timothytom.com

I urge individuals to remember that all government processes must be fair, open, and accessible. Absolutely no preferential treatment should be given to anyone, including myself.

I find it deplorable that initial discussions about a trustee seat to be vacant in East Side Union High School District should be appointed from a pre-determined pool of candidates. We must strive to fill the vacant position with the best individual from the community at large who can fulfill the duty and requirements as a trustee.

I am in full support of following the established and acceptable process for filling a vacant trustee position. I encourage all interested individuals to apply to fill this vacant trustee seat.

Tim Tom
Former Candidate for East Side Union High School District

Editorial: School boards suffer from voters’ inattention

Mercury News Editorial

Article Launched: 11/14/2008 08:00:00 PM PST

Puzzling results in two San Jose school elections point to a problem facing many districts. There aren’t enough quality candidates or community interest to create the leadership that districts need as they head into the worst fiscal crisis in decades.

It’s not apathy per se. We believe parents and business leaders when they insist they want better schools; many parents are active in their children’s classrooms. And voters are willing to invest in schools: Every parcel tax and bond measure on the ballot this month passed.

But those who might run either don’t appreciate the vital role of a school trustee, or they’re turned off by the cost and hard work of running. Those who do run often struggle to make themselves known, as evident this time in the Alum Rock and East Side Union High School districts.

Alum Rock voters chose for one of two seats a former district employee whom the district had tried to fire. In signing a $17,000 settlement last year leading to her retirement, Dolores Marquez agreed not to set foot on district property. We don’t see how she can meet those terms and be an effective trustee. Given the personal nature of her dispute, we doubt she can be objective about schools.

East Side Union voters reinstated a trustee whom they wisely threw out of office two years earlier. Now that Patricia Martinez-Roach is back, parents can expect more contentious meetings prolonged by her micromanaging small expenditures. In both these cases, voters passed up excellent candidates, but information was limited. There was not one candidates’ forum in East Side Union and just a few sparsely attended events in Alum Rock. Martinez-Roach didn’t even submit a ballot statement. The Mercury News wrote about Marquez’s dispute shortly before the election, but word may not have gotten out.

This election may have been an anomaly because of the huge number of young and new voters. Races at the bottom of the ballot may have been an afterthought for them. Or they perhaps checked candidates, like Marquez and Martinez-Roach, whose names they recognized or who were first on the ballot.

Martinez-Roach was one of four candidates. Two years ago, when a board vacancy came open, two-dozen people sought the appointment, which Eddie Garcia won. But none of those saved Garcia this time.

The situation was hardly unique. In the San Jose Unified School District, two of three incumbents were unchallenged. The district has made progress but not enough to give trustees a free pass.

It takes commitment and money to run for essentially a volunteer job. East Side Union candidates paid $4,700 for a ballot statement that the county mails to voters. The charge is less for small districts, and a few districts subsidize the cost. Others should, too.

Parent groups and businesses must encourage good people to run and support them. Groups like Common Cause should offer advice on the nuts and bolts of campaigning. Districts should organize forums so that unknown candidates can get their word out.

Like any other well-run business or nonprofit, school districts need competent, thoughtful leaders. If they don’t step up, incompetent or self-serving candidates fill the vacuum.

Dear Friends,

 

Remember to join “Family Volunteer Day” a National Day of Service on Saturday, November 22, 2008.  The Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley urges individuals to Change Your Habits & Take Action.  Volunteer and Go Green! on Family Volunteer Day  and support some of the Green Challenge Five Focus Areas.  Should you have any last minute questions or comments please contact us at the Volunteer Center 408-247-1126 or development@vcsv.us

Five Focus Areas for Green Challenge Program

HABITAT RESTORATION

RECYCLING, REUSE, HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL

URBAN FORESTRY

CANVASSING/EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS

DISTRIBUTING COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTBULBS

 

 

Green Challenge: Family Volunteer Day Celebration

Date: Saturday, November 22, 2008

Time: 9:00 – 12:00 PM

Featured Activities: Tree Planting, Salt Pond Restoration & Watershed Planting/Restoration

 

Site Details and Information

Project #1: Tree Planting (9-12pm | Location: 4861 Campbell Avenue, San Jose, CA 95130)

Become a tree amigo and join the Our City Forest and the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley on one of the two tree planting projects.  These two projects focus on urban forestry and helps to reverse global warming by removing carbon from the air and returning oxygen through photosynthesis.  Urban forestry reflects the natural beauty of the local ecology, conserves water, eliminates use of pesticides and reduces costs!

On Site Contact: Mark Barry & Andrea Lloyd

Location: 4861 Campbell Avenue, San Jose, CA 95130

Instructions: Wear clothes/shoes you don’t mind getting a little dirty, bring garden gloves if you have them and also a snack/water.

 

Project #2: Salt Pond Restoration (11-12pm | Location: Don Edwards Alviso Environmental Education Center)

Restoration of 15,100 acres of south San Francisco Bay salt ponds to wetlands habitats has begun! Please join us for overview of this incredible project happening in our backyard.
On Site Contact: Genie Moore

Directions: From I-880 or Highway 101, exit on Highway 237 toward Alviso. Turn north onto Zanker Road. Continue on Zanker Road until youcross over a set of railroad tracks. Slow down after crossing the tracks and make your first very very sharp right turn after the tracks onto Grand Blvd. (which will take you into a salt marsh, if you drive into a residential area you have missed the turn) Continue on Grand Blvd. for a mile until it dead ends in the Environmental Education Center Parking Lot.

Project #3: Watershed Planting/Restoration (9:30-12:30pm | Location: 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA)

Come be a part of this unique restoration project. The Acterra Stewardship Program’s Watershed Project is hosting volunteer planting days in November and December, where we will be planting hundreds of native plants in 15,000 square feet of land on either side of the creek.

On Site Contact: Arnie Thompson

Location: Portola Valley Town Center, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA

Instructions: We provide plants, tools, work gloves and planting techniques; you bring old clothes, sturdy shoes and your enthusiasm. Dress for the weather as work parties will proceed rain or shine.

 

FREE E-WASTE COLLECTION

 

Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008

Time: 9:00 – 3:00 PM

Location: Moreland Community Center Parking Lot, 1850 Fallbrook Ave, San Jose

Featured Activities: Electronic Waste Collection

Get rid of that old computer or TV in an environmentally approved way. The Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley is sponsoring a free Electronic Waste Recycling Event. They will accept laptops, PDAs, monitors, stereos, radios, VCRs, DVD players, telephones, cellular phones, and desktops. For more information email dev-admin@vcsv.us.

Thank you for your continuing partnership with the Volunteer Center of Silicon Valley and for helping us in this community-wide event!

Thanks,

Tim Tom
Development Manager & Major Events
Volunteer Center Silicon Valley (www.vcsv.us)
Human Race of Silicon Valley (www.vcsv.us/humanrace) USATF #08-38-042
Green Challenge 07-09 (www.vcsv.us/greenchallenge)
Ph: (408) 247-1126 x.327
Fx: (408) 247-5805