Posted by Marti, a resident of the Martens-Carmelita neighborhood, on Jul 6, 2012 at 3:14 pm

My many thanks to Steve Olson, Ed Bailey and Fiona Walter on their service to our school district and to our community.... You are leaving the school districe doing well. Many Thanks!

Posted by Steven Nelson, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Jul 7, 2012 at 9:35 am

There are many things that Mr. Olson has contributed as a board member, and current President. It is indeed a large commitment to this type of position (also the HS Board and the City Council). Several of the members on these government bodies have essentially made community service in-lieu of full-time employment commitments. I personally know Walter, Wheeler, and Mitchner (schools) and Siegal and Bryant (city) have made this commitment.

Stephen stepped up to run (2008), even though he has a full-time job in finance at Stanford. IMO, it was much better to have a 'stand up' rather than an appointed member. The problem with appointment? Board members tend to appoint those who 'think like themselves'. A 'team'. But look at Penn State athletics - or the dire administrative problems at Woodside and Portola schools to see some of the pitfalls of 'team thinking'.

I like my local democracy lively with ideas - have you been to one of our wonderful city council meetings lately! What a great standard of lively discussion, new ideas, compromise, and open community input (how many citizens does it take to do an environmental plan - or a Rengstorff Park plan?)

Posted by Tom, a resident of the North Whisman neighborhood, on Jul 8, 2012 at 6:58 pm

You've got my vote Mr. Nelson.

Posted by Rene, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2012 at 6:37 pm

Some board members run for school board just while their kids are in schools in the district so they can put pressure on the system to get their kids the best treatment. I'm not sure how much it is actually about the schools and the community. It's politics after all.