If one thing was clear during interviews for the vacant seat on
the Gilroy Unified School District Board of Education, a healthy
pool of eight hopefuls – many who felt compelled to step forward
when it looked like candidate pickings might be slim – proved
children and schools have a dogged support system in the City of
Gilroy.
If one thing was clear during interviews for the vacant seat on the Gilroy Unified School District Board of Education, a healthy pool of eight hopefuls – many who felt compelled to step forward when it looked like candidate pickings might be slim – proved children and schools have a dogged support system in the City of Gilroy.
“I’m sitting here, and quite frankly I still haven’t decided which way I’m going to go. I feel the board needs both,” said GUSD Tom Bundros as he contemplated the choice between two finalists.
It boiled down to a roll call vote around 7 p.m. Thursday between former GUSD trustee Pat Midtgaard, 68 – a veteran educator who worked for 28 years in Gilroy as a teacher and principal – and James Pace, 39, Director of Land Development for Pembrook Development in Morgan Hill who later admitted he “was a little shocked” when GUSD Superintendent Debbie Flores announced his name as a finalist.
With trustee Dom Payne casting the lone vote for Pace, the school board appointed Midtgaard, a former GUSD board member who served from 2004 to 2008, as its newest member with a 5-1 vote.
“I was really surprised,” said Midtgaard, a retiree who lightheartedly offered in her closing statement, “If you want someone who can hit the ground maybe not running – but walking really fast – I’ll do the job for you.”
When asked if any other candidates stood out to her as strong front-runners, Midtgaard echoed six GUSD trustees who highlighted the difficulty of choosing from an eclectic group with diverse skill sets and varying foundations of knowledge.
It all foreshadows the possible faces of who could return for the upcoming school board election in 2012, when the four-year seats of GUSD trustees Rhoda Bress, Mark Good and Fred Tovar will open up for re-election. As Francisco Dominguez’s term would have lasted until 2014, his seat will turn into an elected seat. Midtgaard may opt to run for the remaining two years, or run for one of the four-year seats.
All eight candidates said they would consider throwing their hats in the ring in 2012; although Midtgaard’s stance was decidedly on the fence.
“Well, you never know,” she said. “I’m just focusing on helping you in the interim.”
If more is merrier, the group certainly brought spunk to the public interviews Thursday night.
When asked what her understanding of a union is, Rebeca Armendariz, 37, the Lead Worksite Organizer for Services Employment International Union, Local 521, answered, “A federally protected right for a group of workers who agree to be represented to negotiate for wages, benefits and conditions of a working unit.”
Pausing briefly before giving his answer to the same question, candidate Guy La’Mont Hadnot, 53, a Group Executive with AAA Insurance Company, leaned into the microphone and quipped, “ditto.”
The response ignited an eruption of hearty laughter from an audience of about 25 filling the meeting room at district offices on Arroyo Circle.
“How do you follow that?” ceded Hadnot. “That’s Webster.”
The vacancy was left by Dominguez, the embattled former GUSD trustee and sole proprietor of a local consulting company who is facing two separate investigations into alleged embezzlement and grand theft by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. Dominguez submitted his official letter of resignation Nov. 9.
On Thursday, Dec. 8, roundtable question-and-answer sessions were peppered with intermittent chuckles over mispronounced names, anecdotal stories about candidates’ children, along with poignant, researched responses from eight hopefuls who did their homework ahead of time.
The group was presented with a barrage of questions during the three-hour interview, ranging from their stance on a teacher’s right to carry pepper spray, to the unsavory topic of handling forthcoming budget cuts. Seven candidates, save for Matt Morley, said they would consider the possibility of a parcel tax to generate desperately needed revenue for the cash-strapped district.
Christine West, 45, founder and owner of Go West Communications, presented her outlook on strengthening dialogue between schools, parents and the public. She mentioned vamping up connections with real estate agents, who should sing the praises of GUSD’s successes as a catalyst for settling in Gilroy.
“Agents need to be letting people know, ‘You do want your kids to go to this district,'” West pointed out.
Rebeca Armendariz is versed in the negotiation process for labor unions. Single father David Marin, the Vice President of Marketing for Mainstreet Media, is knee-deep in parenting with three adopted children in GUSD elementary, middle and high schools. Martha Martinez, Director III, District/School Support Services at Santa Clara County Office of Education, touts experience from the county, regional and state levels of the education system. Matt Morley, director of Fleet & Facilities for the City of San Jose, has a realistic grip on what it’s like to deal with state budget cuts every year. Guy La’Mont Hadnot offered perceptive insight to bettering the college preparation process.
Several hours after the 4:30 p.m. meeting kicked off Dec. 8, GUSD trustees eliminated Armendariz, La’Mont Hadnot, Marin, Martinez, Morley and West, although “we barely have a top two, if that shows you how difficult it was,” said GUSD Superintendent Debbie Flores.
Trustees say they appreciated the engineering background of Pace, a former computer programmer who diligently attends parent club meetings and has been involved with five school site committees.
Following the close of the special meeting, most attendees said they weren’t surprised by the board’s final decision to opt for a familiar co-worker with a stellar track record.
“I’m sure with all the budget craziness they wanted somebody with experience,” pointed out Christopher High School English teacher Paul Winslow, alluding the forthcoming midyear triggers likely to be imposed by state revenue shortfalls (which will instigate a $2.4 million blow to GUSD’s budget).
Describing a vivid memory from when she was a teacher, Midtgaard recalled a school board member riding one of the morning bus routes alongside students. Segueing from this scenario, Midtgaard, who said she’s looking forward to in-person classroom visits, spoke to the importance of board members staying plugged into the schools.
“You feel supported when you see a board member at your site,” she said. “It adds credence to what the staff is doing.”
The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be held on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012 at District Offices, located at 7810 Arroyo Circle, Gilroy. Study session begins at 5:30 p.m. Open session begins at 7 p.m.
