| | Published October 9th, 2024
| Meet soon-to-be appointed LAFSD Governing Board candidates
| | | By Elaine Borden Chandler |  | | Jon Deane Photo provided |
For this year's Nov. 5 election, the Lafayette School District (LAFSD) Governing Board had two open seats for new board members. However, as there were only two candidates for these two seats - Jon Deane and Alida Smit - this year both candidates will be appointed rather than elected.
School boards are elected public officials from the local community who act as citizen oversight to see that schools match the community's priorities. The board provides direction, structure, leadership, accountability, and student advocacy for the schools within their district.
Jon Deane grew up in Lafayette and attended Burton Valley, Stanley, and Campolindo. He moved back to Lafayette in 2020 and currently has a seventh-grader attending Stanley and a ninth-grader attending Acalanes. Deane is the CEO of an education-focused nonprofit. He worked for over 20 years in K-12 education and also worked as a Certified Public Accountant.
Deane says, "Excellent schools aren't easy to develop and maintain. They require commitment from everyone to work together, to use resources well, and to stay focused on what matters. I'm really excited for this opportunity!"
He has been impressed with what the LASFD Board has recently done, and intends to learn from them and contribute where he can, especially in keeping balanced finances. He also wants to ensure the District keeps students' mental health central to their goals and that students have smooth academic transitions as they move from school to school.
Alida Smit has lived in Lafayette since 1997. She has two children who went through the Lafayette School District and are currently in the Acalanes High School District. She works as a College and Career Counselor with low-income, first-generation, rural teens and has previously worked with students from five to high school age in general education and special education.
She feels that the LAFSD School Board has put its students' needs first, and now wants to personally be involved and give back. She values all aspects of education and thinks that parental involvement is key to creating healthy and successful school environments.
Smit thinks it is important to value diversity and teach it to children, saying, "Being a first-generation adult from immigrant parents, I believe all students have a place in this community. Each student brings talent and gifts to the communal table that we can all learn and appreciate."
The previous 2022 school elections in Lafayette and Lamorinda included a variety of opinions, some of which were more extreme. Covering some of these debated ideas, neither Deane nor Smit believe that books should be banned in schools or that religion should be taught, though both say religion can be taught about in context to history, religion, and art.
Both support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) and that students' mental health should be supported by schools. They agree that teachers should be fairly compensated but that the Board has fiscal limits and responsibilities.
Regarding the anti-trans protestors who were outside of Lafayette Elementary, Deane said he thought the LAFSD worked hard to see all viewpoints shared and Smit said it is an individual's Constitutional right to express their opinions. Neither has any stated opinions or plans for what should be done if these protestors or others like them return this school year.
Deane and Smit will be appointed by the Governing Board to their positions in December at the LAFSD Board meeting on Dec.18. |
 | | Alida Smit Photo provided | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA