Gibson, Reeves, Lucas for school board

Times Editorial Staff, Alameda Times Star, October 31, 2004

Five people are running for three seats on the Alameda School Board this Tuesday. For us, it was particularly difficult to select three candidates to endorse because we're convinced all five would make excellent board members.

So in a very close call, we're endorsing incumbents Janet Gibson and Bob Reeves as well as Karin Lucas, a former three-term Alameda City Council member. We believe Gibson and Lucas will be particularly effective in asking tough questions and improving the school district's communications with teachers, the public and the city.

School district lawsuits against the city over development impact fees and library use haven't helped a strained relationship, and the school board's sometimes aloof behavior has sometimes turned off the very public it needs to help financially strapped schools.We like Gibson because she can champion the needs of teachers but has the fortitude to make personnel cuts if needed to keep the district afloat. She also is candid about the board's need to communicate better with the community and do a better job to narrow academic discrepancies between good and bad schools.

Lucas, a retired attorney, would bring to the board a fiery attitude. She is no one's rubber stamper, and we're convinced she will do all in her power to get the district's superintendent and school board to mend relationships with the city and community.

We endorsed Reeves four years ago and do so again, mainly because we think he did an admirable job of helping steer the district through some tough budget times exacerbated in part by administrative mismanagement. We would, however, like to see him acknowledge the school board has an image problem. Its 4-1 vote, with Gibson dissenting, that gave Superintendent Alan Nishino a very generous salary and benefits package may be defensible but nevertheless was tone-deaf in these economic times.

The other two candidates, David Forbes and William Schaff, are running as a slate. Both have children in Alameda schools, and both have put in long hours working with various organizations and campaigns that benefit the schools.

Alameda is lucky to have so many well-qualified candidates.

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Last modified: Ocotber 31, 2004

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