Will It Be an Incumbent Sweep? - The Spectrum Magazine

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Parent Challenges Incumbents in Redwood City School District Race It’s hard to not look at the issues facing Redwood City schools without considering the financial struggles as the district’s budget has been cut about 20 percent in recent years, according to candidates running for three positions on the school board. Parent Lea Cuniberti-Duran and incumbents Alisa MacAvoy, Shelly Masur and Dennis McBride are running for three four-year seats on the Redwood City School District board of trustees. While financial limitations were central to most topics, candidates also saw opportunities through partnership and implementing programs that are successful elsewhere. Many of the district’s issues are tied to limited funds. While losing about 20 percent of its overall budget, the district has also experienced an increase in students, which allows for less per-pupil spending. As a result, class sizes have increased to around 30 for all grades and programs have been lost. All four saw funding as one of the biggest issues facing the district. “I’m proud of what we’ve done but without funding, it’s hard,” said MacAvoy. The district has a committee looking at the possibility of a parcel tax — an option that would provide money for programs but that the community has previously failed to support. All four candidates liked the idea of the local funding. McBride pointed out, however, the most recent polls showed support for a $61 annual tax that would generate about $1.5 million annually. While that’s helpful, he said, it won’t solve the financial problems. Community Interest (Continued from previous page) and towns determined to prioritize play and ensure that children are healthy by providing the time and space for play. This year, KaBOOM! designated 151 cities across the country, including Redwood City, as Playful City USA communities, for each city’s efforts to increase play opportunities for children. Redwood City was recognized by KaBOOM! for its devotion to children’s athletics and recreation, and the provision of opportunities for play, as well as for making a commitment to play and physical activity toward increasing the quantity and quality of play in our community. All of the 2011 award-winning Playful City USA communities serve as role models for other communities and prove that enhancing children’s well-being by increasing the opportunity for play is an attainable goal for every community, even in difficult budget times. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, play is important to healthy brain development and allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity and physical, cognitive and emotional strength. Today’s children spend less time playing outside than any previous generations in part because only 20 percent live within walking distance of a park or playground. This play deficit is having profound consequences for kids physically as well as mentally and socially because children need a place to play every day in order to be active and healthy. www.SpectrumMagazine.net Cuniberti-Duran wanted to take a more in-depth look at the salary and benefit packages of district employees as a way to find cost savings. She recognized this wouldn’t be a popular option, but also felt cuts have been focused on the classroom previously while employee costs are a large part of the budget. Masur said a bond measure could offer relief if it was used to free up general fund money. Solar panels, for example, would cut down on electricity costs, while updating technology could make differentiating instruction within the large classrooms easier, she said. Partnerships and the search for grant funding have also been key in providing services lately. As many districts are in need of outside financial support, grants are harder to come by. Academic achievement is also a challenge, with Redwood City students who have a variety of challenges, including coming from poverty or not knowing English. Making changes despite the strict budget is necessary. Cuniberti-Duran wants that to come from diversifying learning opportunities, which, she argued, should help teachers manage the larger class sizes. Masur and MacAvoy want to expand measures of “success.” Taking a test is one way to measure a student’s understanding and abilities, but those tests are often focused on only English and math. Being successful requires understanding of other skills and topics, both argued. Programs from other districts could offer affordable solutions. Incumbents noted district A key platform in combating the play deficit is Playful City USA, a national program advocating for local policies that increase play opportunities for children. KaBOOM! created Playful City USA in 2007 to help local governments address the play deficit by ensuring their children have the time and space they need to play. Redwood City was selected in 2010 and 2011 for its outstanding dedication to play and its efforts to provide safe and enriching places for kids to play by creating joint-use agreements with local schools. The city is able to offer after-school programming and increase access to other recreational facilities. More information about KaBOOM! is available at www.kaboom.org/playfulcityusa. Port of Redwood City Commission Elects Officers At its Aug. 24 meeting, the Port of Redwood City Commission elected its officers for the next year: Chairman Dick Claire, Vice Chairman Dick Dodge and Secretary Tom Cronin. Claire, appointed to the Port Commission in 2007, succeeds Ralph Garcia as chairman. Claire had served 21 years on the City Council of Redwood City, including four as mayor, and seven years on the Redwood City Planning Commission. His other community activities representatives constantly visiting other programs. One that stood out in McBride’s mind used community volunteers to help in the classrooms. Children with reading difficulties, for example, could work in a small group with a volunteer. This gives the children more individual attention while helping the teacher with the class size, he said. For Cuniberti-Duran, safety was an issue that could help with success. She pointed to a spring field trip on which students sexually assaulted two girls. Also, discipline problems create disruptions, which takes away from a student’s ability to learn. She wanted to see positive behavior intervention and support programs expanded throughout the district. The incumbents agreed safety should be a priority. When it comes to bullying, Masur was interested in using a program from the San Mateo–Foster City School District that works collaboratively with students in a two-pronged approach handled by the action and solutions teams. The action team identifies the issues while the solution team deals with the individual cases of bullying. Teachers facilitate groups of students on both sides to work together and generate constructive criticism. Parents are involved along the way. And each student has a say in the process, she said. She liked the collaborative nature and changes that students made as a result. Editor’s note: This article, written by Heather Murtagh, appeared first in the Daily Journal newspaper. have included formerly being a board member of the local Little League, Sequoia YMCA and Big Sisters, as well as former chair of the Housing and Human Concerns Committee and chair of the San Mateo County Council of Mayors. Claire is a financial and accounting professor emeritus at Cañada College in Redwood City, where he taught for 35 years. He holds an M.B.A. in finance from University of Santa Clara and a B.A. in accounting from San Francisco State. He has served as corporate controller or other financial management positions for several companies, including Raychem and National Semiconductor. Dodge, who originally was appointed in 1980 and reappointed six times since, is one of the longest-serving current consecutive port commissioners in the United States. Dodge has owned and operated the Office City since 1976, turning it into one of the largest independent office products dealers in Northern California. Prior to that, he was in a management position with Airborne Express for 12 years. He has a B.S. in business administration from USC. Dodge has been involved in numerous maritime organizations, including as past president and current first vice president of the Association of Pacific Ports. He has been called upon to make numerous presentations before the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). Cronin was named to the commission two (continues on page 24)
Events Around Town Rosanne Foust — Campaign Kickoff Councilwoman Rosanne Foust held her re-election campaign kickoff event at the Fox Theatre. Supporters included (pictured L to R, from top): Foust with Warren Dale and Georgi LaBerge. Foust with husband Jim Hartnett. Stewart and Lorraine Rumley with Gary Markwith. Foust with Councilman John Seybert and Mayor Jeff Ira. Margie Carrington and a little supporter with Foust. Lilia Ledezma, Seybert, Foust, Ira and Connie Guerrero. Wildcats Hoping to Turn It Around Once Again Steve Nicolopulos, head football coach at Woodside High School, is hoping his 13th season at the helm of the Wildcats isn’t unlucky. “It’s been difficult,” Nicolopulos said. “We’ve been at the bottom of the barrel the last two years.” It’s been back-to-back one-win seasons for Woodside, a two-year stretch of football completely unfamiliar to a program used to winning, and winning often. So, what’s the theme for Wildcats football in 2011? “Rebounding, really,” Nicolopulos said. “Coming back and getting back to where we were. I think that some of the kids that we have this year, and with the way some of the things went over the summer with workouts, we’re a lot better off at this point this year than maybe we’ve been in the last two years. So, if that’s any indication of improvement, then that’s a good thing. I like where we’re at offensively. Defensively, we’re getting to where we need to be. So, things are looking up.” Woodside’s upside revolves around the return of Ricki Hoffer, the starting quarterback, who’s shown some growth in the offseason. With a year under his belt, the Wildcats might open up the offense and try to get the ball into the hands of playmakers like John McKee. Christian Masulit will see the bulk of the carries, with returning fullback Gino Cockrun leading the way. “Hopefully, we can muster up some of that old magic,” Nicolopulos said. “We’re going to do what we can do. People ask, ‘What are you going to do? What are you going to run?’ We’re going to do whatever works for us. We’re going to find something that works for us and go with that.” Guillermo Martinez and Jeff Petromilli will anchor the offensive line. “It’s been good,” Nicolopulos said of his offense’s progression. “The kids have progressed real well. They’ve been listening; they’ve been learning.” Nicolopulos will take points any way he can get them. Woodside was last in the Ocean Division last season after scoring only 127 points. Defensively, Nicolopulos knows his guys will have to improve as well. Last season, the Wildcats surrendered 353 points (another Ocean Division worst). “I think it comes down to more of a personnel issue,” Nicolopulos said. “We’re doing a few things differently defensively that we’ve done in the past, trying to see if the personnel package we have fits the things we want to do and make it work that way. We have to stop people if we want to win. “I’m never happy. I’m never satisfied.” Still, while Nicolopulos sees improvement, he knows that the road may be a long one for his team. “You never know,” Nicolopulos said about his team going into the preseason. “In high school, you never know. We’re trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle to the kids that we have. So, we’re working with two different puzzles all the time. “We have four games to figure things out, league-wise. Our league this year I feel is really tough. Everybody’s got players, everybody’s good; it’s going to be nails this year. When I look at some of the teams in the Ocean this year, quite a few of them could be Bay-level teams. It all comes down to: Every game counts.” Games left on 2011 schedule (home games in CAPS): 10/7 HALF MOON BAY, 7 p.m.; 10/14 SEQUOIA, 7 p.m.; 10/21 ARAGON, 7 p.m.; 10/28 @ South City, 7 p.m.; 11/4 @ Menlo School, 2:45 p.m.; 11/11 MENLO-ATHERTON, 7 p.m. Editor’s note: This article, written by Julio Lara, appeared first in the Daily Journal newspaper. The Spectrum 17
Page 1 and 2: Will It Be an Incumbent Sweep? LeMo
Page 3 and 4: The Spectrum.OCT.2011 Table of Cont
Page 5 and 6: RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood
Page 7 and 8: Nonprofits in the News Rotary Car R
Page 9 and 10: LeMo: Creating a Dream-Come-True Wo
Page 11 and 12: Upsize your LIFE Great retirement l
Page 13 and 14: P.S. The People Speak: Letters to t
Page 15: Community Interest San Mateo Credit
Page 19 and 20: Challenger McCarthy tells incumbent
Page 21 and 22: Candidates answer Spectrum question
Page 23 and 24: Insurance Tips: Bundling Home and A
Page 25 and 26: Candidates sound off (Continued fro
Page 27 and 28: The Spectrum 27
Page 29 and 30: Real Estate: Michelle Glaubert at C
Page 31 and 32: Cherokees Primed for Another Champi
Page 33 and 34: LeMo: Creating a Dream-Come-True Wo
Page 35 and 36: CASINO NIGHT VINTAGE VEGAS A fundra

Will It Be an Incumbent Sweep? - The Spectrum Magazine

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