Forbes

David Forbes

David Forbes has served on the board of education since 2004 and is running for re-election. "Over the last four years I have demonstrated a deep commitment to the education of all of AUSD's students," Forbes says.

"I got involved in local school issues when my oldest daughter was in kindergarten," he says. Forbes now has four children attending district schools and is married to a special education teacher who works for the Oakland Unified School District.

"After attending Parent-Teacher Association meetings during that first year, I was asked to become the next PTA president." He remembers breaking the glass ceiling, becoming Edison Elementary School's first male PTA president. While serving his first year, Forbes introduced the concept of "sister schools" — partnering with the then-Miller Elementary School

Forbes served as PTA Council president from 2001 to 2004. During his tenure, he helped to start Walk and Roll to School Day, initiated a partnership between the school district and Alameda Power & Telecom and served on the board of the Alameda Education Foundation. "I ran an $83 million fundraiser for the schools — Measure C," Forbes said. "I also served on a variety of AUSD committees — and then in 2004 I was elected to the school board."

Over the last four years he has helped the school district maintain a balanced budget and avoid a state takeover; all the while test scores and employee morale have both risen dramatically.

"My major priorities for the next four years are two-fold," Forbes said. "The first to coalesce the new district leadership in one team; the second is to engage the community and stakeholders in a series of deep discussions as to where we take education in Alameda. Forbes says he will focus on excellence and equity in education, as well as stable and dependable financing in his next term on the school board.

Tam

Nielsen Tam

"I believe that it is important to be involved in the community," Tam says of his school board run. He has certainly put action behind those words. He currently sits on the boards of the Alameda Multicultural Comm-unity Center and Alameda Family Services. He also serves on the advisory committee for the Alameda Boys and Girls Club. Just recently he served as one of Alamedas' traffic commissioners and sat on the Library Strategic Planning Committee.

"I have dedicated my entire career — over 38 years — to our children," Tam says. He had served with the Alameda Food Bank, Girls, Inc., Alameda Point Collaborative and the Alameda Soccer Club. "During my years as a teacher and principal in the Alameda School District, I have a unique perspective like no other board member," Tam says. "I managed two elementary schools and know first-hand what it takes to improve our schools."

Tam's perspective included time spent as the principal of both Washington and Miller elementary schools. "I worked with parents, staff and the school community to achieve double-digit growth in test scores and improve our schools," he says. As principal, Tam collaborated with the American Red Cross and the Koshland Foundation to provide disaster preparedness training for families living in the West End.

He also values his experiences with Alameda's teachers. Tam says that he knows from a principal's perspective that teachers need support to address the academic, physical and emotional needs of students in our community. "I respect our teachers as professionals and value their knowledge in working with children," he said.

"As a school board member I will continue to collaborate with Alameda organizations to support the needs of our teachers so they can better serve our children," Tam says. His creativity led to unearthing $350,000 for an elementary school playground through non-conventional collaboration with the PTA, the Coast Guard, Alameda Rotary Club, outside foundations and non-profit organizations. "As a school board member, I will use this same resourcefulness in taking on the challenges that the Alameda school board currently faces with budget shortfalls, Tam says.

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