By ANDREW SPRINGMEYER
I remember, when I was teaching at Cupertino High School, how hard the teachers and parents worked on the curriculum- and school-redesign effort there. I was able to attend functions where the strategies and implementation of the redesign effort were talked about and perfected. I do not recall seeing a board member at those meetings. Yet, both incumbents seem to intimate that they had some direct relation to it. In their campaign literature, both of them claim credit for the National Blue Ribbon School award received by Cupertino High School. In their campaign literature, both of them also claim credit for our five district high schools receiving California Distinguished School awards. But who really did all this? Was this the result of board membership?
Who prepares our students in a comprehensive educational program that enables them to score high in standardized national testing? Who prepares our students to perform at incredibly high levels in Future Business Leaders of America, speech and debate clubs, instrumental music bands and orchestras, choirs, art exhibitions, and so many other endeavors? Is this the result of board membership?
I do not understand Nancy Newton's apparent suggestion that this credit belongs to a board member for having " set high academic standards for all students."
I agree more with Mr. Homer Tong that we should "salute the many caring community members who support our schools." However, that does not go far enough. I am surprised that Mr. Tong did not recognize what appears to be an oversight in his campaign statement. Mr. Tong is a teacher, and he never mentioned teachers in his campaign statement.
Are the teachers "caring community members who support our schools?" You bet! Are the functions of our teachers directly responsible for the excellence we cherish in the Fremont Union High School District? I think so.
I agree with something that both Mr. Otis Halliday (the newcomer) and Mr. Tong stated in their campaign literature. Mr. Halliday stated: "Nothing is more important than providing the best possible education for our students." Mr. Tong stated: "Students are our future. They need our investment, support and commitment." So where is the "investment, support and commitment" from the district toward our teachers, who are front line to our students?
I think we need two people on the board who can offer "investment, support and commitment" to the local treasure we somehow seem to have overlooked--the teachers. Our teachers meet our students and make them the best they can be. Should we invest, support and commit to our teachers commensurate to the excellence they produce?
Both Otis Halliday and Homer Tong have stated (respectively) they will "deal with employees as valuable assets" by "ensuring our staff is well-compensated."
For those of you long out of school and wishing to leave the thoughts of teachers aside, think of this in the business world. What would you pay a manager with 150 subordinates working on five distinct projects and responsible for at least one unrelated out-of-office business function? Add to this scenario that this manager must produce a critical product that will affect the quality of life of everything around the product. Add to this scenario that this manager will produce a product that is recognized on a national and state level for excellence against all similar products. What would you pay this manager?
Andrew Springmeyer is a member of the Fremont Union High School District Board of Trustees.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, October 30, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.