There are four candidates for two seats on the Healdsburg Unified School District Board of Trustees. The five-member board of trustees has direct oversight over the superintendent of schools and sets policy and approves budgets for school and facility programs. The Tribune sent an email questionnaire to all four candidates, and their responses are here, edited only for clarity.
PIA BANERJEA
Age: 57
Profession: Child/School Psychologist.
Do you now or have you had kids in the district? Yes, my husband and I have two children. Our daughter graduated in May 2018 from HHS and is enrolled at New York University. Our son is a sophomore at HHS.
How long have you lived in the district? We have lived in Healdsburg 15 years.
What is your understanding of the duties of a trustee? My conceptual understanding of the duties of a trustee is to provide guidance and support to existing administration in order to promote educational policies that result in individual student success.
I believe a school board member should be representative of their community and its many constituents: first and foremost the students, their parents and the community at large, which includes teachers and administrators. I see myself as their collective, if at times divergent voice.
The most admired and effective school board members I have worked with during my career have been those who have been visible in the schools, accessible to their constituents and made time to listen to the varied opinions, concerns and ideas that are presented before making any decisions or accepting any presented proposal or recommendation. I plan to follow their model.
What is your most relevant experience? I believe that the most relevant experience I would bring to my role, as trustee, is being an educator in public education for 36 years. I have experience being a special education teacher in underperforming and impoverished schools in New York State, including New York City and working under difficult conditions to educate my students and help them achieve their potential.
Working as a school psychologist, within Mendocino County and Sonoma County, for the last 21 years has allowed me to support and encourage students’ educational growth in a different way. I understand the challenges of being an educator in 2018, but also I daily experience the profound satisfaction inherent in working with children.
I have served on school site councils as a parent and educational representative, and served in leadership positions on PTOs. I have been and continue to be highly involved as a parent volunteer in various school-related events for the past 15 years.
What is working at HUSD that you want to preserve and enhance? The best of HUSD is the current administrators who are devoted and available to parents. Additionally, I appreciate the academic rigor of the classes offered at HHS as well as the variety of opportunities that are available for all students..
What is not working and why are you suited to help make that change(s)? Diverse social-economic representation on a policy-making level and lack of representative parent involvement.
facebook.com/drpiaban
DONNA DEL REY
Age: 55
Profession: Small business owner (Relish Culinary Adventures).
Do you now or have you had kids in the district? My two children attended Alexander Valley School, Healdsburg Junior High School and graduated from Healdsburg High School.
How long have you lived in the district? 22 years.
What is your understanding of the duties of a trustee? Trustees are guardians of the public trust and, through the policies we make, we are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the district. The role of the school board is to ensure that the district is responsive to the values, beliefs and priorities of its community.
Trustees work together as a governance team with the superintendent to fulfill this role by performing five major responsibilities: setting direction and strategy; establishing an effective and efficient governing structure; providing support for district priorities; ensuring accountability; and providing community leadership as advocates for children, the school district and public schools.
What is your most relevant experience? I’ve been a school board trustee for six years, appointed in 2012 to the remainder of an existing two year term and reelected in 2014. I was president of the board in 2015 and I’ve been on a variety of subcommittees, including the District English Learners Advisory Council, Policy Review, Charter Governing Council and the board rep for the Healdsburg Education Foundation and the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce.
I’ve attended four California School Board Association (CSBA) conferences and several CSBA board training programs. I was also on the board of Live Oak Preschool for three years, active with various volunteer and parent programs when my children were at Alexander Valley School, and coached youth soccer. Before starting and running Relish Culinary Adventures, I worked for a scientific software company in various marketing and business development roles for more than 20 years.
What is working at HUSD that you want to preserve and enhance? Because we are a community-funded district, we have been in a unique position to capitalize on the combination of a small student population and relatively well-funded budget, allowing for a surprisingly broad range of enrichment in the primary grades and electives in secondary.
Our district is known for outstanding programs that complement academics, including Career Technical Education programs like culinary, CASA and agriculture. The board needs to continue to support and prioritize these important programs, plus other forms of self-expression, such as athletics, leadership, clubs, band and music, to ensure our students are engaged and exposed to new experiences.
In the last few years, there have been notable advances across our campuses to nurture a culture that allows all students at all grade levels thrive as they explore and discover their talents, voices, paths, and purposes. I support this priority to cultivate a supportive and positive culture district-wide.
The district began adopting restorative practices a few years ago and, combined with training on trauma-informed learning, the district continues to build on this important strategy of positive behavior interventions and supports to optimize students’ potential by helping them overcome non-academic obstacles to learning.
Lastly, the board must continue to direct and monitor the gorgeous bond-funded campus improvements, the adoption of Common Core standards, and continue to support ways to increase the percentage of college-ready graduates at the high school.
What is not working and why are you suited to help make that change(s)? A school district is a constantly changing entity and there are always new challenges and issues to address.
I am eager to see the outcomes from National Equity Project, providing direction to the board about ways to rethink and improve how our schools (and our community) provide access and opportunities for all students. I would support prioritizing resulting programs or policies so they can be rapidly implemented. I feel strongly that any actions we take to address our neediest students will help and support all of our students.
The most recent state test scores reflect very low math scores across the district. Teachers spearheaded an Innovation Design Team (IDT) that is now finishing a plan for improvements to math curriculum, culture and pedagogy to ensure all of our students are thriving with math. As a trustee, I was able to attend some of the IDT meetings and site visits, and I was inspired by the passion and focus of the teachers to implement changes that matter. I would continue to support these efforts and prioritize resources for rapid implementation.
Lastly, it’s time for the board to begin discussions around enrollment related to if, how and when to allow inter-district transfers.
Anything else we should have asked? There are so many topics when it comes to our schools. The options are endless. I am available and happy to meet with groups and organizations to talk further about the district and myself. I can be reached at
do***@re************.com
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facebook.com/donnaforhusd
ROSE MCALLISTER
Age: 45
Profession: Homemaker and parent volunteer.
Do you now or have you had kids in the district? We have two children currently enrolled in elementary school and our third child will start kindergarten in 2019.
How long have you lived in the district? Our family moved to Healdsburg in June 2013. We lived in Geyserville for four years prior to that, and our children attended preschool in Healdsburg. This town has been our “home base” — the place we shop, eat, visit parks and participate in community events — since 2009.
What is your understanding of the duties of a trustee? As a democratically elected body, the board of trustees provides high-level direction for the superintendent and administrative staff to implement. In practice, this means discussing and voting on a wide variety of issues, some small, some large — and everything in between. It is also the responsibility of the board to hire the superintendent.
Additionally, board members serve as community representatives at school and public functions. If I win a seat, I plan to be actively involved in the community on behalf of the schools. I will make regular visits to all school sites to experience the classrooms and programs firsthand, and to create and maintain relationships with teachers, students, and site administrators.
What is your most relevant experience? I prepared for this position in two, very different ways. First and foremost, I am a parent volunteer. For the past several years, I volunteered weekly in the classroom and at school events. Helping kids with reading, playing math games, and even shuttling them back and forth to their hearing and eye tests with the nurse has created friendships that extend throughout our small town. I know many of the children personally that I seek to serve on the board.
My time in the classroom provides a unique view of the outstanding work that our teachers do. The profound compassion and excellent education they provide, along with true dedication to their students, continue to make a strong impression on me.
In 2017, I was elected to the Charter School Governing Council and began to learn about the complex and challenging issues facing the district. I heard from teachers and parents about their concerns, successes, and suggestions. Holding this position strengthened my resolve to contribute to our community through service in our schools.
Prior to motherhood, I spent many years working in and around government. I began my career as an assistant to the mayor of San Diego and continued working in government relations and communications for a decade. My professional experience provides a solid foundation for understanding the decisions that come before the board. The issues that I do not yet fully grasp, I feel capable of understanding through research, discussion, and careful study.
What is working at HUSD that you want to preserve and enhance? A great many of our students are learning, happy and thriving at our community school. They experience the very best of our wonderful, small-town lifestyle: going to school with the same friends and neighbors that we meet at the library, the grocery store and on our sports fields. This small, caring community is a treasure to be appreciated and enhanced.
The facilities are first class, and a testament to the commitment our local residents have to our schools.
For the most part, the teachers and staff are outstanding, educating with commitment, compassion, and innovation each and every day.
What is not working and why are you suited to help make that change(s)? The overall attendance at HUSD is shrinking each year, and finding ways to maintain quality and diverse programs will be an ongoing challenge that we must face with foresight.
Our schools must continue to evolve to meet the needs of every student in Healdsburg, providing equitable education for all. I believe that a parent’s voice on the board will be vital as the district proceeds with its inquiry into equity this year. Our schools should be accessible to all students, serving all students and providing opportunity for all students.
Anything else we should have asked? I am the only candidate, or current board member, with young children. My children attend our local public school. I bring a perspective that is vital for a balanced, multidimensional board.
I am not an educator. With many educators on the board and on the ballot, this is another way that I provide a different viewpoint. I deeply respect the expertise in education on our current board, but I believe that other viewpoints strengthen the board.
rosemcallister.net
MIKE POTMESIL
Age: 71
Profession: I have been a highly successful teacher, principal and assistant superintendent of human resources in California’s public school system over a period of 32 years. I am passionate about education.
Do you now or have you had kids in the district? Our three children attended public school in Oakland and Moraga California.
How long have you lived in the district? My wife Debbie, also a career educator, and I moved to Healdsburg in 2012, and never looked back.
What is your understanding of the duties of a trustee? A trustee’s duties include involving the community in setting the direction of the district to ensure student achievement at each grade level. Additional duties include the hiring and evaluation of the superintendent and setting standards for the evaluation of other personnel, oversight of the budget, ensuring safe facilities and setting boundaries for employee negotiations. The trustees must work collaboratively with each other for the singular goal of the success of all students.
What is your most relevant experience? My most relevant experience is as a school principal. As principal, I led a drastically underperforming school in Alameda to significantly increase state test scores by over 225 points in five years. Likewise, as a district administrator in a district near Monterey with a high Latino population, we raised all students’ scores, while significantly closing the achievement gap. This included coordinating professional development for teachers and administrators, and meaningfully involving parents in a district-wide effort to improve our programs. In another district, as principal of a high-performing school, I led the conversion of a 7/8 grade configuration to a 6-7-8 middle school actively engaging the parent community. I am proud to say that this school received the “California Distinguished School Award.” Since moving to Healdsburg, I have taken on a leadership role with PSST (Public School Success Team), a program dedicated to improving the high school graduation rate. My wife and I coordinated the PSST mentoring program for four years at Healdsburg High School. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and working with the PSST kids. I am currently on the advisory board of FirstGen College Counseling, an organization to help our high school graduates who are first in their families to attend college. I am a Rotarian and sit on the education committee, helping school programs and providing dozens of college, and post-high school college scholarships each year.
What is working at HUSD that you want to preserve and enhance? Many programs are working extremely well within Healdsburg Unified. First and foremost, we are blessed with outstanding teachers. At the high school the CASA, CTE and Culinary Arts are outstanding. Computer Science, Advanced Placement classes and Ag Science continue to provide avenues for students to grow and develop. Our English Department is top notch. The Juniors’ Intern Program provides our students with a hands-on look into possible careers. A noteworthy success at the elementary level is Project Based Learning (PBL) at the Healdsburg Charter School. PBL gives our students the skills they need to work productively with others. Now, at Healdsburg Elementary School, the “rotation-station” allows our students to practice and master a variety of skills.
I believe that all educators can make a difference with all students. The superintendent, district and school administrators continue to support Healdsburg teachers with focused staff development. I believe that professional development is a key function of school leadership. Our professionals must continue to learn and improve.
What is not working and why are you suited to help make that change(s)? Unfortunately, every student is not working at grade level. There is a disparate success rate between student groups. I believe we must identify what our students need to know and be able to do in order to be successful at each level of their learning.
We must ask, ”What knowledge and skills do our professional educators need to ensure student success for all of our student populations?” We must make sure that all our teachers and administrators have the understanding and skills they need to make student achievement certain. Through continuous assessment and testing, we can determine whether a student has mastered a subject. When a student is struggling, we must provide the teachers with the understanding and ability to support that student. I feel that I am extremely suited to work with colleagues on these challenges because I have had proven success at schools and districts with populations similar to ours.
I enjoy working collaboratively with professionals. As trustee, I will be actively involved in the progress of all our students, questioning progress, examining assessment data and seeking solutions to supporting all students in Healdsburg.
Anything else we should have asked? I look forward to serving Healdsburg students, their parents and my community.
mikepotmesil.com.
