Publication Date: Wednesday Oct 28, 1998
Las Lomitas schools: Challenger slate targets Fichtner
by Jennifer Desai
A trio of challengers running as a slate are hoping to capture three open seats on the Las Lomitas School District Board and oust incumbent David Fichtner.
The three--Tim Howard, Libby Tyree-Taylor and Mary Lee Wachtel--stress the need for building consensus on the five-member board. They say the district has been stalled by Fichtner and that his vow to campaign openly against a bond election, even if the rest of the board votes to put a bond on the ballot, is a sign that he is not willing to work with the board in a constructive way.
Fichtner said the school board has been overly focused on bonds and construction, to the detriment of curriculum development and overall excellence.
The three challengers are running a cooperative campaign and share an election treasurer and the endorsement of the Las Lomitas teachers association.
Each of the three stresses that they do not necessarily agree on the main issue facing the district: whether to reopen the La Loma School site, or construct more classrooms on the two existing school sites to handle rising enrollment.
The two other seats up for grabs came about because board members Lee Anderson and Kerry Bouchier decided to step down.
Jennifer Desai writes for the Almanac, the Weekly's sister publication in Menlo Park.
David Fichtner
Civic Service: Trustee, Las Lomitas School District for past two years; volunteer for the Emily Project
Profession: Retired director of business development for research division, IBM
Education: B.A., San Jose State University
Years in district: 21; Ladera resident
Age: 54
Family: Married; one daughter
Issues
La Loma: If additional space is needed, the board should reopen the La Loma site, rather than build more classrooms.
Bond: Fichtner says he is opposed to a proposed bond issue to fund construction of additional classrooms in the district.
Comments: "Our schools can be more academically challenging. Where's the excitement?"
Tim Howard
Civic Service: President, Las Lomitas Education Foundation; school volunteer
Profession: Investment management with CHF Capital, Palo Alto
Education: A.B., Stanford University; M.B.A., Harvard
Years in district: 10; Atherton resident for past 7 years
Age: 46
Family: Married; three children
Issues
La Loma: He does not support the reopening of the La Loma site. He says that lost revenue from renting the facility, combined with increased operating costs, would outweigh the benefits of adding space.
Bond: He thinks that asking for an increase in the parcel tax--which would allow renovation--and adding some new construction at the Las Lomitas School would better serve district needs.
Comments: "For the past two or three years, the board has not been an effective instrument. The school has been running faster than the board."
Libby Tyree-Taylor
Civic Service: PTA president for both district schools; member of various district committees
Profession: Teacher for 12 years
Education: B.A., M.S., University of Pennsylvania
Years in district: 13; former Sharon Heights resident, now living in Atherton
Age: 48
Family: Married; two children
Issues
La Loma: She opposes reopening the La Loma site because the district needs rental income to fund its programs.
Bond: The district's need to take care of deferred maintenance projects is itself an argument for a bond issue, she says.
Comments: "I moved here from Pennsylvania to be part of a vibrant public school system. I think the school board is an extension of the school, and I think the board has gotten stalled."
Mary Wachtel
Civic Service: PTA president, Las Lomitas School; active in Las Lomitas Education Foundation; founding officer, Las Lomitas League for Afterschool Sports and Activities
Profession: Worked as CPA for Ernst & Young; former division controller for Syntex
Education: B.A., Scripps College; M.B.A., finance, San Diego State University
Years in district: 21; Ladera resident
Age: 48
Family: Married; four chidren
Issues
La Loma Wachtel says she "isn't entirely prepared to commit to a decision" about reopening the La Loma site, but is reluctant to lose the rental income--about $400,000 a year--and take on the additional operating costs of maintaining the site for district use.
Bond: Wachtel says she would fund construction of new classrooms with a bond issue, though she would consider asking voters for a parcel tax increase as well.
Comments: Wachtel says she wants to upgrade and diversify the existing middle school elective program at La Entrada. "We're just too small to have a diverse program of electives on our own. Maybe we could work with another district, like Portola Valley, to share resources. We should also look to the community for more volunteers."
