text: Message from Newly-Elected President Marc Friedman | SMCSBA
  I am honored to have been chosen to lead the SMCSBA for 2017-18. I am pleased that our nominating committee, under the leadership of Kalimah Salahuddin (Jefferson Union HSD) was able to put together an excellent board of directors to run the SMCSBA over the next year. This new Board includes many who have not previously sat on the SMCSBA Board and includes representatives from all over the county from north to south. This should provide our organization the perspective of different school districts in the county.
  Our school districts are among the most diverse in the state with some districts being among the highest funded school districts in the state and others being among the most poorly funded in the state. While the funding and financials of our school district might differ, all San Mateo County school districts share one common trait – the desire to provide all students an exceptional public education. We all work hard to provide this but we need to recognize that the lack of funding makes it impossible to do so in many instances.
  Before I go any further, I would like to thank my predecessor, Carrie Du Bois (Sequoia Union HSD) for two wonderful years at the helm of the SMCSBA. Under her leadership, the SMCSBA was able to highlight and educate us all on many issues impacting public education in San Mateo County. The last event under her leadership, the 2017 Kent Awards, honored 20 exceptional school programs in our county and presented the Emily Garfield Award to Carlmont High School counselor, Shelley Bustamante, for her work with students on mental health issues. You can find information on all the award recipients by visiting the 2017 Kent Awards page at smcsba.org.
  The Kent Award recipients highlight the exceptional and innovative programs school district all over our county have developed and implemented. Too often members of our communities are unaware about the innovation and excellence in our school districts. To further spread the word about these programs, I would like to ask all of you to have your school districts and schools to post this link on their web sites and include it in their next email communication to their communities.
  Finally, on June 24 the Board of Directors will be meeting to plan our events for the 2017-18 school year. We have some ideas for new events to help make the SMCSBA a better resource for all school boards in the county. However, I know that there are probably many ideas that those of us on the Board have not thought of yet. So, I want to hear from you. What can the SMCSBA do in 2017-18 to better support your school district and board in the next year? Please write me at marcfrd@pacbell.net. We also always have opportunities for school board members to get involved in our activities. If you are not currently involved and would like to get involved, please contact me and let me know what you are interested in doing.
  Marc Friedman was elected president of the San Mateo County School Boards Association at the 2017 Kent Awards Ceremony on May 22, along with the other slate of nominees selected by the Nominating Committee. Marc has served as trustee on the San Mateo Union High School District since 2011. Prior to his service on the SMUHSD board, Marc served for 8 years on the board of the Burlingame Elementary School District.