Letter to the Editor: Faculty Assoc. Endorses 3 School Board Candidates

[Editor's note: The following was submitted by Angela Sveda, President, Belmont-Redwood Shores Faculty Association. If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, email to joan.dentler@patch.com.]

Dear Editor,

Teachers Support:  Bhopale, Nishimoto, Velschow and Measure R

November 5th signals a “win” for the community because we have School Board elections and the ability to renew funding for our local schools.  The Belmont-Redwood Shores Faculty Association puts forward the following recommendations for your consideration, and thanks you for voting.  (To locate your polling place, please click here.  To register to vote online, please click here.)

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BRSFA is pleased to announce its official endorsement of Suvarna Bhopale, Naomi Nishimoto, and Chuck Velschow for the Belmont-Redwood Shores School Board.  We further thank the community for its unending support of our students, educators, and schools – and announce our official endorsement of Measure R. 

Background - All seven School Board candidates sought endorsement from the Belmont-Redwood Shores Faculty Association.  BRSFA is an organization of over 200 professionals in the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District. We are the teachers, psychologists, school nurses, speech and language therapists, counselors, and program specialists who work with your children on a daily basis. Many of us hold Master degrees, some of us hold Doctorate degrees, and all of us are California certificated and committed to the advancement of public education.  Of the seven candidates seeking endorsement, BRSFA has endorsed the following three for your consideration:

Suvarna Bhopale / Campaign Website / Facebook / Endorse / Get a Yard Sign

Suvarna is collaborative.  As a resident of Redwood Shores since 2003, Bhopale has served at Sandpiper Elementary as a Room Parent, on the Site Council, as PTA Advocacy Chair, and as President of the Bridgeport Homeowners’ Association.  Bhopale understands the importance of strong, curricular programs and the need to fully support the transition to the Common Core.  She is a proponent of establishing district-wide programs to support all of our students (English Language Learners, Gifted and Talented Education, etc.) and is a proponent of proactive collaboration.  Bhopale earned her law degree from Georgetown Law and is a member of the Bar in California, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.  She has volunteered to stay at home and invest time with her family and to volunteer for our schools.  We look forward to her collaborative and informed leadership style.

Naomi Nishimoto / Campaign Website / Facebook / Endorse / Get a Yard Sign

Naomi is respected.  As a resident of Belmont for six years, Nishimoto has spent many hours volunteering in classrooms and attending Board meetings.  Out of all the seven candidates, Nishimoto is the only non-incumbent who has attended over 41 board meetings (over 125 hours) to understand our school district’s successes and issues first-hand.  Additionally, Nishimoto has spoken at many of our Board meetings, presenting clear and detailed research in her commentaries.  She was raised in Berkeley by a single parent and attended the local public schools, later becoming the women’s coach for the National Kendo Team (Japanese fencing) in 2006 and a licensed landscape architect and Associate at DES Architects+Engineers.  We look forward to her team-orientated, detailed leadership style and proactive approach.

Chuck is proven.  As a BRSSD Trustee since April 2011, Velschow has not governed from abroad; instead, he has preferred to engage every one and listen.  As an exemplar of good governance, Velschow was the only School Board member in the past several years who visited school sites during the day to talk with educators, students, and see programs in action.  He is even a former student of the District and is going into his 18th year teaching, with the past 12 years in the Sequoia Union High School District. Velschow further earned his Masters in Governance through the California State School Board Association in September 2013 and continues to bring all stakeholders to the table.  We look forward to his continued, positive presence and advocacy for public education throughout the District.

Teachers Support Measure R – Campaign Website / Facebook / Endorse / Get a Yard Sign

BRSFA has officially endorsed Measure R to protect the high-quality and well-rounded education that students receive in our local schools.  Measure R renews funding for local schools without increasing taxes.  It will protect math, science, reading and writing programs, support school libraries, attract and retain qualified teachers, and maintain a well-rounded curriculum, including music and art.

Meet the Candidates

By voting for Bhopale, Nishimoto, Velschow and Measure R, you will create a new School Board composed of 2 women and 3 men who share a proactive vision of collaboration for our District, and you will renew funding for local schools without increasing taxes.

Running for public office is no easy task, so each of the seven candidates is to be commended for stepping up into the public arena.  To meet the seven candidates and become informed about their platforms, come and attend the School Board Candidate Forum sponsored by the Redwood Shores Community Association and the Belmont-Redwood Shores PTA Council tomorrow (Monday, September 23), 7pm at Nesbit Elementary School.

Ultimately, thank you for voting on November 5th.  Again, to locate your polling place, please click here.  To register to vote online, please click here.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration,

Angela Sveda

President, Belmont-Redwood Shores Faculty Association