asset to the district. In addition, he described himself as a good listener who is equitable in his decision-making.
