By Sara Ballenger

Teachers back incumbents

The Los Altos Teachers Association (LATA) is putting its support behind the incumbents in the Nov. 6 Los Altos School Board election, as reported to the Board of Trustees at its Sept. 24 meeting.

“I don’t think we have done this before,” said Laura Bence, LATA president. “We are going into new territory, with more political activity.”

LATA is taking its lead from the California Teachers Association (CTA), which encourages teachers associations to support candidates who have been supportive of their home districts.

The CTA offers funds to teachers associations to give in support of candidates. LATA will donate money from its own budget as well as CTA funds to the incumbents’ campaigns. The exact amount of money was not available at press time.

“If you have a school board that has been working for you, you want to keep those members involved,” Bence said. “Especially now with all that’s going on in Los Altos with the facilities. It’s important to keep things moving.”

There is only one challenger, William Cooper, in the upcoming election running against three incumbents, Jay Thomas, Victor M. Reid III and Duane Roberts. LATA’s support of incumbents is not meant as a slight against Cooper, Bence said.

“Teachers in our district know this is a district where they will be treated respectfully as professionals,” said Marge Gratiot, superintendent. “LATA’s endorsement of our three experienced incumbents, who represent the community as a whole, shows their support and appreciation for this cooperative relationship.”