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None of the three incumbents whose terms on Mountain View Whisman’s school board expire this year plan to run for re-election, meaning that a majority of the five-member board will change with November’s election.
Laura Ramirez Berman, Laura Blakely and Chris Chiang have all confirmed to the Voice that they do not plan to run for another term.
The two remaining trustees, Devon Conley and Bill Lambert, have terms that expire in 2026. However, Conley is running for Mountain View City Council, and if elected, has said she would need to resign from the school board.
The default deadline to file to run for the school board is Friday, Aug. 9. If an incumbent doesn’t file, as is the case here, the window remains open for non-incumbents to sign up until Wednesday, Aug. 14
Blakely told the Voice in an email that she regrets no incumbents are running for re-election and that “it will surely take some time for the new board to find its footing (as it always does when the majority of a board turns over),” but added that everyone has to make the right choice for themselves and their families.
Blakely said that she decided not to run for “purely personal and family reasons.” First elected Mountain View Whisman’s board in 2016, Blakely said she originally planned to only serve for one term, but ran for re-election in 2020 because no other incumbents from her starting year were running.
“It truly has been an honor to serve our community, and I plan to stay actively involved with our local public schools and the students and families who attend them in the coming years,” Blakely said. “I have learned so much from the families, the volunteers, the incredible staff and my colleagues and I hope to continue doing so. I love our extraordinary Mountain View community. “
She noted several district accomplishments she’s proud of from her time on the board, including naming a new elementary school after Jose Antonio Vargas and renaming Huff Elementary School after Amy Imai.
Berman similarly told the Voice in an email that she has been honored to serve on the board and is proud of what they’ve been accomplished, including reopening schools coming out of COVID-19 and implementing programs to support students’ academic and social-emotional needs, as well as shifting literacy curriculum and working on environmental initiatives.
“I have deeply appreciated having a front row seat to the work of the amazing teachers, leaders, staff and families in the Mountain View Whisman School District,” said Berman, who was first elected in 2020. “Their dedication to our students is truly inspiring.”
Both Berman and Blakely also cited the district’s work to construct affordable staff housing as a particular point of pride.
Chiang is also not running for re-election, and has already left the board. He announced in May that he planned to move to Redwood City and would therefore be resigning his seat. Chiang formally submitted his resignation on Friday, Aug. 9, following confusion in recent days about whether he was still serving on the board. Chiang had earlier announced plans to move around the end of June, but said that his move was delayed.
Chiang told the Voice that he hopes the three vacancies encourage community members to run and pay attention to the board race. He described the election as a particularly important one, with substantial issues for the board to decide.
“It’s exciting. It’s a whole new majority,” Chiang said. “I think that there should be … a lot of energy and interest towards this election”
Chiang has expressed concerns about the district’s tense relationship with the city of Mountain View, and particularly its failure to reach an agreement with the city over splitting millions of dollars from a special tax district.
Prospective candidates have until Wednesday, Aug. 14, to file the necessary documents with the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters office to run.
For more information on running, visit the Registrar of Voters website.
Two people who will not participate in the future effects and evaluations of the chief administrator (Superintendent Rudolph) have decided to not be further responsible for him! Interesting, since they voted ‘chains’ on the future Board for his next 4 years of salary and benefits – and revision increase of his unusual home financing Benefit (through the District).
And the one Trustee, who voted to not accept ‘those particular chains’, will also not be able to participate. Hope Trustee Chiang was not “cutoff” from his official office holder email account earlier than his official last day in office (my @mvwsd.org email was truncated by Superintendent Rudolph about a week before my official term ended / water under That Bridge).
It’s a tough job. Especially when you have a fellow board member that doesn’t make logical sense.
@Ramirez.
Is that any relation to Laura RAMIREZ Berman, the Trustee?
I do not think that the Laura I slightly know, would particularly want to be closely associated with the @”Ramirez” that is now so often posting on educational matters here!
— We are stuck with our close and Far Removed relations however.
Peace and Love and some introspection…