Oct 5, 2007

Mandarin program infuses debate

Decision-making process, choice offerings still questioned

By Kristina Peterson / Daily News Staff Writer

While rarely stated directly, concerns over last year's divisive Mandarin immersion debate permeated many of the questions Palo Alto Unified School Board candidates faced at a forum Thursday night.

At the forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, the six candidates vying for three open school board spots repeatedly addressed questions from local parents on charter schools, choice programs, board decision making and donation acceptance policies - all contentious issues at one point in last year's battle.

While most were reluctant to take sides in the community debate and the board's ultimate decision to launch a pilot Mandarin immersion program next fall, the candidates deliberately emphasized their ability to make quick, yet thorough decisions and listen to the parties involved.

High-tech executive Claude Ezran offered the most direct criticism, saying the board showed "a lack of leadership" when faced with the Mandarin immersion debate and "allowed the issue to fester."

"I would've encouraged the two sides to come together with the help of a professional mediator," said the French-born Ezran, who emphasized his global perspective throughout the forum.

Wynn Hausser, a communications professional, emphasized his occupational skills and repeatedly said if elected he would serve as an "active listener."

And when directly asked, freelance writer Pingyu Liu and former attorney and educator Barbara Klausner said they would discourage the formation of charter schools in the district.

"Generally I would say when you have a healthy, thriving district like Palo Alto, it's not an appropriate place for charter schools," Klausner said.

Liu said that in the district, "we provide enough diversity for all kids" and that a charter school would not serve "the benefit of the whole district."

When asked under what circumstances she would ax choice programs, community volunteer and former businesswoman Melissa Baten Caswell said she would do so only if the budget were cut dramatically.

"Our choice programs bring a lot of richness to the district," she said.

Incumbent Camille Townsend, the school board president, did not touch on the issue nor did she list her original vote for the Mandarin program among her three most important decisions on the board. Instead she listed adopting the budget, hiring the new superintendent and the board's pledge to forge a new relationship with Superintendent Kevin Skelly and his staff.

"The district is doing well and our children are doing well," said Townsend, who maintained there is still room for improvement and advocated her "proven leadership."

In one of the lighter questions of the evening, candidates were asked what chores their children perform at home. Table setting, laundry and help with cooking were all listed, but Ezran drew the most laughs with his dramatic announcement.

"I am pleased to say my lawn signs were assembled in Palo Alto by child labor," he said.



E-mail Kristina Peterson at kpeterson@dailynewsgroup.com.