I am very mindful that my departure means there are no minorities in Mountain View elected government (nor are there any minorities in Sunnyvale or Palo Alto local government).

Yet, I encourage my former colleagues to choose someone who has the whole district in mind, and not any one particular stakeholder group.

Our district has not so distant past experience with selecting candidates based on their connection to particular groups, and it did not work as well as those trustees imagined it would.

A proper trustee should be able to reach out to any parent or neighborhood, and empathize with their values, and balance representing those interests against the greater goal of providing all children a life changing education.

A school district isn’t Congress, or even our city council, where their powers are over a broad range of life issues, where diversity has a rational piece in ensuring those broader bodies reflect the way of life all residents seek. A public school district is more like a public hospital or public water district, it is a public asset, the most valuable public asset in the city, and as such, the public, no matter their race, economic status, or politics, wants above all else, the schools to run well, as they want water or hospitals to run well. This is not a political board, but a professional board.

Trustee Nelson seems to be behaving more professionally, he has not done anything harmful as he did earlier this month (and the past 3 years), video of an early June meeting: Web Link (4hr7min35sec, so you have a sense of the improvement), and his admission in this article is the first time I have seen him admit his role in the challenges facing our district. I believe the efforts of individuals who have spoken up have had a positive effect on him. This means the board can focus on district issues and not his personal issues. If Trustee Nelson can continue this improvement, that’s a win for children, regardless of not if he stays on-or-off the board.

The greater challenge for Trustee Nelson, that is harder for the public or press to gauge, will be whether he can work with staff respectfully behind the scenes, so that there is no more surprises and frustrations like what was seen with past interim Superintendent Dr. Skelly and our talented construction manager Todd Lee. To the degree staff don't want to work closely with Trustee Nelson denies the entire board proper deliberations, which leads to strange regrettable incidents like that past meeting on construction.

Thanks for your constructive comments, Chris. I hope who ever is brave or crazy enough to take your place can do as good a job of trying to stay positive under extremely challenging circumstances.

And I really really hope you are right that Nelson is changing his tune. I do think he has some good ideas but they are totally obscured by his manner and bullying, to the extent that no one but Coladonato, who is devoid of any such scruples, wants to agree with him.

Thank you Kevin for highlighting the sheer insanity that is the Mountain View Whisman district. My child is starting this year and I have been following along from the sidelines with deep concerns for the future of his education.

My concern stems from the fact that we live in one of what I considered the most progressive areas for diversity. It shows in the businesses we work at and in our shops and parks. Why is it that such ignorance is driving quality educators away from our district. We are allowing this "trustee", who was entrusted with the task of driving growth, set the county back years.

My other concern is the fact that no one is engaged in this situation. Why are the angry parents? Where is the national coverage in social media? Is it that parents are unaware or agree with this man's thoughts?

I wish I had the qualifications to join this council. My only hope is that someone will rise to this challenge and champion the change that is needed.

If you come to the board meetings there have been parents asking for his resignation at the last three meetings. There are lots of people engaged, they are in the audience of most meetings.

Unfortunately, the main qualification needed in a new trustee is being able to "handle" Steven Nelson. To date three President's of the board have been unable to do so. I don't blame them. They didn't run for the board to babysit an ill-behaving, obnoxious know-it-all (known for threatening to sue anyone who stands up to him).

Steven, how do you look at yourself in the mirror knowing that Chris Chiang, a dedicated and kind soul resigned because he couldn't stand being on the board with you any more?

So sad that we have to look for someone to control you rather than someone who would be best for the district.

Maybe Steve Nelson can apply to get that new seat on the board. Then he'll have 2 votes toward getting the training he suggests (for us to pay for) for him to learn how to be a board member.

Has anyone who voted for Nelson published anything in support of him? Didn't think so.

Steven, some of us have children in this district and we'd like adults to watch over their education. In the words of the great Motley Crüe, "Don't go away mad, just go away."

Dear Chris,

It would have been nice if we had been able to discuss issues around board governance, 1:1 at more than one personal meeting, behind the scenes, this year. I found our one meeting, in January, very cordial and useful. You and I have a very different view of local control governance, by elected legislative bodies. I thought, in very early February - that the Board, because of a majority vote - was going to actually get an agenda item to prioritize the Facilities Plan basic goals. It never happened. No Board prioritized Guiding Principals, left Dr. Skelly and his District Facilities Committee, adrift for months. (In My Opinion) (and the Voice's)
I tried to work mightily with Dr. Skelly "behind the scenes" to fix the composition of his appointments to the DFC. I was ignored (OK). I brought the problem up in public, when the Theuerkauf Staff and PTA later complained together - in public at our Board meeting. I both brought the 'assigned Bond $$/no Board vote' up to Dr. Skelly in two different private emails - and at a preliminary Board meeting in a written "amendment" passed to him. My request for "Options" were ignored (OK). I helped forged a 'legislative compromise' on that and the Castro $43M.
But those are just "details." The process going forward will be much more accessible to public scrutiny, early in the process, without "behind the scenes" deals and discussions and decisions. God I hope Dr. Skelly's valiant efforts toward openness-of-process-and-information, becomes the standard for our new top administrators.

respectfully Chris,
steven

@Steven Nelson:

Your message above to Mr. Chiang does none of the rest of us any good, as it does not explain anything! It does provide yet more evidence of your need to always get the last word. I am not sure why you did not just email Mr. Chiang directly. Rightly or not, many of us believe you are personally responsible for the resignation of the wrong Trustee. Since special elections are prohibitively expensive, and we don't need two appointed trustees, please serve the balance of your term so that those whose trust you have violated by your actions can be reminded every day of what a precious thing a vote can be!

Well said. It's become obvious that while Steve Nelson is not the sole reason for the dysfunction in the MV Whisman School District board, he is the main contributor to what ails the board.

So, once again, to Steve Nelson:
RESIGN.
RESIGN.
RESIGN.

NOW!!!

@more than enough

Really leave this man alone. You've made your point enough already. He does have a point sometimes. He was elected now let it go. While your looking at him he's looking right back at you

Oh, I'm sorry -- I didn't realize that I had lost my right to express my opinion.

Or maybe you should just realize that you do NOT have the right to shut me up...

Guess you Steve Nelson supporters need to realize that your man is not as popular as you think he is. [Portion removed due to disrespectful comment or offensive language]

@enough
No need to apologize, to me sir.