Oct 7 2018

Vote Yes or No on Measure BB: City Charter Changes –

Voters will decide November 6, 2018 on whether or not to change the City Charter by Measure BB.

Amendments to Piedmont’s City Charter require approval by a majority of Piedmonters voting on the proposed Charter changes, Measure BB.  If BB is rejected by voters, the City Charter stays the same until such time as voters approve changes.  All parts of Measure BB are presented as a package, meaning the entire measure is considered an inseparable whole.

The City Council placed Measure BB on the ballot following consideration of the proposed amendments at a number of meetings. The concepts for the changes were generated internally by City staff and the City Council.

Opposition has arisen against Measure BB.  Arguments opposing Measure BB have primarily focused on lack of transparency and expenditure problems associated with elimination of contract bidding requirements, removal of the Council’s bi-monthly meeting requirement, and extension of wait time for Council members seeking re-election.

BB changes a variety of Charter rules: removal of thresholds for City contract bidding, record-keeping, public notice requirements, elimination of the two required monthly Council meetings, and allowance of sole source contractors and consultants, plus more.

BB doubles the length of time a former Council member must wait before seeking re-election to the City Council to a wait time of 8 years instead of 4 years out of office.  The School Board did not choose to change the 4 year time period before former Board members could seek re-election to the Board of Education.

Look for Measure BB near the end of your Piedmont ballot to vote “Yes” or “No.”

Measure BB, as proposed on the ballot: 

CHARTER AMENDMENT MEASURE BB “Shall the measure amending the Charter of the City of Piedmont to modify procedures for filling of vacancies in elected offices for City Council and Board of Education for the Piedmont Unified School District, modify term limits for the City Council, and making other clarifying amendments regarding City recordkeeping, format of City ordinances, public posting, City contract approval, operation of City Council meetings, and other minor technical amendments, be adopted?”

Arguments both for and against Measure BB can be found in every voter’s Voter Information Guide. The arguments are also linked below:

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A partial outline of the proposed Measure BB Charter changes are noted below:

  •  SECTION 2.03 – City Council Term of Office
    Lengthens the period of time in which members of the City Council who have served two full terms on the Council must wait before running for the Council again from four years to eight years.
  •  SECTIONS 2.05 (C) and 7.04 – Filling of Vacancies on Elected Bodies
    Lengthens the period in which the City Council and Board of Education have to fill a vacancy in their respective membership from thirty to sixty days. Provides that if the respective body does not act within the sixty day limit, a special election will be held to fill the vacancy.
  •  SECTION 2.07 (A) – Meetings
    Removes the requirement that the Council meet twice in each month, replacing it with a requirement that the Council meet regularly and sets a goal of meeting twice in each month.
  •  SECTIONS 2.07 (C) and 7.06 – Meetings
    Removes archaic, unnecessary, and difficult to implement provisions which allow for fewer than a quorum of members of either the City Council or Board of Education to compel the attendance of other members at a meeting.
  •  SECTION 2.12 – Ordinances in General
    Conforms the enacting clause of ordinances to modern practice.Modernizes the requirement for posting of ordinances, requiring that they be posted electronically, rather than on the city bulletin board. Also directs the City Clerk to post ordinances in a manner which ensures maximum availability to the public, especially in times of emergency.
  •  SECTION 2.15 (A) – Authentication and Recording; Codification; Printing Modernizes this section by removing the requirement that ordinances and resolutions be kept in a fully indexed book. The City’s electronic records management system presently serves this function.
  •  SECTION 3.02 – Official Bonds
    Removes the requirement that the City maintain faithful performance bonds for certain officers of the City, as faithful performance is now covered under the City’s insurance programs.
  •  SECTION 4.11 – Contract Work
    The amendment to this section removes reference to the state law threshold requirements for public bidding, which would clarify the City’s authority to set public bidding requirements for contracts pursuant to local ordinance.
  •  SECTION 5.10 – Appointments and Promotions
    The proposed amendment to this section modernizes the prohibition against employment discrimination to include all classes currently protected under U.S. and state law, as well additional classes that may be added in the future.

READ the entire City staff report HERE

Oct 7 2018

OPINION: School Board Candidate Titan Saved Piedmont Millions

We have lived in this beautiful city of Piedmont for twenty years. As working professionals, we don’t have hundreds of hours to attend long board meetings and read dense financial reports filled with complex financial calculus.  That’s how Dr. Titan found out about the expensive financing schemes that did not improve the schools but cost taxpayers unnecessarily high interest charges.  We’re grateful to Dr. Titan, a father and mathematician, for devoting his time and interest on the finances of our schools since 2013.  He helped save us $26 million once and he might save an additional $26 million dollars!  Piedmonters will be well served with Dr. Titan on the School Board.

Sincerely,
Wayne Leong and Suzanna Chan, Piedmont Residents

Oct 7 2018

OPINION: Amal Smith Brings Financial Savvy to School Board

We are pleased to offer our endorsement of Amal Smith for School Board.

Amal is a valued member of our school board who is deeply invested in our community. We appreciate her commitment to giving back to the district after benefitting from a solid K-12 education for her two sons. Amal is a champion of student wellness and we admire her passion for ensuring that our students are both happy and high achieving.

Amal has a proven track record of working well with others through her prior volunteer work in Piedmont and her endorsements by all of her fellow current school board members. Further, her experience in higher education at both the University of California and UCSF is an asset in navigating the complex relationships between the many stakeholders of our school system: students, teachers, administrators, staff and parents.

With her deep background in finance, Amal will be especially useful in what we expect to be continued turbulent years ahead with regard to budget. With CalSTRS using an unrealistic expected rate of return of 7%, Piedmont must expect further erosion of our operating budget to fund pension liabilities. Amal is the kind of financially savvy operator we will need to analyze our expected shortfalls and cooperate with others to address them.

School Board representation requires a heavy investment from both the candidate and the community. Let’s take advantage of the four years Amal and Piedmont has invested and reap more fruitful work from a capable professional who is already up to speed on our district’s issues and dynamics.

– Dion and Amy Lim, Piedmont Residents

Oct 6 2018

OPINION: Reasons for Julie Caskey on School Board

Support for transparency and inclusiveness of our school planning and decision-making process.

I’m writing in support of Julie Caskey’s campaign to serve on our Piedmont School Board. I hope your readers can benefit from this perspective.

My wife and I moved to Piedmont from nearby Oakland a few years ago, soon after our first baby was born. Frankly, we were ambivalent. We had heard a lot about Piedmont: some good, some bad, but always with conviction.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long after moving in for most of our concerns to disappear. Our neighbors have been amazing – welcoming, considerate, and clearly proud of the community they have built. And who can complain about a fire department that will not only respond in minutes, but is also willing to host a 3-year old birthday party?

That said, there is one question that remains for us and the other new parents we meet – will the schools be a good fit for our kids? We each have our own apprehensions about our children’s education, especially in the context of public schooling. For some, the issue is academic rigor. For others: diversity and inclusion. And of course, there’s nowhere near enough math. Or art. Or sports. Or…

You get the point.

But there’s one concern all new Piedmont parent all share: that our concerns won’t be heard. This is especially true for those of us who don’t have the benefit of familiarity with the system, the process, or the individuals managing Piedmont’s schools.

I’m voting for Julie Caskey for the Piedmont School Board because one of her biggest priorities is improving the transparency and inclusiveness of our school planning and decision-making process. No matter who we are, each of us wants to know that our issues and concerns are being heard, and to at least understand how our input fits into the process, even if we can’t always get the result we want.

Julie is one of those great neighbors that I’ve gotten to know since moving to Piedmont. She has spent her whole life advocating for those in her community, professionally as a civil rights and child advocacy lawyer, and personally as a volunteer, most recently focused on our children and schools here in Piedmont. Even more important: she has four wonderful children, including one in elementary school, so she still remembers what it’s like to be new parent and freaked out about just about everything, but especially our kids’ education. I hope you’ll join me in supporting Julie’s candidacy for the School Board.

Sincerely,

Ilan Gur, Piedmont Resident

Oct 2 2018

Piedmont Senior Facilities, Taxes, Witter Field Rebuild Disruption, STEAM Building Plans

September 26th School Board Meeting

On September 26th, 2018, I attended the Piedmont Unified School District’s Board of Education meeting. The meeting started with the discussion of the school’s decision to hire substitute teachers to teach the online physics and Spanish classes. A representative for the teachers voiced concern with this, and argued that those jobs belong to real teachers.

I agree with his argument, although this is a very difficult situation for the school, I believe they should be doing more to make teaching at Piedmont High School more realistic.

The second topic was the Giving Campaign. One of the organizers of the campaign announced that the Giving Campaign had just begun, and was off to a great start. She also mentioned that the campaign helps teachers afford bay area living, and their donations will help the hiring situation for new teachers.

Next, Max Roitblat, ASB president, gave a rundown of everything that had been going on events at the high school since the last meeting and the safe driving and consent assembly coming up, the new online courses, progress reports, the senior picnic, and homecoming week.

After this, a Piedmont resident talked about the quality of asphalt around Piedmont recreational areas and issues concerning senior citizens. He argued that Piedmont could be doing more to improve senior recreation facilities, especially compared to some other districts near us, and  seniors should be given income based senior exemption of school taxes, given the abnormally high taxes in Piedmont.

Following this, two senior girls brought up an issue concerning school bathrooms, claiming the girls bathroom has a lot of defects and needs work.

Next, Pierce Mcdonald-Powell, a Piedmont City Planner, talked about wireless electronics in the school system. She gave an update on the wireless communication facilities, and answered questions from the Board.

Pete Palmer, the School construction manager, gave an update on the new STEAM building, the new Alan Harvey Theater, and the new field. He included a timeline and goals for the project, closures of the current Alan Harvey Theater, and Witter Field, and updated designs of the Alan Harvey Theater and STEAM building.

I decided to voice my concern about the rebuilding of Witter Field. I asked how students, especially underclassmen, will be able to manage rides to the temporary practice field at Laney College, and where the home games will be played.

I also argued that deciding to redo the field over the course of just one sport is unfair to that sport, and it would be much more fair to rebuild the field during half of two different sports.  I stated this would hurt the team because we would not have home field advantage, unlike other teams.

This experience was fairly disappointing. Although the topic we debated is still being planned, I felt that the Board could not answer most of my questions. Also, I felt that they ignored my arguments.

Similarly to the treatment of the teacher representative, they thanked me for my opinion and moved on, without addressing any of my concerns. After the meeting was over, I interviewed Megan Pillsbury about her experience. When I asked why she attended, she said she running for a seat on the School Board, and had been attending the past few meetings in order to learn more about the School Board.

by Sachiel Newbrun, Piedmont High School Senior

Oct 2 2018

OPINION: Julie Caskey for School Board

 I’ve had the pleasure working side-by-side with Julie Caskey for the past few years in connection with the Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Committee (PADC). To say that Julie brings bountiful energy and doggedness to everything she does is an understatement. As a Board Member, these traits will serve Julie well.

As key organizers of “Let’s Talk,” the community-wide, civil discourse workshops offered last February and, again, this past August, I got to see Julie in action. From initial planning meetings to content development, sponsor outreach, and communication activities, Julie demonstrated critical, strategic and collaborative thinking and effectiveness in all things. For example, Julie was able to get every single parent-led school club to donate even a very short amount of time. This remarkable feat takes equal parts tenacity and strong relations, which Julie has created in our community during all of her hours of volunteer week.

Finally, I also know that Julie will continue to work on important issues including building a more inclusive community that supports all students.

Jill Lindenbaum, Piedmont Resident

Sep 29 2018

OPINION: Re-elect Amal Smith to School Board

Editor:

We strongly endorse Amal Smith for re-election to the School Board.

Amal has an admirable track record of volunteerism and leadership in our town from Beach Parent Organization (BPO), PEF, support groups and for the last four years as a member of the School Board, experience and leadership that is supplemented by her 28 year career in higher education.

Amal’s dedication to the Piedmont community and our schools is unwavering. Amal is not just committed to an education for all students but also to providing them with the social and emotional tools they need to succeed as young adults through high school and beyond.

Through my own volunteerism on parent club and other community boards I have worked with Amal and am continually impressed by her ability to relate to parents at all stages of their child(ren)’s education, to listen, to process copious information and to provide valuable insights, thought provoking questions and/or relevant next steps or solutions.

Amal is a strong leader and communicator whose candid responses, forethought and constructive reflection all help to better educate parents and meet the needs of our schools and our students.

Piedmont is lucky to have such an exceptional candidate willing to run for re-election. We hope you will join us in supporting Amal Smith for re-election to the School Board.

Charlotte and Mike Ero, Piedmont Residents

Sep 27 2018

OPINION: 3 Reasons to Support Julie Caskey for School Board

Dear Editor:

I am writing to endorse Julie Caskey for Piedmont’s School Board for three main reasons.

  1. First, she has dedicated 30 years of her life to improving the lives and advancing the interests of women and children. This is not a new hobby taken up in her leisure–this is an area of passion.

  2. Second, she has “skin in the game” as a mother of four children, ranging in age from elementary, to middle, to high school. She is connected to and actively engaged in school and community issues.

  3. Lastly, she communicates and adheres to a set of values that I share. The most important of these is inclusiveness, which I believe is a critical gap in the way the School Board and the Piedmont School system approach their decision making and priorities.

Please join me in supporting Julie for the Piedmont School Board.

Sincerely,

Amelia Wu, Piedmont Resident

 

Sep 25 2018

LWVP Election Forum Thursday, Oct. 11

The League of Women Voters of Piedmont is hosting an election forum in advance of the November 6, 2018 General Election.

The forum will feature candidates for City Council and School Board as well as pros & cons for Piedmont measures BB & CC to amend Piedmont’s City Charter.

Piedmont Election Forum

Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Piedmont City Council Chambers

The League of Women Voters of Piedmont will host an election forum for the June 5, 2018 California Primary. Candidates for School Board (4) and City Council (4) will be on hand to present their positions and take questions from the audience.

A presentation of pros & cons for local measures BB & CC will be presented by supporters and opponents of the City Charter changes. This event is open to the public. Those unable to attend are invited to view a simulcast of the event on KCOM-TV, channel 27 and also from the City website under videos.

Sep 21 2018

OPINION: Vote Julie Caskey for School Board

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We are writing to you in support of our close friend Julie Caskey, and to ask you to join us in voting for Julie for the Piedmont School Board on November 6.

We have known Julie since she moved to Piedmont seven years ago. In that time she has been a tireless volunteer in our schools, and advocate for our children. As important, she has demonstrated herself to be an strong ethical and fair-minded leader of our community, traits we need more than ever in our schools and in our town.

Our schools are often considered to be the Crown Jewels of our community, and are currently facing challenges on multiple fronts including teacher retention, fiscal planning, and a national political climate that makes it imperative that our schools teach not just academics, but also compassion and kindness. Julie is precisely the sort of leader our School Board needs.

Julie has deep connections throughout our town and school district, based on the work she has done and the conversations she has conducted. She has worked with and earned the support of parents, teachers, and administrators through her unswerving dedication to “students first.” As a mother of four children currently in all three levels of the Piedmont schools, she has served in an incredible variety of roles covering academic, financial, and diversity topics.

As a practicing public interest lawyer for two decades, Julie worked as a law guardian for children, a public defender, an immigration and civil rights attorney, and a staff attorney for the United States District Court in San Francisco. She brings the the legal background and leadership experience we need on the school board, especially in these times of teacher shortages, incidents of racism and sexism, and financial challenges. She’ll also be the only parent of younger kids on the School Board, as there are only two high school parents on the five member board.

In her professional and volunteer activities, Julie has demonstrated over and over again her commitment to service and to community. She is incredibly well qualified to serve on the school board, and will be a powerful, independent advocate for our children and our schools.

Please see her website, julie4piedmont.com for more on her background.

We could not be prouder or more excited to endorse Julie Caskey for the Piedmont School board, and hope you will join us in that support. Please join hundreds of Piedmont residents, elected officials, and community leaders, and vote for Julie Caskey for Piedmont School Board on November 6.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Shook and Cisco DeVries
Campaign Co-Chairs
Julie Caskey for Piedmont Schools

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