At times there is a need for new energy to an elected office, and at other times there is a need to retain experience and know-how. For the District 1 seat on the San Mateo County Board of Education, there is a chance to retain experience and know-how while also keeping a good amount of energy in voting for incumbent Susan Alvaro.
While her energy isn’t new, its certainty continues. Alvaro has served on the board for 24 years and, in that time, has proven herself to be a positive influence on the lives of countless youth and their families who use the county’s court schools. She points to her experience in improving educational opportunities for those temporarily incarcerated and one of her primary accomplishments, along with her historical perspective on the work of the Board of Education.
That work may be a mystery for many, but it boils down to court and community schools, special education, instructional services and overall support for the county’s school districts while also acting as a liaison between San Mateo County and the state Department of Education.
Having someone well-versed in those divisions while also keeping up a high amount of energy is a tremendous benefit to those in this county’s education community. Alvaro fits that bill.
Her challenger, Brandon Kwan, has a couple of years of experience on the Midcoast Community Council, an advisory board to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. His ideas of improved operations, giving educators more authority and providing apprenticeships are valid, but certainly not new. He suggests he would bring change and new leadership to the board, but the board seems to be working just fine as it is with the right amount of expertise, know-how, experience and innovation already. Alvaro adds to that already successful mix and there is no reason to make a change just for the sake of change — especially when the collective whole would be diminished.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.