Education experts wanted Education experts wanted (April 30, 2004)

Three school board seats up for grabs in November election

By Julie O'Shea

Prospective candidates for the Mountain View-Whisman school board race will get plenty of opportunities to hear what it takes to be a trustee during a series of presentations set to begin next month.

Superintendent Jim Negri and current board members plan to visit PTA and school site council meetings in May to raise awareness about the three open seats in this fall's election. The board is also planning to host an informational night within the coming weeks for interested community members. No dates have been set yet.

In addition, the Santa Clara County chapter of the California School Boards Association will take questions during a presentation set for May 22 at the San Jose United Way Office.

Longtime board members Rose Filicetti and Carol Fisher announced they won't seek re-election in November. However, Gloria Higgins, who was elected two years ago to fill a vacant seat, said she plans to run again.

As of last Friday, no other potential board candidates have stepped forward, although Negri said he has talked to at least five community members interested in a possible election bid. He declined to disclose their names, saying the conversations had taken place in confidence.

The Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District will also hold a board election for two seats this fall. Trustees Phil Faillace and Susan Sweeley both said they plan to seek re-election and likely will run unopposed.

The filing period for the Nov. 2 election opens in mid-July and runs until mid-August.

"I take the word 'trustee' very seriously," said Filicetti, who was first elected in 1994 and is currently acting as board president. "I think our children's education is one of the most important aspects of the community," she added, explaining why she began volunteering in the school district.

"I came up through the PTA," Filicetti said. "I think it's good preparation."

While Negri agreed that PTA and booster clubs are good training grounds for a spot on the school board, it's not a prerequisite, and he thinks there won't be a short supply of qualified candidates.

"I'm not expecting a vacuum," Negri said. "The board has made a commitment to make sure there is quality candidates."

Both Filicetti and Negri emphasized that while a potential candidate might be the parent of children at one particular school, trustees must look at what's best for the entire district.

"You have to care about the academic achievement of all students," Filicetti said.

The Mountain View-Whisman school board -- responsible for instituting policy and hiring the superintendent -- holds two regular meetings a month but often schedules additional meetings or study sessions to discuss various issues. Also, each trustee acts as a liaison to two of the district's nine campuses, attends multiple school functions a year and participates on various site committees and panels.

A trustee is an elected, volunteer position. However, each board member is paid a $240 monthly stipend for their time. Filicetti said she spends about 20 hours a week on school board-related issues.

"What we don't want to do is scare off people who have a full-time job," Negri said. "You can work a full-time job and still be on the school board."

Filicetti said her time on the board has been "the most satisfying volunteer opportunity that I've had." She's retiring this year, she said, in order to spend more time with her family. She is sending her oldest child to college this fall.

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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