I’m a retired software engineer and current LASD Board Member who is passionate about educating all of our kids and committed to making the best use of our resources.
The first priority for LASD must be ongoing support for our students, teachers, staff, and families.
The last two and a half years have been some of the most difficult in decades. The mental health impacts have been tremendous, and the overwhelming demand for counseling and treatment have left many in an ongoing struggle. The LASD Board has dramatically increased funding for on-campus counselors and staff wellness resources this school year, but full recovery will require years of focus and effort.
We must invest in our school facilities.
As Board President in 2020, I spearheaded the effort to finalize our Facilities Master Plan and move forward with significant facilities upgrades. Unfortunately, the all-consuming effort required to respond to the pandemic forced those efforts to be put on hold. Now that we have come through the worst of the crisis, we must complete that work and ensure that all students have access to the learning environments they deserve.
Facilities are only one piece of the puzzle.
Los Altos has one of the best school districts in the state, but the high cost of living is an obstacle to attracting and retaining the best teachers. The Board has created or joined a number of creative solutions over the years, such as initiatives to help teachers with down payments and match them with ADUs and other less expensive local options. We have also joined with our neighboring districts in County Supervisor Joe Simitian's teacher housing project in Palo Alto.
All students deserve the chance to excel.
Our community includes students and parents speaking a wide variety of languages. Economically disadvantaged students face more challenges than ever, and there are still too many school programs that have not been fully restored from the cuts made in the last recession. Our community’s resources should be allocated towards providing every student with a solid foundation and the chance to shine.
I will continue to work tirelessly for our entire community.
Over the course of my six years on the board, I have worked to increase transparency and communication by creating a regular set of board member office hours and meeting with dozens of community members on all sorts of issues related to LASD. I believe that making our district the best it can be requires the help and perspectives of all of us, and I look forward to continuing that work for another four years.