Five vie for two open school seats

Finances and community outreach topped the issues five candidates vying for two openings on the Millbrae Elementary School District Board of Trustees discussed during interviews last night.

Two vacancies need to be filled on the five-person board, one after the passing of John Lynch, the other for the recent resignation of Bob Miller. Five candidates applied for the Lynch opening unaware of Miller’s resignation, which took effect late last week. Given the timing, rather than appointing someone to Lynch’s seat, the board interviewed all five candidates last night. Two people will be appointed during a special meeting Monday, Feb. 2.

Last night truly served as an introduction of the five applicants. Each were given the same seven questions, most about general background. All five applicants agreed finances were the number one issue facing the district at this time.

Andre Guiulfo, a former Millbrae student and aide for the late U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, added community involvement to the mix. Growing that and maintaining teachers, he said, are also important issues facing the district.

Guiulfo, 19, pointed to having two young siblings in the district as one reason he will bring a unique perspective to the board. He graduated from Mills High School in 2007 and currently attends both Skyline College and the College of San Mateo with plans to double major in economics and international relations. Guiulfo works with the Department of Justice in the Executive Office for Immigration Review in San Francisco. He described the great education he received but did not fully take advantage of while attending school in Millbrae. If given the chance, Guiulfo expressed interest to ensure other children had the same opportunities he had.

Increasing community involvement was one thing Guiulfo felt the board could do better.

For D. Don Revelo, a parent of two children at Lomita Park Elementary, curriculum was also an important factor for creating a successful district.

Self-described as organized, Revelo began volunteering at Lomita Park to help projects his wife began to spruce up the grounds. He has also worked as an auditor for the Parent Teacher Association. For Revelo, it was important for the right person to be selected even if that were not he. Revelo was also recently appointed to the district Budget Advisory Committee.

Jay Price, a seven-year resident, is also a member of the BAC. For him, the budget problem extended to oversight both locally and nationally. In addition, the bond measure will require major oversight.

Price and his wife Lisa have two children within Meadows Elementary and a 2-year-old who will be in the future. Price, 43, works as the assistant treasurer for a company in San Francisco. He began getting involved with the district through the recent parcel tax and bond measure. Price is on the PTA, acts as the Millbrae Education Foundation treasurer, was recently appointed to the district’s Budget Advisory Committee and recently selected to serve on the Bond Oversight Committee.

For Charles Watson, it was the combination of finances and maintaining test scores that topped important issues.

Watson, 44, and his wife Susi are the parents of two girls at Spring Valley Elementary with executive managerial experience from the private sector. Admittedly, Watson does not have extensive background knowledge of the district but wanted to guarantee his girls had a wonderful educational experience. He served on the school site council for two years, briefly was a member of the PTA, volunteers on campus and has coached a local soccer team for six years. Watson was honest about his concerns over meeting the time commitment. Moving forward, Watson was an advocate of more transparency in all aspects of the district.

Jeff Steinberg pointed to retaining teachers and morale behind finances as the top challenges facing the district. Steinberg, 46, grew up in the area. He has two boys, one at Meadows and one who will soon follow. Steinberg was a teacher at Capuchino High School for 14 years. Currently he serves on the nonprofit Sojourn to the Past, which he founded. The organization takes teens on trips to the South to learn about civil rights. His job does require him to travel for 10-day periods throughout the year, which put the time option at question.

The district considered a special election, however the estimated $70,000 price tag was prohibitive, explained Board President Caroline Shea. Instead both appointed will serve through December, at which point either can run for re-election.

John Lynch was re-elected for his fourth term on the Millbrae Elementary School District Board of Trustees in 2007. Bob Miller’s term was up later this year. In November, either has the option to run for re-election. At that time, Miller’s seat will be up for the full four-year term. A two-year seat to fill the remainder of Lynch’s term will also be on the ballot.

The board will meet 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2 in the Chetcuti Room at Millbrae City Hall, 621 Magnolia Ave.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.