Meet the School Board Candidates: Helen Randall

Editor's Note: The following Q&A was adapted from answers given at the San Lorenzo Unified School District's Candidate's Night. Responses have been edited for space.

Helen Randall, incumbent:

How long have you lived in the community?
HR: 51 years

 Do you have children/grandchildren or other relatives attending SLz
schools?
HR: (Helen's children attended San Lorenzo schools, but she does not currently have relatives in the district)

 How many school board meetings have you attended in the last 2
years?

HR: In my 16 years, I didn't miss more than seven.
 What is your view of the contribution classified, certificated, and
administrative employees each make to the education of students?

HR: I think that we have people in this district who are very dedicated. Whenever somebody leaves us, for retirement or whatever, this is what they tell us: that the school is like a family, that they're always happy they came here.

 What is your position on the use of outside contractors by a school
district?

HR: Where and whenever we can, to give the work to our employees first. I think sometimes it can't be help if we don't have the people who are qualified to do certain jobs, but I think we should always use our men in whatever way possible so we keep our employees.

 Have you had any experience in handling "controversial" issues in a
public setting where your vote or opinion may have been unpopular?
If so, please describe at least one example.

HR: I sued the school district, because I discovered what they were doing with our retirement was not correct. I didn't get very far with trying to get the employee representatives to fight. I didn't give up until we went to court. I believe in fighting for what's right, and I'm not scared of fighting for it.

How do you personally feel about labor unions?

HR: I came from Hawaii; I had worked in the school districts in Hawaii for 12 years. I ran into the same thing there: I was raising all the lunch money, and I'm collecting all the money for supplies, all as a secretary. So I summoned the commission, got together all the girls, and as a result of that all the secretaries were reclassified up to the level of a junior auditor. I experienced what working is like if you don't have representation, especially if you're down on the bottom. If you ask me if I believe in labor, I would have to  say yes, because I wouldn't want to go back to working conditions such as they were.

  San Lorenzo Unified School District has had a very good
working relationship with its employee groups. How do you see
your role as a Board member contributing to this relationship?

HR: I learned something when I got on the board: You don't get on the board and represent any one group. When you're on the board, you work with five people. If these people all think you wrong, and they think differently, one vote against four is not going to move anything. When you get in there and your presented with the figures, you have to think sensibly, because you're making some very serious decisions.

 Do you have an affiliation/association with any current board
member?

HR: No

Why do you want to be a School Board member?

HR: Schools have been my lifeline. If I didn't think I could be on the board and be effective anymore, I wouldn't run.