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Five running for three seats in school board race

Original post made on Oct 5, 2012

The Mountain View Whisman School District is poised to hold its first contested election since 2004, with five contenders for three open seats on the district's board of trustees this November.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, October 4, 2012, 3:32 PM

Comments (7)

Posted by Maj. Oversight
a resident of Blossom Valley
on Oct 5, 2012 at 11:16 am

"The print version of this story did not include Christopher Chiang's profile and stated that only four -- not five -- candidates are running."

That's pretty bad.


Posted by Cuesta Park Mom
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Oct 5, 2012 at 3:17 pm

I think the whole corrected article with the 5 candidates should be printed next week.


Posted by @ Chiang
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Oct 5, 2012 at 5:06 pm

Do you know that MVWSD already has a poll for parents to answer what they like and what needs to be changed at their schools?

And, do you know that Google and Microsoft and other companies have contributed greatly already to our school district and our educational foundation to help schools and students?


Posted by Steven Nelson
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Oct 5, 2012 at 8:32 pm

Survey - now, let us try to dig through the loads of 'scanned in images' and find where those darn reports are! There must be a pony somewhere in here! (if you get the idea)

EDITOR, somehow there were two FORUM threads created fro this one article. (Mea culpa)


Posted by Christopher Chiang
a resident of Shoreline West
on Oct 5, 2012 at 10:56 pm

Thank you @chiang for highlighting important issues. In reply, yes we do collect data, but are we making full use of our data?

Our schools are primarily judged based on their annual API score, which is simply a calculation of the standardized tests. Test scores are an important data set, as are annual surveys.

Yet, the API is part of how we grade our schools, and surveys are not. Nor is any data on our children’s ability to problem solve, innovate, work in teams, control their emotions, or learn free of bullying or other aggressive culture part of our schools' "grade." All of which contribute to a child’s lifelong success. We need to align our metrics with our values.

In New York City where I used to teach, school survey data is very public event.
Example: Web Link
The data is part of how each school is “graded.”
Example: Web Link

Your second question, I'm a Google Certified Teacher and Microsoft Innovative Educator, yes, I'm aware companies like them do already donate to our schools. My belief is that we can get deeper partnerships if rather than asking for just money, we presented them with a plan for bold entrepreneurial initiatives that leverage all their assets, and resonate with the shared belief in investing in human capital.

In Singapore, they recruit the best to be principals, and send their new principals on clinical studies of organizations around the world, visiting leading schools or leading private businesses. We can get more than checks and guest speakers, but a sharing of best practices.

To learn more about Singapore's school leadership development, an excerpt of a concise Dan Rather report:
Web Link

As a teacher, I cherish these questions and comments as learning experiences. I thank you for them and I welcome more of them (be it publicly or privately).


Posted by Steven Nelson
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Oct 6, 2012 at 11:59 am

Chris has been kind enough to share the "Dan Rather: videos with some of us candidates as he has attempted to engage us in "outside our box" thinking. There is also a very interesting video on Finland (as he also mentions in his campaign literature). Unfortunately - this current Board does not think to include 'citizen workshops' in it's engagement of our community. There were only 4 public ("Open & Public") workshops for the $423 million Facilities Plan (please read the Voice endorsement of "Measure G" carefully). If the MVWSD only rises to public/Board/administrator workshops on issues above $100,000,000, Chris's vision is dead in the water! [one way "informercials" are not engagement Mr. Goldman]

SN is also a candidate for MVWSD Board (but hey, I got in the paper)


Posted by 2012 Voter
a resident of Jackson Park
on Nov 1, 2012 at 12:51 pm

I'm not voting for anyone who works for the Irvine Company. They're only concern is development. I should know...I grew up in Irvine where they've developed every square inch of land. It's very sad what happened down there.


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