Mike Forbes for Hillsborough School Board

By Michael M. "Forbes" Forbes

Remarks given at the Hillsborough School Forum held by the Women's League of Voters. For complete video of the forum (debate), please see: http://www.youtube.com/user/ZEALWANES?feature=mhee

I want to start by thanking Hillsborough teachers, the Hillsborough School Foundation, Superintendent Ranii, and members of the school board, past and present: thank you for making our schools what they are.

By every measure Hillsborough's schools are outstanding. They're in the top one percent of the top one percent of schools in California.

My name is Mike Forbes. I was born a San Franciscan. My mother's side of the family has resided in Hillsborough since World War II. I'm the product of both public and private schools in my elementary and high school years. I attended College of San Mateo and transferred to the University of California. I have teaching experience in P.E. and English. I have an MBA from Point Loma Nazarene. I've been involved in real estate in one aspect or another since 2005 and today I manage an LLC. I'm the author of two books: one is about globalization and the other is about negotiation strategies and tactics. I sit on the board of two non-profits, and I volunteer with two more.

I bring with me negotiation experience, analytical skills, business acumen, and principled dedication to the 3R's.

I recently told a parent I was all about the 3R's and her response was something like, "Yes, Readiness +Response +Recovery is really important in the district emergency and disaster preparedeness plans." The 3R's I had in mind were the 3R's of our parents' generation: Readin', `Ritin', & `Rithmetic. It wasn't until much later that I thought that that comment might reveal a lot about where our collective thinking has gone with regard to education.

I think it's time to get back to basics.

Let me say that again so that you know what my candidacy is all about: I think it's time to get back to basics... With that viewpoint I bring a businessman's perspective. Business is largely in the elimination of waste; and this year the district has a projected deficit of eight hundred twenty-four thousand, one hundred and fifty one dollars. I'm sure we're going to talk all about that later; so I'm just going to leave that there. Why am I running for school board? I run to shape the debate over schools, and because I think it important for the community to examine assumptions. And I run because I think we owe future generations the chance to inherit a school system that is still in the top one percent of the top one percent. The three basic planks in my platform are:

One - Hillsborough and the board need to protect our schools from raids by Sacramento on our basic aid status and funds. Two - We're going on diet, financially. Three - Maintain offerings in art and music, and increase instruction in civics, the nature of money, and wildlife management.

Closing Remarks at Hillsborough Schools Forum (10/06/2011)

My closing remarks a laundry list of some of the ideas which I have hopefully worked into the forum tonight. They're list in what I consider order of importance.

1. Protect Hillsborough and other Basic Aid districts from raids on funds by Sacramento. I encourage everyone here to demand that Leland Yee and Jerry Hill introduce bills to safeguard these funds before the tyranny of the majority rips off your property taxes. I'm talking about something as stringent as Prop. 13 for communities with school districts that haven't already been ruined by subsidized housing.

2. Maintain and funding for art and music. This is brain food. We're going on a diet, financially.

I would cut out the excess fat. Superintendent Ranii won't say it, but the budget is not as lean as it could be. I'm thinking administration at the district office, and janitorial services. Cut out the sweets: K + 8 doesn't need foreign language and we don't need P.E. specialists. We have to get used to getting along with the things we need, not all the things we want. Meat and potatoes: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Eat your veggies: more offerings for electives or more enrichment through personalized education plans in science, technology, and more mathematics +especially math with a bent toward engineering. This is where the jobs of the future are going to be located.

3. Increase instruction in civics and financial matters. For civics: San Mateo County's democracyLIVE! program was launched in 2006. Eight schools are participating in the program, and we should get in on the act or invent something like it. I think it would be a useful exercise to have an annual essay contest on patriotism or what we mean when talk about the American Dream. Money: teaching the power of compound interest, the danger of revolving debt, the value of thrift, FICO scores, and investment vs. savings.

Anyone who wants to talk more about these things, I am always available to meet... and if you want to invite some friends and open your house for a coffee +so much the better. Thank you.