ELECTION: Four running for two seats in Ravenswood

Palesoo is seeking a second term, three others look for first election to board

by Charlie Breitrose

Four candidates will be on the November ballot in the race for two seats on the Ravenswood City School District board of trustees. The lone incumbent running is M.F. Chester Palesoo, who is completing his first term on the board. Donna Rutherford, who would be up for re-election, is giving up her seat on the board to run for the East Palo Alto City Council this fall.

Challenging Palesoo are Edward Moss, a retired mechanic for United Airlines; Regino Navarro, who runs a restaurant in Belle Haven; and Jacqueline Wallace Greene, an administrator in the mechanical engineering department at Stanford.

Moss, 64, has run twice for the Ravenswood board, in 1992 and 1996. The last time he ran, Moss narrowly missed being elected, falling 10 votes short of Palesoo. His focuses this year are the same as the last time he ran.

"I want to make sure the board is accountable to the parents," Moss said. "And I want to update the curriculum."

The East Palo Alto resident has had five children go through the Ravenswood schools over a span of 30 years. During that time he was involved with schools and was on site councils. He still serves on the site council at Belle Haven Elementary School.

In his work as a mechanic, Moss became a licensed contractor. He said this background could be helpful as the district faces more construction on its schools. Moss favors expanding the schools.

"The district hasn't gained any ground space, but with class-size reduction there are more portable classrooms," Moss said. "I'd like to see another bond and build second and third stories on the schools. This would give more play space."

Navarro, 35, didn't go to Ravenswood schools, but he did attend local high schools, and he has one child who will be going to the local schools. His second child is in a school for children with hearing problems.

After working at Raychem for 16 years, working his way up from a stock clerk to now being involved in international sales for the company, the Menlo Park resident opened a taqueria with his brother and brother-in-law, Su Casa Taqueria.

As a Latino, Navarro said he wants to make sure people of his race have a voice, along with all the groups in East Palo Alto and east Menlo Park. He sees changes coming to the area and its schools.

"The schools are growing so fast," Navarro said. "There are a lot of things going on, things that need to be looked at to see if all the communities (in the area) have a voice."

Navarro said his knowledge of Spanish would be a plus. He has been involved with neighborhood associations and other organizations in the community.

Wallace Greene could not be reached for comment. In her candidate statement, the 35-year-old East Palo Alto resident said she has two children in the Ravenswood district and currently serves on the James Flood Elementary School site council. She wrote that preparing children for higher education is a key to their success.

"We must provide our parents with the necessary resources to aid their elementary school-age children in maintaining high academic standards," Wallace Greene wrote. "Parents should send their students to public schools because they want to, not because they have to."

Wallace Greene ran unsuccessfully for the East Palo Alto Sanitary District last year.

Palesoo, 40, said he is proud of the things that have occurred in the Ravenswood schools during his time on the board.

"Technology is really picking up. We are working hard with parents so they know what is going on at school," Palesoo said. "Student test scores have elevated more than any other district."

One thing Palesoo would like to work on, if he is elected to a second term, is helping staff morale. He would like to improve salaries and make it easier to live in the area, despite the rising cost of living. Palesoo said he works well with the other board members.

"I'm a strong believer in team effort," Palesoo said. "I have the vision, consensus-building ability, team-player attitude and the expertise to lead the Ravenswood City School district."

Palesoo has three children, all of whom attend private schools. Currently, Palesoo works as an employment counselor at Opportunities Industrial Center West (OICW), a nonprofit work training center in Menlo Park.

The election will be held Nov. 7. Voters from East Palo Alto and parts of Menlo Park can vote for the Ravenswood school board members.

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