By KATHERINE PETERSEN
At least four people have expressed interest in replacing former trustee Andrew Springmeyer on the high school district board.
Springmeyer forfeited his post after missing three straight months of meetings. The former trustee said he skipped the meetings because of infighting on the board, a harassment claim filed against him by the district's negotiator and disagreements with the majority about hiring practices.
The school board has until March 15 to either make an appointment or call a special election--a decision which may fall to only three board members. At the Feb. 4 meeting, Board President Randy Okamura announced that Trustee Frank Pelkey was ill and may not attend meetings for a month or two.
Former school board candidate Otis Halliday, who lost his 1996 school board election bid by just 1.7 percentage points, is known as the teachers' choice to fill the vacancy. While the retired Lynbrook teacher will bring this point of view to the board, he realizes he would be one vote on a five-member board.
"I think a board should have balance. I understand the needs of teachers, administrators, students and parents. I have a lot of loyalty to this district and believe I have the ability to help do what's right for it," he said.
Cindy Pocius would like to accept the challenge of a spot on the school board. She served on several committees in the San Lorenzo Unified School District and kept abreast of activity in the high school district. Her daughter attends Homestead High School.
In 1994, Pocius took fifth place in a six-way race for three seats on the high school board, with 9.7 percent of the vote. The fourth-place candidate won 19 percent of the vote. In 1996 she ran in the Republican primary for the 22nd district of the State Assembly. She came in third, with 15.2 percent of the votes.
"I've always wanted to serve on a school board because I think education is extremely important, and school boards are the last elected positions that don't have money attached," she said. "I'm right of center, but some people think I fall off."
Pocius feels too much money is spent on administration, yet she is not a union supporter.
"I think they reward mediocrity rather than excellence," she said.
Michael Henningsen, a 1986 graduate of Fremont High School, feels his experience in working with school districts would make him a strong contender to fill the board vacancy.
Henningsen, a manager for Brook Furniture sales and leasing in Santa Clara, came up short when he ran for the Cupertino Union School District Board in 1995. Henningsen drew 13.2 percent of the vote, coming in fourth place in a four-way race for two seats.
He was president of the Fremont Union High School Foundation until December 1996 and has served on its board for three years.
"I think I can bring an objective perspective. I think the district has come a long way, and it disheartens me that it's kind of fallen by the wayside again," he said.
Henningsen said he is well-versed in school district finances after serving on budget advisory committees for both Fremont Union and Cupertino Union school districts.
Karin Costa, chair of the high school district's budget advisory committee, may seek appointment to the school board. She represents Lynbrook High School and the Cupertino-Fremont Council of PTAs on the committee. Costa has worked with schools on district, county and state levels. She is the PTA president at Miller Junior High and has been asked to serve on the Teen-Parent Advisory Board for the high school district.
"I think I'm a perfect choice to fold in because of my experience with PTA and involvement in the community. I have a broad base," she said.
The board was set to discuss the appointment process at their meeting Feb. 11. If the board's appointee is petitioned by enough registered voters--about 1,600-- the county's superintendent of schools will call a special election, which would cost the district about $269,000. The board also has the option of letting voters fill the vacancy during the next general election, which takes place in November.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, February 12, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.