Race at a Glance: Mountain View Whisman school board

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Eight candidates are vying for three seats on the Mountain View Whisman School District’s board of trustees – one of the largest fields of contenders in recent memory. With no incumbents running for the five-member board, it’s certain that newcomers will hold a majority of seats on the board after this November’s election.

Candidates have weighed in on a wide array of topics in the school district, including reading curriculum, support for special education students, addressing disparities in academic achievement and offering students mental health resources.

The district has also been involved in a number of recent controversies, which have become topics of debate in the school board race. These include contentious negotiations with the city of Mountain View over splitting tax revenue; six-figure contracts for leadership coaching, public relations and staff meditation; and a plan to reduce middle school elective periods that was ultimately scrapped in the face of opposition.

To help inform voters about where the candidates stand on the various topics in this race, the Voice sent the candidates a detailed questionnaire. See below for their side-by-side responses. (Note: Candidate Nancy Mize did not respond).

Also, check out the rest of our election coverage, including profiles of each candidate and comprehensive coverage of campaign finance for this race.