Gerry-Why I am Running for School Board

In my view this election will set the tone for the future direction of the Sunol Glen School.  If you believe that the school should continue to grow (facilities, staff salaries and class sizes) and its main focus is on inter-district transfers, you should vote for the incumbents.  If on the other hand you want to (as much as possible) preserve the small school atmosphere, small class sizes and fair but not exorbitant administration salaries you should vote for Diane and myself.

Sunol Glen should be very proud of this year’s API score of 909 but there’s a danger in reading too much into this.  We are a very small school and just a few very bright or a few below grade level students can make a big difference in the API score.  I believe the API’s are important but it’s not the most important part of a child’s educational experience.  I would also note that there are 48 elementary and middle schools in Alameda County with higher test scores than Sunol.  So boasting that we are number 2 in the county is misleading the community.  See:  http://api.cde.ca.gov/AcntRpt2010/2010GrthAPICo.aspx?cSelect=01,ALAMEDA&c=R

We have 4 intelligent and caring candidates but we have a fundamental difference in philosophy.  In the past (as an 8 year board member) I tried to do what I could to optimize the size of the school.  It’s very challenging to find the balance between small class sizes, staff and teacher salaries, optimal facility use and equipment, books and technology that create a best possible environment for learning.    We have great community school support unlike any other district in the county!  That along with parents who go out of their way to volunteer at the school makes being a part of Sunol Glen unique.

If I’m elected I will do what I can to return the school to an optimal size of 200-220 students.  I will also do everything possible to insure that no class is greater than 25 students.  This will be achieved through attrition so that any inter-district transfer family currently enrolled will be allowed to remain and enroll any younger siblings wanting to come to Sunol Glen.  Additionally I want to do whatever I can to increase the use of technology and the internet in the classroom.  More than ever today’s students need to be computer and internet savvy.

Some of my past accomplishments

1996 to 2004 Trustee, Sunol Glen School.          

Silicon Valley Charity Ball.  Founder and President of this all volunteer organization. 

Raised over $5,000,000 for senior's and children's charities in Silicon Valley.  The most successful

event of it's kind in Northern California.

1989 - American Leadership Forum.  One of twenty executives and community leaders

selected for the Founding class of the Silicon Valley Chapter.  Subsequent classes included several prominent CEO's.

1989 to 1995 -Valley Medical Center Hospital Foundation. Chairperson of the County Hospital Foundation Board.

1996 - Commendations from Santa Clara County and the cities of Santa Clara and San Jose, acknowledging  10 years of exemplary community service.

1991 - Resolution of Commendation, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

1989 - Citizens award from Santa Clara County Medical Association.

1989 - NSFRE "Volunteer Fund-raiser of the Year."