San Mateo-Foster City trustee steps down

Chin was first appointed to the board in March 2018 before winning the race for his seat the following year and winning reelection in 2022. His current term would have ended in 2024 but Chin said he’s stepping down to focus on his family.

His decision to leave in October is also meant to give the district enough time to select a replacement before the board rotates leadership in December when Chin would have been up for president. During a meeting this Thursday, the board will consider whether to appoint a replacement or let voters choose a new representative during a special election.

“Ken is a wonderful school board member, parent, and friend. He treats others with respect and has always been focused on the work of a being a school trustee. I and many others admire what he has accomplished as a trustee. SMFCSD is going to miss him,” Superintendent Diego Ochoa said in an email.

Reflecting on his time with the district, Chin said he takes pride in the work he’s helped do with the community, his fellow trustees and district leadership. When he was first appointed, the district was deficit spending but has since become financially stable while providing staff with pay increases and pursuing a number of redevelopment projects across its campuses including new gyms and fields.

A key win, Chin said, were new heating, cooling and ventilation systems installed across the district after teachers began to complain about severe heat in classrooms. That work was done before the COVID-19 pandemic and smoke from historic wildfires challenged districts across the state. That construction work is of particular interest to Chin who said he plans to stay on the board through October when a construction update is expected to be held.

Chin also served as president during the peak of the pandemic when students transitioned to at-home learning. The change was a challenging one, Chin said, noting the board would often stay up late into the evening during public meetings to hear out the concerns of the public. The transition back to in-person learning came with challenges as well, he noted, as districts have to frequently pivot to remain in alignment with health and safety guidelines.

“It was really hard, but I was glad I was there to help, glad I was there and in the middle of it to help out,” Chin said, calling the experience both his biggest challenge and biggest reward.

Improving student outcomes, particularly following the pandemic and with equity in mind, was also a top concern on which Chin said he was proud to work. In addition to implementing targeted learning programs, the district has adopted a system to help teachers dive deeper into student performance data. Officials have also substantially increased the number of counselors they have on campus to help students and faculty address mental health concerns.

As for the future of the district, Chin put his full confidence behind his colleagues and administrators. He’ll remain connected to the district as a parent with two children attending Borel Middle School.

“The past six years have been a major roller coaster but I’ve loved it all,” Chin said. “I never went in thinking I’d be involved in so much but I’m really proud of the district and what we’ve been able to accomplish, the community, the board, the district. It wasn’t just me.”