Saying she felt constrained in her role as a member of the Palo Alto Unified School Board, Barbara Klausner announced Thursday she would not seek a second term in November.
“While I have enjoyed working with our outstanding PAUSD staff and my exceptionally dedicated fellow board members, and I believe the work of the school board is important and provides great value, I concluded that my opportunities to do what I had hoped to do on the board are limited,” Klausner said in a statement explaining her decision not to run again.
Klausner, a former educator in the district, said the five-member board “carefully circumscribes” itself in matters concerning pedagogy, and that doesn’t align with her interests.
“In this district, with its strong culture of site-based decision-making and concomitant deference to the superintendent, key pedagogical and programmatic decisions are developed, refined and evaluated primarily within our schools, and the board, as a reflection of our community’s values, has adapted its role to fit that culture,” Klausner said.
Still, Klausner acknowledged that “many wonderful things are happening” across the district as a result of the approach.
“There is, however, a mismatch between the role of the school board in our community and my professional interests, skill set, and hopes of what I could accomplish as a board member,” Klausner said. “I would like to return to my roots in education and work with fellow educators to improve the lives and prospects of students.”
As accomplishments during her tenure, Klausner pointed to the creation of a multi-year strategic plan, budgets that were balanced despite challenging economic conditions, the founding of Project Safety Net to address a suicide cluster, and the establishment of the Strong Schools bond construction program.
Klausner’s seat is one of three that are up for grabs on Nov. 6. Contacted by The Daily News on Thursday, incumbents Melissa Baten Caswell and Camille Townsend confirmed plans to run again.
Baten Caswell and Townsend both pointed to the need for experienced leaders to guide the district.
“The current budget challenges, ongoing building projects, and exciting education possibilities, all make Board experience more important than ever,” Townsend wrote in an email.
Meanwhile, Heidi Emberling, who has served as PTA president of Juana Briones Elementary School and on the board of Palo Alto Partners in Education, has also tossed her hat into the ring.
With Klausner opting not to seek re-election, the filing deadline for candidates will be extended to Aug. 15.
Email Jason Green at jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; follow him at twitter.com/jgreendailynews.
