Race is on in Belmont-Redwood Shores

Incumbents tout their success establishing positive momentum for one of area’s high achieving districts, while challengers suggest more can be done to improve transparency and implement creative programs.

Bhopale, first elected in 2013, nodded to her helping the district establish firmer financial footing as a primary accomplishment over her four years on the school board.

“I feel we are moving in the right direction,” said Bhopale, who was on the board when the district passed this summer a $118 parcel tax designed to bolster a budget otherwise thin from a lack of state revenue. Had the tax not passed, officials suggested they made have needed to cut as much as $5 million to balance the budget.

Northrup credited her experience helping lead the tax campaign as inspiration for her decision seek election, and said she discovered during her time building support for the measure a disconnect between the district and the community.

“The residents who don’t have elementary or school-aged children, we need to do a better job of reaching out to them,” she said, with hopes that improved communication will ease the district’s path for future tax initiatives.

The district has sought a series of tax measures over recent years, as officials scrambled to accommodate the ongoing stream of new students flowing into the district.

The district’s enrollment jumped from 2,616 students in 2008 to 4,300 students this year, stretching an already thin budget even further as state officials encourage local districts to look for community financing to fill funding gaps.

Officials have said local tax initiatives are especially important in the Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary School District due to the limited amount of students who require additional financial support from the state budget.

Passi, who was appointed when former trustee Chuck Velschow stepped down, said she believes the district has done a good job of administering taxpayer dollars to assuring there are adequate classrooms for the growing student body.

“I think the district has been doing really well,” said Passi, who credited the district’s decision to switch demographers to a firm with more accurate projections as a key piece of the ability to better manage enrollment growth.

Koo concurred, and while suggesting the district needs to keep a close eye on enrollment trends, said another concern is assuring there are enough quality teachers to fill the additional classrooms.

She said maintaining competitive salaries will be a key piece of attracting new teachers, but suggested creative initiatives such as launching a home loan program for staff in collaboration with a nonprofit as a way to keep top talent.

“Our retention efforts need work,” said Koo, who also was elected in 2013.

Solorzano agreed there is room for improvement in the district, particularly in the curriculum available to students. For her part, she said establishing an immersion language program would be an asset for students to stay competitive in a modern learning environment.

She said building language skills among young learners will help them become more empathetic and understanding of others, which ultimately will improve their foundation for school and life.

“I think people from the U.S. are behind on that and we have a very diverse community here, so I think [students] should be able to get along with other cultures without expecting them to comply to our culture,” she said.

Su agreed more could be done by the district, especially addressing the social and emotional well-being of students in an area where housing costs and the quality of life concerns are driving stressors for the school community.

“They have all the good intentions but there is definitely room for improvement, and that’s why I want to be part of the solution,” he said.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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