Saratoga News
News
Incumbent to face four challengers as the high school board race begins
By Michele Tjin
School is back in session, but some community volunteers are looking ahead to November. This fall, an incumbent will face four opponents as they vie for three seats on the board of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District.
The contest in the high school district will be the only one Saratoga residents will be deciding. There will not be an election for the elementary district, the Saratoga Union School District, as there were only three candidates who filed for the three open seats.
In the high school district, incumbent Cynthia Chang will run for her third term as a trustee. Chang said as a seasoned member of the board, she would have the ability to lend her experiences during a time when the district is changing administrators. Currently, trustees are in the process of selecting candidates for the superintendent's position.
"It's a critical transition period," Chang said.
Chang, a CPA from Saratoga, said while the district does a good job of preparing students academically, she would like to see more emphasis on emotional and physical health. "We want our kids to be well-prepared for whatever challenge they may face in the future, but we want also our kids to be happy," she said.
Bill Chiocchi, of Los Gatos, spent five years as a trustee on the Loma Prieta Joint Union School District. He is interested in serving on the high school board so he can contribute to his community, he said.
"This is strictly wanting to do something to further public education because we believe in it," he said.
Chiocchi commended the current board on how it oversaw construction work at the two high schools and how it is looking for a new superintendent. He said he doesn't foresee any drastic changes in the next four years for the board and added that hiring the best possible teachers is key for the district.
"My philosophy is that you can take a phenomenal teacher in a tent and be way more effective than a so-so teacher in a state-of-the-art school," said Chiocchi, who works as a marketing consultant in the high tech field.
Steven Patrick Kahl is the only candidate who is not a parent. The Los Gatos resident has been a high school teacher for 23 years and teaches English at Mountain View High School. He also mentors a class of students who are the first generation in their families to be college-bound. Kahl is an expert in professional development for teachers, he said.
"I have a background in what it takes to make a good school district great," he said. "It's about supporting teachers and making sure they have the best training to improve their skills."
Kahl said a few areas he is interested in are providing students with character education so they know how to make good choices and making sure that they understand why they are learning what they are learning. He believes a teacher's voice is an important perspective to have on the board of trustees.
"When people donate time to public service, they help out where they live, not just where they work," he said.
Kahl also ran in 2004 for a seat on the high school board.
Los Gatos resident Roger Mason said he'd like to serve as a trustee simply to give back to his community. Previously, he served on the school site council at Blossom Hill Elementary School and coached youth sports teams. Currently, he sits on the grants committee of the New Millennium Foundation and is a member of the Los Gatos Lions Club.
"It's an altruistic pleasure," said Mason of being on the high school board.
One issue that Mason said was important is maintaining the different cultures at Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools.
"The two schools need to maintain their individuality and operate with freedom," he said. "[Teachers] are passionate and go above and beyond the call of duty. They need the freedom to be passionate."
If elected, Michele van Zuiden, of Monte Sereno, sees her service on the board as a natural extension of her involvement with local public schools. She has served on the board of the Los Gatos Educational Foundation and is a current board member of the New Millennium Foundation. She returns for her second campaign for a seat on the high school board. She last ran in 2004.
"This is a natural transition of being involved as a parent and a community member," she said.
Van Zuiden, a business executive in the health care industry and a volunteer child advocate, said she is interested in getting funds to pay for more academic counselors for high school students. Currently, the ratio stands at one counselor for 400 students. Students of all levels would be able to benefit from more counseling, she said.
In the Saratoga elementary school district, incumbent Michael Gipe will be joined by newcomers Pragati Grover and Jack Chang, both parents. Grover, a community volunteer, has been active at Redwood Middle School and Argonaut Elementary School. Chang, a high-tech business executive, has founded three companies, has been involved with the PTA at Redwood and with Junior Achievement, a program that introduces business concepts to students.
