Three candidates are running for the two available four-year terms on the Cupertino School District Board of Trustees, which is a five-member board:
Incumbent Roberta Pabst, is a former computer/systems programmer in the electronics industry with a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Nebraska. She now works as an education volunteer. As an 18-year district resident in Los Altos with two children educated in district schools, Pabst helped with the passage of Measure A; worked on the district's budget advisory committee and Technology Task force.
She has also been involved in the local PTA, Little League and the AAUW boards as well as the Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation Fund-raising Committee.
She helped with the Fremont Union High School District's bond measure campaign. She is currently a member of the California School Board Association and is working on the Cupertino Coalition, a group of concerned community members committed to raising district revenues.
Motivation for running: "I felt like I could continue to make a contribution, and it's something worth doing." Pabst said, if elected, she plans to move forward on the middle school issue; see the completion of district renovations; and increase district revenues.
Newcomer Gary McCue, is a principal technical writer for Netscape Communications Corporation in Mountain View with a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Kansas and a certificate in computer languages and operating systems from Stanford University. He taught at Hong Kong Polytechnic, Department of Computing Studies from 1981 to 1985.
As a seven-year district resident living in San Jose with a fifth-grade son at Dilworth Elementary School, McCue has served on Dilworth's school site council; as a former president of the school's parent-teacher organization; and on several districtwide committees, including the Cupertino Local Improvements Panel, the facilities advisory committee and the technology task force.
His goals include: "... I am ready to tackle the issues facing our district without delay. These issues include teacher retention and morale, improving communication between the district and the community and most importantly, maintaining our high education standards ... I will use the trust and credibility I have earned supporting our schools to strengthen cooperation for the sake of our children." McCue said, if elected, he plans to work for improved state funding; explore financial assistance programs for teacher housing; and seek collaboration in resolving issues.
Incumbent Barry Chang is a businessman and education volunteer with a master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Cincinnati and is a licensed civil engineer in the state of California. As a 14-year district resident in Cupertino with three children educated in district schools, Chang has worked on the bond measure, volunteered at Lincoln School and was a member of the school's PTA. He was awarded the State PTA Honorary Service Award and is a former member of the board of directors for the American Youth Soccer Organization, Region 35.
During his four years as a board member, Chang helped initiate the "Facility Modernization Health & Safety Guide;" completed more than 80 percent of the Facility Modernization Project on time and within budget; reinstated music programs in pilot schools; and implemented the class-size reduction program.
His goals include: "After serving four years on the school board, I'm running again for re-election because I want to continue the good works that I have done for our district" - keep schools safe; increase revenue to retain qualified teachers; continue to listen to community; and provide programs that combine technology and curriculum.
The Cupertino School District serves more than 15,200 students in its 20 elementary schools and four middle schools located in Cupertino, Los Altos, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale.