Fifteen Minutes with Ed Gilardi

Editor’s Note: This article not an endorsement by the Patch for this or any candidate. We are giving the same questions and opportunity to all candidates so that they may express their thoughts to our readers in an attempt to get to know them better and what they think is important.

Ed Gilardi’s background includes serving on the board since 1996 and he is currently serving as its president. He has also spent 18 years as a PTA member and currently serves on the advisory board for the Education Foundation of Cotati-Rohnert Park.

Why are you running for the school board?

I got on the board during the good times and since then we have had to make some tough decisions. Now that we have some bad times it isn't the time to leave. Really this is a turning point for money and enrollment in the district. We have been responding to the needs of the community in doing things like expanding the Thomas Page Academy.

One of the hardest parts about this job and making decisions is that we are a small community and these are people we see and know. It can be difficult to remove the emotional part to focus on the facts and make the best decisions for the district as a whole. Right now I feel good about the future of the district. The new superintendent and his staff are exciting and energetic and we can really do a lot.

What do you hope to accomplish?

I would like to see one school site dedicated as a year round school and expand upon the pilot program at Evergreen Elementary School. Also I would like to change the career tract at the high-school level and see them expand. Not everyone will want to go to college or will go to college. We need to give those students ideas and a chance to see the various paths and choices available.

A good example would be people enrolling in the Police Academy at Santa Rosa Junior College but once they get there they might realize it wasn't what they expected. They got into a program without having a chance to understand the various options or direction available to them. We need to expand upon what they have a chance to learn and understand about options as they leave us and move forward.

Why should people vote for you?

 Institutional memory in the district (which is collective experience and know-how attained from by a working group of people). Having been on the board for such a long time I have experience in making the tough decisions. Also I don't bend to pressure from outside groups and try and stay true to the district's needs.  

My biggest drive for this job is that I had a terrible education in grammar school. There was a pilot program for 1st through 5th grade I was placed in that then was scrapped partway through. At college I was still struggling with reading and had to take on a lot of extra work to get where I needed to be. Because of that I have always been leery of exploratory programs until the basics are met for all kids. I have been a bit of a watchdog on that issue making sure no kid is left behind.

What qualifies you?

I started on the PTA and volunteered in the classroom from day 1 when my kids started school because I wanted to be involved. That hasn't changed.

My experiences lead me to be elected by the School Trustees in Sonoma County to represent us to the California School Boards Association. I have a great working relationship with state officials and am comfortable having the difficult discussions with the state on important issues and questions.

We have done a lot of good things such as lowering class sizes and increasing tests scores.

What else would you like to share?

We are hopeful that is Propositions 30 and 38 pass that we will have the ability to restore some of the past cuts and put money back into the classroom. If it fails we might have some difficult decisions to make.

For more information on Ed you can view his profile on his Election Page.  

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