Candidates Map Out Agendas For Berkeley School Board

Student achievement and sound fiscal policy may take center stage this fall in the campaign for three seats on the Berkeley school board.

Berkeley Unified School District Board of Directors incumbents Nancy Riddle and Shirley Issel are running alongside Karen Hemphill, who narrowly lost in 2004, and newcomers David Baggins and Norma Harrison.

Riddle is finishing her first four-year term, while Issel is finishing her second term. Board members John Selawsky and Joaquin Rivera are half-way through their terms. Terry Doran is not seeking a third term this year.

Both Riddle and Issel advocate budgeting reforms and student achievement.

"As a board member, I ask the public to have patience while we straighten out the financial system," Issel said.

Hemphill echoed the incumbents' intention to clean up the district's finances.

"If elected, I will ... apply my knowledge of organizational development and budgeting to ensure that the student achievement plan is tied to a sound fiscal plan," she said in her campaign statement.

Hemphill has held positions on various city and school committees and is currently co-president of the Berkeley High School Parent Teacher Student Association.

The district's financial plan should include partnerships with institutions outside Berkeley public schools such as UC Berkeley and nonprofit groups, Hemphill said.

Baggins said he would address issues with overcrowding, poor performance and violence in Berkeley schools by restricting transfer students from nearby school districts.

Baggins also said Berkeley schools must develop a curriculum that is more appealing to students.

"We have to target resources and create academic conditions that promote a culture of success," he said.

Baggins is a professor of political science at CSU East Bay, the author of three books about public administration, and holds a law degree and a doctorate in public administration.

Issel said officials need to direct resources beyond school reforms to promote student achievement, especially for poor and minority students.

"The city must come together to address social disparities in kindergarten readiness, where the achievement gap starts," she said. "We also need to educate parents in parenting practices."

But not all the school board candidates agree with the conventional definition of achievement.

Harrison, a realtor and workers' rights activist, said she wants to help eradicate age discrimination in schools and change the traditional framework to reflect socialist ideals.

"Achievement in the world is abusive to getting along and enjoying life," she said. "The key to integrating people is to remove achievement."

Harrison says she just wants her ideas considered.

"I'm not saying to close the schools tomorrow," she said. "I'm offering an opportunity to move ahead."

Riddle, Issel and Hemphill support renewing the Berkeley Schools Excellence Project, which taxes property owners to fund class-size reductions. Harrison and Baggins have not publicly endorsed the measure.

Issel said her challengers in the race will provide the opportunity to discuss educational issues.

"Challengers are there to raise issues," she said. "I want to interpret to stakeholders what's on center stage, to help them understand where they are, and where they're going."

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