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Editor: 

Because of my own involvement in Berkeley schools, I am very interested in the candidates for our representative on the Alameda County Board of Education.  

I don't exactly understand what role the candidate elected will play as the representative from our area.  

The reason for my confusion, is because in all of my years as an active parent in the Berkeley schools, I have never met the incumbent. And I have only actually seen him once.  

That was when Alameda County Superintendent Sheila Jordan was presenting her budget concerns to our school board. He wasn't actually involved in the presentation, but he did introduce himself. 

Personally, I expect more from a candidate.  

I expect that person to spend time observing our schools, as well as our board. How else can they make intelligent decisions in regard to education?  

I want him/her to develop the kind of relationship with our principals and administration that foster a line of communication that might help us to foresee problems, before we are in the kind of budget situation we're in now.  

And I believe that Jacki Fox Ruby is that person.  

She has played a very active role in our schools in the past, and I am really glad that she has found a way to continue in that role.  

Jacki knows our schools and better understands our needs.  

Mark A. Coplan 

Willard Parent