Publication Date: Wednesday Oct 28, 1998

RAVENSWOOD SCHOOLS: Outsider tries to unseat a team member

Three incumbents are trying to gain re-election by running as a team in the race for the Ravenswood City School District Board.

The three incumbents--Ruben Abrica, Lois Frontino and Bomani Siwatu--say the board is functioning successfully and want to continue the work they have begun.

Anita Castro, a parent volunteer and critic of the Ravenswood board, decided to enter the race because she believes parents lack a voice in district decisions.

"I don't see a lot of parent input being valued by the board," said Castro, who aligns herself with incumbent Donna Rutherford. Castro said she also has worked closely with City Councilwoman Myrtle Walker, a former school board member, whom she considers her mentor.

A write-in candidate has joined the race. Kimberley Sue "Kim" Turner, a parent in the district and scheduler for the Stanford Nuclear Medicine Center, wants more youth and tutoring programs after school, as well as a high school in the district.

Turner has worked for seven years as a volunteer in the Ravenswood Child Development Center. She also has the support of Donna Rutherford.

The three incumbents stress their strong working relationship.

"We have cohesiveness and structure as a board," said Frontino, a former assistant superintendent in the district. "We also look to one another in a support role in technology, because it's what (Siwatu) does as a profession. I'm very helpful in education, administration and special education. We have another person (Abrica) who is on the forefront of children learning English as a second language."

During the past four years, the board has brought several changes to the district. One accomplishment all three incumbents cite was the 1996 Measure U construction bond, which helped renovate all 10 of the districts schools, as well as contributing to the creation of a baseball and two soccer fields.

The other main area the incumbents point to is the introduction of specialized academic programs at the different schools.

Flood School specializes in math and science. Cesar Chavez Academy has a strong bilingual program. McNair School has an after-school program focusing on art and music, and Willow Oaks School's Microsociety gives students the opportunity to take part in different roles in the community within the school. A new school, the 49er Academy, serves at-risk children at risk of failing out of school.

Ruben Abrica

Age: 49

Residence: Myrtle Street, East Palo Alto

Occupation: Incumbent, community college instructor

Background: Running for a third term on the school board; teaches in the intercultural/international studies department at De Anza College; has provided assistance to the school district and at the state level in areas of testing and evaluation, instruction and parent involvement.

Goals: Continue programs started by current board; ensure all children concerns are addressed; identify and address learning problems early.

Anita Castro

Age: 33

Residence: Clarke Avenue, East Palo Alto

Occupation: Homemaker, volunteer

Background: Mother of a student at Menlo Oaks School; vice chair of Menlo Oaks site council; member of the Ravenswood district's advisory committee; secretary, board member of Drew Health Foundation; volunteers for One Way Mission, a program for homeless.

Goals: Increase role of parents in board decisions; improve communication with parents; provide tutoring for all students, not just those failing; increase after-school programs, such as arts and sports.

Lois Frontino

Age: Declined ot state

Residence: Mission Drive, East Palo Alto

Occupation: Incumbent, retired assistant superintendent

Background: Seeking second term on school board; retired as assistant superintendent in Ravenswood district in 1991; former teacher and administrator; worked with children in special education; member of National Alliance of Black School Educators, City of East Palo Alto safety and human resources commissions and the city's diversity task force.

Goals: Have all children reading at or above grade level; increase and improve science, math and technology programs; continue to improve quality of parent involvement; ensure all eighth-graders who graduate from Ravenswood schools are academically and socially prepared for high school.

Bomani Siwatu

Age: 41

Residence: Schembri Lane, East Palo Alto

Occupation: Incumbent, software quality engineer

Background: Father of three Ravenswood graduates, one child currently attending Castano School; school board liaison with Boys & Girls Club; member of city of East Palo Alto arts and culture, Year 2000 and Gateway 10 Redevelopment Project Area committees.

Goals: Have every child reading by the beginning of first grade; have every child take high school algebra by the end of eighth grade; create a comprehensive technology curriculum; focus student discipline more on student responsibility and accountability; increase after-school programs such as homework centers, band, science and math clubs and sports.