I’m running for the Acalanes School board.
I’m not an educator, but I think I’d be a great addition to the board. I’ve served on a school board and several condo boards, and I’m familiar with budgets, capital spending plans and governing documents.
Common Goals Everyone probably agrees that the school board should foster academic excellence in a safe environment in a fiscally responsible manner.
Its easier said than done. Luckily, we’re starting from a pretty good base. While we need to work on the deficit, we should focus on things that make the schools a better place to work and study. I’d work with teachers to see what they need (a more streamlined administration?) as well as student groups to address their concerns. Listening is the key.
The status quo is pretty good. Again, I’m no expert, but from what I’ve seen of the schools (I’ve been a substitute teacher for several years.), I think they’re doing a pretty good job. I have some ideas at the margin, but I’m not looking for radical change.
Practical skills I’m amazed at what kids don’t know. Before they graduate we should be sure they’re ready to participate in the world. They should know the different layers of government and what they each do, how to balance a checkbook (oh, wait, does anyone use a checkbook anymore?), how taxes work (My twenty-something daughter asked why it’s called a “return.” I don’t know either. ), what’s involved in owning a house, etc.
“Infantilised” I recently read a review of a book by that name where the author claims that young people are less mature than previous generations and that our culture is to blame. The argument is that many kids delay growing up: leaving home and becoming psychologically and fiscally independent. I think there may be something to that notion – to some degree– and I wonder if the schools should foster more independence and responsibility.
Social and Emotional Learning This is the notion that schools should educate the whole child, and I think it makes a lot of sense. Kids need to learn about the Russian Revolution and the biosphere, but also need to learn resilience, optimism, empathy and emotional stability.
Budgets and Administration The breadth of school policies is surprising and could probably be trimmed. Do we really need the “Annual Review of Building Names?” The Local Control and Accountability Plan is hundred pages of metrics and standards and there are also hundreds of policies.
And its hard to tell how serious the budget shortfall is. The reserve is declining from 9% to 6% and the ending fund balance is falling from 18% to 6%, below the district’s 10% target. I don’t pretend to understand fully what these are, but I would learn about it if I’m elected.
Artificial Intelligence I think a lot of AI is hype (remember how the “internet of things” was going to revolutionize the world and your refrigerator was going to ordr your milk?) but there’s definitely something there. I’ve seen demonstrations of Kahnmigo, an AI program that teaches subjects by responding to students’ responses. It was great at teaching factoring, but more surprisingly led to a discussion of the Renaissance, leading a thoughtful discussion tailored to students responses. It was pretty powerful, and incorporating programs like that into the school will be both a great opportunity and a challenge.
Book Banning I think kids should be able to read books that have a different perspective than the mainstream and I’m opposed to most censorship. I’m an ally and a member of the Gay Rights Alliance.
Peter Catalano
Walnut Creek, CA.
Experience
Lawyer, representing clients before the California Public Utilities Commission, 2014 – present
Assistant Counsel, New York State Department of Public Service, 1988 – 2014
Special Assistant, New York Public Service Commission, 1982-1988
Education
Graduate courses in economics and finance, 1986 – 1987, State University of New York at Albany
J.D., 1979, Georgetown University Law Center
B.A., 1976, State University of New York at Buffalo (graduation magna cum laude, with departmental honors in economics, Phi Beta Kappa)
Affiliations
Member, North Colonie Central School District Board of Education
Director, Berkeley Townhouse Cooperative Corporation and Rossmoor Mutual One
Substitute Teacher, Berkeley, San Ramon, Acalanes and Orinda schools
Elections Inspector, Alameda County
Lawyer, Legal Counsel for the Elderly
Counselor, AARP Tax Program
Representative, East Bay Sanctuary
Major, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, United States Army Reserve, (Ret.) United States Military Academy
Clerk, Materials Store, UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design
Participant, English In Action language program
Volunteer, Berkeley Food Network
Admitted, District of Columbia Bar, United States District Court for the District of Columbia
