By Bruce Barton
 Dick Henning, far left, moderated the discussion by the panel of seven candidates vying for three seats on the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees last week. Seated, from left, are Mark Goines, Francis La Poll, David Luskin, David Pefley, David Struthers, Kitty Uhlir and Bruce Wiener. |
The seven candidates competing for three of the five seats on the Los Altos School District board were on their best behavior Oct. 18 in the Los Altos High School Eagle Theater as they attempted to distinguish themselves from the crowded field.
With Dick Henning of the Celebrity Forum Speaker Series serving as moderator, candidates participating in the Los Altos-Mountain View PTA Council’s forum stressed their qualifications. Each weighed in on the district’s most controversial issue, co-existence with Bullis Charter School. None of the candidates is an incumbent.
Candidates Mark Goines, David Luskin, David Pefley and Francis La Poll stressed their involvement and experience in school matters and, in the case of Goines, Pefley and La Poll, their financial skills.
Goines, a high-tech executive who has served as co-chairman of the district’s Citizens Advisory Committee for Finance, said, “I understand the system that finances our schools.”
Meanwhile, La Poll, a former Los Altos councilman, said, “I am the only candidate with experience in public finance and governance.” He stressed reducing class sizes to benefit students and teachers.
Pefley, a chief financial officer, also highlighted his strong management skills and involvement in the schools as chairman of the fund-raising committee for the Los Altos Educational Foundation.
Luskin, a marketing executive, has noted grass-roots involvement as a site councilmember at his children’s Loyola School and hours in the classroom helping students.
Bruce Wiener, a realtor, said he knows full well the impact of schools on Los Altos. “They buy here because of the schools. It is the first question I am often asked,” he said.
David Struthers, a retired college math professor and Los Altos Hills resident, said he ran because of a perceived lack of candidates and to help resolve the charter dispute. He noted previous involvement at Los Altos High, where he was “instrumental in getting advanced placement calculus.”
Kathryn “Kitty” Uhlir, who worked for PG&E on regulatory issues, said she comes from the unique position of being a mother of a child at Covington Elementary School and the only woman running. She has suggested programs that focus on developing the whole child and praised individualized attention given to students at district schools. “We are truly fortunate to have so many enrichment programs at our schools,” she said.
La Poll provided the only small commotion at the forum in response to a question on whether the district and the charter school can find middle ground. After Luskin said, “I think the healing can begin with Bullis Charter School and the district,” La Poll replied, “Mr. Luskin - you have been a major opponent (of the charter school).” He expressed optimism, however, that Luskin appeared to be changing his stance on the charter. Luskin later said his job as a board member would be to “calmly gather all the facts” before making decisions.
Moderator Henning provided the biggest laugh of the night when La Poll quoted “fire all the lawyers” from Shakespeare in response to healing the rift between the district and the charter. Henning corrected La Poll, noting Shakespeare said, “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers. ” La Poll is an attorney.
While the candidates agreed charter and district supporters should have a cooperative relationship, Uhlir said the Bullis-Purissima school site “should be preserved for use by district students.” Wiener observed casually, “If Sun (Microsystems) and Microsoft can make alliances, then the district and charter school can and should.” Goines added, “We have to put rhetoric aside and move on. I believe we can - that means compromise on both sides.”
For more on each of the candidates, visit www.smartvoter.org.
