Fremont Bulletin- Three candidates so far for school
board race - 6/12/2008
http://www.fremontbulletin.com/local/ci_9566265
Three candidates so far for school board race
by Wes Bowers
Article Launched: 06/12/2008 02:26:59 PM PDT
Three residents have thrown their hats in the ring for seats on the Fremont Unified School District Board of Education, but so far there are only two seats open.
Bryan Gebhardt, a former school board member, and residents Desrie Campbell and Lily Mei have officially announced they'll be running for two board seats this November.
Incumbents Peggy Herndon and Nina Moore have said they will step down from the board this year.
Board President Ivy Wu has not announced whether or not to run again. Wu said she most likely won't decide until August.
Gebhardt was a board member for 10 months in 2006 when he was appointed to replace ailing trustee Guy Emanuele.
A condition of the appointment was the selected individual would not seek election in the election that same year. When Gebhardt's temporary position was fulfilled, he said he would consider running for the board in an upcoming election.
Gebhardt, 33, is a Fremont native who graduated from Washington High School in 1992. He currently works as an engineering director at Fremont-based start-up Digital Fountain.
"It's been a passion of mine for years (to be on the board)," he said. "Being a school board member is where I think I can make a difference."
Gebhardt, a student board member during the 1991-1992 school year, said as a student member and an appointee in 2006, he's dealt with issues such as budget cuts, facility upgrades and equity, among others.
But he said his main priority if elected in November is to make sure Fremont students get the best education possible, bringing them to their full potential.
"It all starts with the students," he said. "Board members have the experience and vision to put students first, and student achievement is key for a successful district."
Gebhardt also hopes to see the board keep a balanced budget and make sure students have the best facilities possible for education.
"Education is the foundation of our society, I believe," he said. "That's why I've put so much into supporting it. Seeing students achieve is important to me and the most rewarding."
Campbell, a member on the Fremont Education Foundation's board of directors, is also the owner of Benefits Solutions, which provides comprehensive health benefits and financial services to individuals, families, professional associations, executives and small to midsized businesses.
A 49-year-old mother of four district alumni, Campbell has lived in Fremont since 1996. She serves as chair of the Alameda County Commission on the Status of Women's Gender Racial and Equity Committee and she is a 2007 Emerge graduate.
"I chose to run because I've always been passionate about education," she said. "I wanted to something I'm passionate about to better serve the public."
Campbell said she wants to get the public involved with the district and have residents feel as strongly about education as she does. If elected, she also hopes to work with fellow board members on the budget and instructional equity.
"Fiscal responsibility is always a concern for board members," she said. "I want to make sure we're using our resources to the best of our ability."
In terms of instructional equity, Campbell wants to make sure students are learning at their appropriate grade level and passing the proper exams to graduate on time and with good grades.
While Campbell has been appointed to many boards and panels throughout the county, this will be her first campaign for public office.
"I'm very excited about being part of the race," she said. "It's exciting to be a part of Fremont, where it's headed and where we are with schools."
Mei, 38, is the school board liaison for the Fremont Council Parent-Teacher Association. A Fremont resident since 1994 and a parent of a first- and a fifth-grader, Mei said she was involved with local schools before the birth of her first child.
An East Coast native, she currently owns a technology trade association designed to prevent equipment counterfeiting.
"This is a really critical year, not just for Fremont but for all school districts," Mei said.
Another first-time candidate for public office, Mei said she hopes to help bring a visibility of the district's issues to the city and its residents, as well as increase parent involvement.
"It's important to have a voice and project it," she said. "People don't realize the impact they can make if they raise their voices and bring attention to the situations around them."
If elected to the board, Mei hopes to discuss securing additional funding for the district. She said this year Fremont Unified has benefited from grant funding, either through the district office or through teachers seeking out aid themselves.
While the district is approaching the end of its 2002 Health and Safety Bond, Mei said the district should begin looking for other outside funding resources.
"We need to explore all the different options that are open for us," she said.
Three candidates so far for school board race
by Wes Bowers
Article Launched: 06/12/2008 02:26:59 PM PDT
Three residents have thrown their hats in the ring for seats on the Fremont Unified School District Board of Education, but so far there are only two seats open.
Bryan Gebhardt, a former school board member, and residents Desrie Campbell and Lily Mei have officially announced they'll be running for two board seats this November.
Incumbents Peggy Herndon and Nina Moore have said they will step down from the board this year.
Board President Ivy Wu has not announced whether or not to run again. Wu said she most likely won't decide until August.
Gebhardt was a board member for 10 months in 2006 when he was appointed to replace ailing trustee Guy Emanuele.
A condition of the appointment was the selected individual would not seek election in the election that same year. When Gebhardt's temporary position was fulfilled, he said he would consider running for the board in an upcoming election.
Gebhardt, 33, is a Fremont native who graduated from Washington High School in 1992. He currently works as an engineering director at Fremont-based start-up Digital Fountain.
"It's been a passion of mine for years (to be on the board)," he said. "Being a school board member is where I think I can make a difference."
Gebhardt, a student board member during the 1991-1992 school year, said as a student member and an appointee in 2006, he's dealt with issues such as budget cuts, facility upgrades and equity, among others.
But he said his main priority if elected in November is to make sure Fremont students get the best education possible, bringing them to their full potential.
"It all starts with the students," he said. "Board members have the experience and vision to put students first, and student achievement is key for a successful district."
Gebhardt also hopes to see the board keep a balanced budget and make sure students have the best facilities possible for education.
"Education is the foundation of our society, I believe," he said. "That's why I've put so much into supporting it. Seeing students achieve is important to me and the most rewarding."
Campbell, a member on the Fremont Education Foundation's board of directors, is also the owner of Benefits Solutions, which provides comprehensive health benefits and financial services to individuals, families, professional associations, executives and small to midsized businesses.
A 49-year-old mother of four district alumni, Campbell has lived in Fremont since 1996. She serves as chair of the Alameda County Commission on the Status of Women's Gender Racial and Equity Committee and she is a 2007 Emerge graduate.
"I chose to run because I've always been passionate about education," she said. "I wanted to something I'm passionate about to better serve the public."
Campbell said she wants to get the public involved with the district and have residents feel as strongly about education as she does. If elected, she also hopes to work with fellow board members on the budget and instructional equity.
"Fiscal responsibility is always a concern for board members," she said. "I want to make sure we're using our resources to the best of our ability."
In terms of instructional equity, Campbell wants to make sure students are learning at their appropriate grade level and passing the proper exams to graduate on time and with good grades.
While Campbell has been appointed to many boards and panels throughout the county, this will be her first campaign for public office.
"I'm very excited about being part of the race," she said. "It's exciting to be a part of Fremont, where it's headed and where we are with schools."
Mei, 38, is the school board liaison for the Fremont Council Parent-Teacher Association. A Fremont resident since 1994 and a parent of a first- and a fifth-grader, Mei said she was involved with local schools before the birth of her first child.
An East Coast native, she currently owns a technology trade association designed to prevent equipment counterfeiting.
"This is a really critical year, not just for Fremont but for all school districts," Mei said.
Another first-time candidate for public office, Mei said she hopes to help bring a visibility of the district's issues to the city and its residents, as well as increase parent involvement.
"It's important to have a voice and project it," she said. "People don't realize the impact they can make if they raise their voices and bring attention to the situations around them."
If elected to the board, Mei hopes to discuss securing additional funding for the district. She said this year Fremont Unified has benefited from grant funding, either through the district office or through teachers seeking out aid themselves.
While the district is approaching the end of its 2002 Health and Safety Bond, Mei said the district should begin looking for other outside funding resources.
"We need to explore all the different options that are open for us," she said.