Candidate for
Board Member; Los Altos School District

Bill Cooper Candidate for Los Altos School Board "We can do better!"

Within the United States, there is no government agency or service that so closely and profoundly impacts our children as does our public school system. For nine years, from Kindergarten # 8th grade, the Los Altos School District will be the foundation of our children's educational experience, an experience that will affect them for the rest of their lives.

I strongly believe that it's critical that our school board consist of leaders who have a day-to-day connection to our whole reason for being: our children, our students.

As a parent, very happily immersed in our district, I currently serve in a number of capacities that gives me a much stronger relationship and understanding of our community than I could ever have, were my children not attending our schools.

I currently serve as Cubmaster of Los Altos/Mountain View Cub Scout Pack 36. I'm a Little League Coach. At Springer School, I serve as Literature Docent and on the Site Council. Last Spring, I completed a 3-year term on the district's Curriculum Council.

I also offer something no board member can offer, as I'm a Mountain View resident, home to nearly 800 students attending school in our district. This affords me the ability to effectively work with the Mountain View City Council on matters that affect both our students AND teachers.

As a Springer parent, next year, I'll be able to offer the board a first-hand perspective as a day-to-day witness of what's working and what's not, at one of the first off-site camp schools.

And, one of the most the most important elements I bring to the party is that as a parent, actively involved in our community, I can serve other parents as a conduit of opinion from district parents to the board.

It goes without saying, we've got a terrific district but we can do even better. I believe we can set the bar even higher!

I have several goals that would be a very high priority were I fortunate enough to earn a seat on the board:

- Work with the community-at-large to offer it a better relationship with the board. I like interacting with people, I enjoy hearing other people's perspectives, and even if I don't agree with a particular viewpoint, I believe I would be very effective in letting parents know that the door is always open to this particular board member.

- Make sure we do everything possible to increase teacher retention. Among other things, as a Mountain View resident, I would be in the unique position to work on enlisting the efforts of our own city government to potentially provide more affordable housing.

- I would work to see our reconstruction program through, making sure we learn from our mistakes that now leave Phase 2 without adequate funding.

- As an active parent within the community, with two children attending school in the district, utilize my relationship with the community to help rally voters around a new parcel tax that's essential to preserving the quality of education we as parents have come to expect for our children.

- Help to promote a better-rounded educational experience for our children by offering a much stronger arts component to the curriculum than is currently offered.

With your support, it will be my honor and privilege to serve on your chilrens' behalf. Thank you very much and please remember to cast your vote on November 6.