Newcomers: Schools need communication

Incumbents Mark Olbert and Beth Hunkapiller will face off against newcomers Lorene Lederer and Carrie Du Bois.

Olbert, 50, is retired but used to be a financial executive at the corporate level. Olbert looks to achieve three things: openness, accountability and community. Since joining the board he has used his personal Web site to post information for the community - that's the "openness" he refers to in his three-pronged message.

"People really distrust what they don't know. Many people didn't know what the board was up to and what they did. Quite a number of people still don't. With education in California we basically need all the support we can get. We can't count on Sacramento. We need community support," Olbert said.

Hunkapiller, 56, has been on the board for 12 years. She is a former educator and has held a position on the advisory board for the state Board of Education.

"I've really always been interested in the quality of schooling," Hunkapiller said.

She would like to see the focus stay on the budget, curriculum and fund-raising in the district. But would also like to see communication with the public improve. She said she in interested in "the quality of the partnership" with the public.

Du Bois, 47, is a real estate agent with two children in school. She has been president and co-president of the educational foundation for three years, a member for four.

"I would like to continue to improve our fundraising model, because our schools are in such dire financial situations. I'm also really interested in how we communicate as a district. We haven't been able to clearly articulate the vision," Du Bois said.

Lederer is a graphic designer with twin boys in middle school. She is the Scrip coordinator at Central Middle School. Scrip is a fund-raising program to get local and national businesses to support schools while the schools pledge support of the merchant in exchange. Since becoming coordinator, Lederer has tripled the school's earnings.

"The board is in a position of leadership to provide direction, including talking openly with parents and educators in our district and the community. The board is there to be a catalyst," Lederer said.

She said she is very aware of how to make a dollar stretch to allow for the maximum benefit for quality education.

"Whatever that means, that's the focus. Is this the wisest investment for our students?" Lederer said.

Besides communication, there is a bond issue on the ballot to consider.

Measure E would allow the district to issue $38 million in bonds at interest rates to make specific repairs and improvements at each of the San Carlos School District's six campuses. Repairs would include classroom renovations, repair and upgrade of roofs, electrical, plumbing, heating, sewers and other major systems and construction of new classrooms at the Tierra Linda campus.

Olbert is for Measure E although he questioned whether this was the right time to come to the public for the money. Hunkapiller and Du Bois are also for the measure, while Lederer said she needs more information before taking a stand.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.