If nothing else, the four candidates running for three open
seats on the school board adamantly agreed on one thing: the $150
million school facilities bond must pass.
Gilroy
If nothing else, the four candidates running for three open seats on the school board adamantly agreed on one thing: the $150 million school facilities bond must pass.
Two incumbents, a former trustee and a newcomer enumerated their priorities for the Gilroy Unified School District. Student achievement, fiscal responsibility and teacher recruitment were popular talking points but the bond – the majority of which will fund the new Christopher High School to completion – was the big-ticket item and each candidate recited the company line: there are no other viable options.
“This is the way we raise money for schools,” said Rhoda Bress, incumbent and current board president. “We have no other way.”
The candidates agreed that Gilroy High School is, without a doubt, far beyond capacity and that a second comprehensive high school is long overdue. Once the housing market picks up again, the district will need two new elementary schools to accommodate Gilroy’s growth, Bress’ second priority for bond money after completing the high school.
Along with Bress, incumbent Jaime Rosso and former board member Mark Good emphasized that the new bond would levy a tax rate lower than the current rate.
“Measure P is a win-win proposition,” said Rosso, the longest standing member on the current board. “It will provide local facilities funding and at a reduced property tax rate.”
A trustee for eight years, Rosso has been a part of several large initiatives, including the district’s effort to reach 800 on the Academic Performance Index, an ambitious facilities master plan and the construction of CHS, and is looking forward to being on the board for opening day.
“I’m excited to see the big payoff,” he said.
During his tenure as a trustee, he’s been around for the opening of Las Animas Elementary School, Eliot Elementary School and Ascencion Solorsano Middle School.
He’s seen test scores and school buildings go up and wants to be around for another term to see the results of many of his decisions. His top priorities include improving academic achievement across the board and keeping school facilities up to date.
Rosso, Bress and Fred Tovar, the fourth candidate, all serve on the school bond executive committee and are promoting the bond measure in tandem with their own campaigns.
Where candidates agreed that the bond is a necessity, some disagreed that district money is being used wisely. That’s why Good’s top priority is fiscal responsibility and accountability, he said.
“The district cannot continue spending money that it doesn’t have,” Good said. “The district needs to make better decisions with its limited resources, and carefully review all contracts. It also needs to maximize the dollars spent so that every dollar is directly relevant to educating our children.”
His top priorities also included a recommitment to music and arts and enhanced vocational training at the high school level. Unlike the other three candidates, his list of priorities showed a glaring omission: student achievement. Good said, however, that academics are a given and GUSD is on the right track.
His priorities reflected areas that needed work, he said, citing several examples – the settlement with former Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Michael Lyons which prompted the district to pay Lyons more than $100,000 for an extended “medical leave” and the loss of millions of district dollars in a miscommunication with local developer Glen Loma Group about the Las Animas Elementary School site – when the district made unsound financial decisions.
“We need to keep our eye on the ball in terms of finances,” he said.
Good conceded that some of the current trustees’ best decision had to do with the superintendent. He praised the board for their decision to hire Deborah Flores for the position and allow her to do her job without much board micromanagement.
Tovar also named financial accountability as a top priority, after student achievement. He disagreed with the $12,000 bonus the school board recently gave the superintendent, saying “now is not the time.”
If elected, he will expect high standards from district administrators and demand that bond funds be used efficiently, he said. On the topic of the district’s plans to develop the old Las Animas school site: “Board members are not the experts. They need to get back to education.”
During his time working as the director of student affairs at Stanford University, he has observed a lack of Gilroy applicants.
“Gilroy students are Stanford material,” he said.
The first in his family to go to college, his goal is to get students thinking about college at an early age, at the same time offering programs like career technical courses and vocational education curriculum, that give students options.
“We should provide every child with as many options as possible,” he said. ” … not every student heads off to college upon graduation from high school. However, I am convinced that all students will need some form of post-secondary training, be it technical, applied or academic in nature.”
Tovar went on to express his enthusiasm for the district’s recent improvement on standardized tests, but shared Bress’ view that teachers are increasingly focusing on passing exams, rather than educating a well-rounded student. Expanding the district’s career and technical programs would also combat the district’s 22.5 percent dropout rate, he said.
All four candidates said the dropout rate is unacceptable and must be remedied and agreed that occupational training is a stellar strategy to fix the problem.
“Focusing narrowly on all students transferring to a four year college misses a large number of students,” Good said. Developing more vocational training opportunities was one of Good’s top three priorities for the district.
Classes are only meaningful if good teachers are in place to drive the curriculum. One of Bress’ top priorities, along with academic excellence, included the recruitment and retention of excellent teachers.
“Quality instruction remains the key to student success, and no group is more important to our schools than our teachers,” she said. “In Gilroy, we need to both retain teachers who have chosen GUSD and grow teachers within our own community by exploring strategies that will attract students to the teaching profession.”
Bress said the board needs to explore the option of merit pay for teachers and create incentives to attract qualified educators.
Election day is Nov. 4. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Rhoda Bress
age: 57
occupation: office manager
marital status: married 32 years to Martin Bress
children:
Dan, 29 – GHS, Harvard, University of Virginia School of Law
Joshua, 27 – GHS, Harvard, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Joseph, 25 – GHS, Harvard
David, 20 – GHS, attends UCLA
experience:
GUSD Board of Education, 2004-present
GUSD Board of Education, president, 2007-present
GUSD School Board, vice president, 2006-2007
Gilroy Education Foundation, board representative, 2006-present
District Health Council, board representative, 2005-present
Board Policy Subcommittee, 2004-present
Odyssey Theatre Company, Board of Directors
Five parent club boards
quote: “Academic excellence is my vision, and my decisions reflect a focus on rigorous programs for all students, high classroom standards, and improved academic performance.”
Mark Good
age: 50
occupation: attorney
marital status: married to Patricia
children:
Perry, 40 – GHS, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara University School of Law
Kym, 29 – GHS, San Jose State University
Steven, 21 – GHS, attends University of California, Santa Cruz
Emily, 18 – GHS ’08, attends Gavilan College
experience:
GUSD Board of Education, 1996-2000
City of Gilroy Deferred Compensation Committee, chairman
Gilroy Police Officers Association, president
Police Officers Association, executive board
South County Alternatives, vice president
Santa Clara County Bar Association Judiciary Committee
American Bar Association Unfair Competition – Trade Identity Committee
quote: “Always do your homework, and consider how each decision you make will impact the students’ education.”
Jaime Rosso
occupation: business owner
age: 56
marital status: married 32 years to Evalia, Eliot Elementary School teacher
children:
Sarah, 30 – GHS, Gavilan College, attends San Jose State University
Jaime, 29 – GHS, U.S. Air Force, attends Gavilan College
Sofia, 27 – GHS, San Jose State University
experience:
GUSD Board of Education, 2000-present
GUSD Board of Education, president, 2004-2005
Business owner, Rosso’s Furniture, 30 years
2008 Gilroy School Bond Executive Committee
Student Health and Wellness Committee
Gilroy Rotary Club
Gilroy Chamber of Commerce
St. Mary Church, parishioner
quote: “Providing for the best education possible for all our students is everyone’s business and I consider it an honor and a privilege to do my part.”
Fred Tovar
age: 39
occupation: director of student affairs, Stanford University
marital status: married
children:
son, 14
daughter, 10
experience:
2008 Gilroy School Bond Executive Committee
Gilroy Leadership Class of 2008
San Jose/Evergreen College District Board, vice president, 2002-2006
California Association of Community College Trustees, president, 2004-2006
California Community College Trustee Board, 2004-2006
Stanford University School of Medicine Admissions Advisory Panel, 2002-present
Gilroy Voz de la Gente, 2007-present
quote: “Now is the time to raise the bar for all our schools in Gilroy. With your support, I will work hard for positive change and infuse new ideas into the district, and with your help, we can turn all of Gilroy’s good schools into GREAT schools.”
