Clarence Thomas has now served on the Supreme Court for 30 years. Recorded October 12th, 2022 at The Del Valle Theater. Democrats make up about 54% of the voters in the region, while Republicans represent just 19%. Where I taught, it was 40 students per class and so these types of things and trying to keep on top of pay and financial issue, but also trying to keep our working condition in such that were a place you want to teach and keeping our beneficial salaries right at the top so we can be in that. In Texas, a cell phone company called Patriot Mobile, whose owner says its driven by conservative Christian values, has been injecting huge amounts of cash into school board races with remarkable success., Woolway is part of a three-candidate slate that also includes Renee Nowac and Gabe Ledeen. When I retired, I moved back up here about ten years ago and four years ago I ran, and now I am running for re-election. Seven candidates run for three open positions in the Acalanes Union High School District Governing Board. So like you kind of said, Im open to hearing whats going on and what are the important issues, and working within the team to figure out the best solution for the district. Curran researched and learned about Woolways connection to Trump. By Kiara Kunnes and Sarah Westergren, Print and Online Editor-in-Chief. I dont see it so much as I want to do this or that, but rather a continuation of the many initiatives. We already have two experienced members going off. We did an earlier pass on that. But the candidates those who responded to messages say they are falsely accused. Occupation: Acalanes Union High School District Governing Board Member Mark Woolway 11035 votes 8.26%. The incumbent candidates answered questions from a moderator, then from the audience. So there are a number of things going on. But dropping out of a joint campaign is a complex proposition. Jennifer Chen and Nancy Kendzierski participate in the Acalanes board candidates forum. The latest data from The National Center for Education Statistics finds 20 percent of schools in the United States require school uniforms (that was for the 2017-2018 school year) 3. I was born and raised in Lafayette, I am a graduate of Acalanes, and I taught government history in high school for 33 years down in Southern California. Some candidates in the region are explicit about trumpeting conservative talking points. Complete the appropriate forms in the Candidate Application Packet. Before moving across the country from his native Georgia, he spent five and a half years at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. So there are a number of things going on. Like what were some of the issues you worked on and something you are particularly proud of over there? . Ballotpedia features 393,611 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Rogers said hes mostly seen this tactic in politically contested areas, where the Republican-Democrat split is much closer than in the East Bay. Curran learned that Gabe Ledeen had been a guest at an event put on by the influential right-wing Federalist Society. If elected, are there any initiatives you hope to implement besides the work that youve been doing? Most people will put signs up supporting candidates but that was kind of it. Blueprint: Do you have any ideas on how to combat teacher shortages? The forum is co-hosted by the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley and theLas Lomas High School PTSA. In Texas, a cell phone company called Patriot Mobile, whose owner says its driven by conservative Christian values, has been injecting huge amounts of cash into school board races with remarkable Parent Education on Sports and Wellness hosted by Dr. Doug Gardner. Its nice to have a mix, but I think its helpful to have some experience. Compare Acalanes High School to Other Schools acalanes.k12.ca.us (925) 280-3970 U.S. Congress | The intentional harassment being currently expressed online is the same type of behavior that we teach our children not to take part in as it can lead the recipient to depression and self harm, the statement said. Severson ( Republican Party) (also known as Doc) was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing District 14A. While it is not unusual for campaigns to promote themselves in an election, students had varying opinions on campaigning at school-related events. Local parent Stacy Schirmer is among those disappointed by how the slates have been treated. I truly believe its the cornerstone of what this country is. Three former students of Miramonte High School in Orinda filed a lawsuit earlier this month against the school and the Acalanes Union High School District, alleging both were negligent in allowing a former teacher to continue teaching after officials knew he was sexually abusing them. The candidates connections to Trump and other conservative voices as well as controversial tweets by one Lafayette candidate have caused some parents to fear the groups are part of a national movement to flip school boards amid conservative backlash to COVID protocols, Blueprint: So what made you originally decide to run for the school board? Best candidates are Keisha Nzewi in Area 3 and Erin McFerrin in Area 5, but they all have historical knowledge gaps The Mt. A service to celebrate Mr. Acosta's life will Kenneth Acosta (D), 60 . This is a more direct way of campaigning as it felt very personal. About 83% of the Acalanes groups campaign funds came from donors located outside the district, according to financial filings. Please save your work frequently! That looked off, said Curran, whose daughter will in a few years attend high school in the Acalanes district. Wholesale U.S. Electricity Prices Were Volatile in 2022,the US had volatile wholesale electricity prices at major trading hubs in the United States rose throughout much of 2022 and were, at times, Transition to In-Person Instruction & COVID-19 Safety Info, Educational Services - Old - Deletion Pending Aida's Decision, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Acalanes (DEI), Enrollment - Registration, Residency & Transfers. Now people are targeting individuals and asking them directly to vote for a candidate, and in this example by putting flyers on every car at the football game, instead of putting up a yard sign, Jay said. Get all the latest & greatest posts delivered straight to your inbox, Bizarrely, Clarence Thomass Wife Is Pumping Money Into an East Bay School Board Race, Republican-led Recall Gavin Newsom campaign, received a contribution from Ginni Thomas, played a role in the January 6 insurrection, All Three School Board Members Recalled In Landslide [SFist], SF Police and Sheriff Unions Engaged in Bizarro Social Media Fight Over Staffing at SFO, Newsoms Proposed Budget Slashes $2 Billion From Public Transportation, Legislators Up In Arms, Expos Finds San Francisco Doled Out $90M Last Year to Nonprofits That Are Not In Good Standing With the State. I think that with the number of initiatives we have going in the very early stages, its helpful to have someone with experience on the board. It went on to address the rumors about their intentions. The Chron also notes that the three-person slate with whom Woolway is running got about half of its contributions from SF tech investor David Sacks, who dumped enormous sums of money into the Recall Chesa Boudin and Newsom recall campaigns. Typical campaigning has occurred through postcards sent to residents, lawn signs, and word of mouth. | : Well hopefully because I am qualified, experienced and passionate. This tool lets you decide, Two major shifts sparked mental health crisis for California's LGBTQ youth, Heres everything you can bid on as the Twitter auction begins, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). The district takes its name from Rancho Acalanes, an 1834 Mexican rancho grant which occupied much of the area from Orinda to Lafayette. not specifically the country, but what we should do to make sure a community is educated because thats how we can learn and work together, hopefully. The Acalanes Union High School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. On the Acalanes Union High School District board, two positions are up for election. 504 Coordinator: Director of Special Education and Auxilary Services, 1212 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette CA 94549, specialed@auhsdschools.org. I think its a really good group, I know them all. Address 1212 Pleasant Hill Rd, Lafayette, Ca 94549. So there is a whole survey and the first one was done three years ago and one last year and a large percentage of our students district-wide report that they are not getting enough sleep, they are really stressed out, they are spending two and a half hours plus on homework every night, plus on weekends. If someone is getting five and a half hours of sleep to do their homework, someone is mad at me and so that will be an ongoing issue. schools letting young students read books about trans people Blueprint: So you mentioned wellness. There are many things out there to be viewed. You never know what it is going to be like until you do it. Questions may be submitted in advance by email tovoter.services [at] lwvdv.org. Nancy, you have to apply!. The Wellness Centers are another example of the reaction to that. We did an earlier pass on that. I think one thing Im hoping is that one of the school board members thats rolling off brought a little bit of financial background to the table, and I think with some of my background in my professional work and my volunteer work as treasurer dealing with the financial side, Im kind of hoping to bring that to the table as one of the areas to stand out compared to the others. Derksen: Okay. . alix miraculous idaho state fair concerts 2022. pier 1 glass dining table . I was elected to the city council down in Southern California, so I served a city council and so when I moved back up here, I still wanted to contribute to education in some way, so I thought Acalanes Union is a high school and of course a governing board, so the combination of my interest in government and my interest in high school education just seemed like a good fit and something that I could contribute to, and so thats why I decided to run and here I am. Severson: Yeah, so a lot of what we work on is budgetary stuff because, again, one of the things the board is tasked with is looking over finances to make sure the finances are going well, so we worked a lot with that. : So you mentioned earlier that you applied to become a member of. - Analysed potential investment risks and pitched findings to SAM risk analysts. I think its the fact that my co-chair and the consultant on the parcel tax that I was working on for another district was going, Nancy, you have to apply! I mean, I do hope if I get elected to be involved with the implementation of the new school calendar to make sure that it runs smoothly and that kind of thing, but I mean, its up to the school board to set a strategic direction. AUHSD staff and students are grateful for the tremendous support provided by the parent foundations. Blueprint: So you were President of the Orinda School Board District, correct? How to run for office | : Ok and one of my last questions: Why do you think a voter should choose you for the school board? Knowing that everyones attention is about making things right here and not about pursuing personal agendas has been really nice. FINGERPRINT APPLICATION FORM. And with my background, I think I can make a really good contribution to, and of course, the academics are important, but I think whats more important is how our students are doing from a wellness and mental health standpoint. Shane Reinhart. Id like to see it through, and hopefully, voters see it that way. How to vote | Accidental overdose deaths in San Francisco, largely driven by the proliferation of fentanyl, continue to decline slightly in number from a peak in 2020. Some students were unsettled and unsure of the connotations of the flyers. Derksen: So basically, Ive spent the last 15 years or so volunteering at schools when my kids started in the public schools, and so I did a lot of PTA volunteer functions as treasurer, president, auction chair etc. Second, I taught government and so Ive always been interested in government, and over the years, Ive really realized that local government is really more effective and more responsive to peoples concerns than in the national or state levels. His frustrations with the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) mounted during. S.F. PhD candidate @RutgersU | Duckweed, Plant Microbiome . Some question the effectiveness of the flyers placed during the football game and their benefits in gaining support for the upcoming elections. : And why should a voter choose you for the school board? Trying to raise more awareness about equity issues that will be ongoing, and trying to make sure our programs are for all students. The three share a website, treasurer, finances and even yard signs that feature all of their names. Severson: Im excited to help the high schools keep moving along, and for where we can to do even better. District programs shall be free from discrimination based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parent status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression or identity, military status (current or veteran), immigration status, the perception of one or more of these characteristics, or . Has a right-wing movement to flip school boards really landed in the Bay Area? The board is responsible for setting the overriding policies of the district. Are we overdoing it? Blueprint: What do you think is your primary platform or mission? There was quad discussion about that, students were unsure about what it was going to be about, teachers were kind of split in terms of pros and cons, and so that was a major issue for not only in terms of if we should do it or not, but also the year-long process of getting ready for it. 7:00 PM Apply for the Job in Food Service Manager VI - Skyline High School (2022-23) at Oakland, CA. Flyers were placed on the windows of cars in the Campolindo parking lot and on nearby streets during the game. So the issue of block schedule and Academy was an ongoing thing, but now I think we have it down pat. Parents If you have not logged into this site before, please click Create New Account to register. Mark Woolway had been asked during a recent forum whether his campaign for a school board seat in Contra Costa County had accepted donations from outside the district. Martha Goralka, LWVDV Voter Services Chair, Candidates' Forum, Acalanes Union High School District - October 13 (online only), The format will include brief candidate statements followed by questions. Virginia Thomas, a voice in the crowd said, referring to Ginni Thomas, the right-wing activist and wife of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Challenger Katy Foreman has reported $16,000. On top of which, we need to make sure we stay fiscally stable because well see with a new governor, whoever is elected, how the state is funding schools in ways that largely we dont control. However, these flyers prove some have chosen alternative, non-traditional methods of publicity. Nice if it was done in a civil manner. It has 1,303 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1. I will say that personally, I think all the candidates are qualified. John Rogers, an education policy expert at UCLA, said Republicans in California and nationally see school board races as a way to drive turnout. Why hasnt it Office chairs and a blue bird statue: Heres everything you can bid on S.F. We cant get the other people to come in? Acalanes Union High School District Candidate for Board Member Next Contest Christopher Severson Acalanes Union High School District Governing Board Member 31,638 votes (23.68%) Winning My choice Candidate has provided information. transgender It might persuade people to research more about the candidates, which I hope does happen, but I dont think its convincing enough to make people vote for them, Jay said. : What do you think is your primary platform or mission? Blueprint: Why are you running for the Acalanes School District Board this year? Sophia Bollag joined the San Francisco Chronicle as a politics reporter in 2022. : Yeah, so a lot of what we work on is budgetary stuff because, again, one of the things the board is tasked with is looking over finances to make sure the finances are going well, so we worked a lot with that. Spats broke out between the slates supporters and critics. and efforts to make curriculum more inclusive. I will say that personally, I think all the candidates are qualified. It was a problem when I first started teaching. Thats the number one reason why I am running is to try and promote student wellness and make high schools here a little bit better place to be. And there is also clearly a trend that the right-wing outrage machine has identified of taking over local school boards as their new culture-war front, with an agenda to ban books and push batshit theories about litter boxes in schools. The Academy issue was also part of that. I mean, you name it, and Ive probably done it at some time. Neighbor warned neighbor that the conservative movement to flip school boards couldve made it to Contra Costa County. Blueprint: So can you share some of your experiences over there? Blueprint: Can you share what some of your experiences have been over the past four years as a governing board member? Many attendees already knew the answer. She has covered state government from Sacramento since 2016 and has worked at The Sacramento Bee, The Associated Press and the Los Angeles Times. A similar slate sharing a treasurer with the Acalanes three is running in the same coordinated way for the Lafayette School District Governing Board, which oversees K-8 schools. Theres a desire to see local school boards and local school politics as a way to heighten conflict over divisive cultural issues, he said. Mark Woolway listens during a public forum for candidates for the Acalanes Union High School District governing board at Del Valle Education Center in Walnut Creek. editor / reporter who has been published in almost every San Francisco publication, including Hoodline, SF Weekly, Thrillist, and Broke Ass Stuart. I think what they did was okay, because they were doing it after school and it was [an event with] a lot of people who are involved in the schools, Potter said. And when you have great people, things go much more smoothly than they would otherwise.