Alum Rock still needs a better board

Alum Rock Union School District Superintendent Hilaria Bauer’s three-year contract extension last week was a hard-fought victory by so many people.

Scores of parents, teachers and residents of the San Jose district had argued tirelessly on Bauer’s behalf at meeting after packed meeting this summer when the chaotic, sometimes irresponsible and often just bizarre school board majority seemed intent on firing the superintendent. The vote was a huge relief.

But keep the celebration short. There’s work to be done.

Alum Rock residents need to recruit good school board candidates for 2018, when three of the five seats are up for grabs, and work hard to elect them. This is the only way to restore stability to the district.

They also need to keep coming out to board meetings. There’s no telling what this board might do if some members thought nobody was looking.

Only one incumbent, Andres Quintero, deserves reelection. A supporter of Bauer, he’s a consistent voice of reason and responsibility.

Bauer got into trouble with some board members last year for questioning the district’s financial dealings with Del Terra Real Estate, the politically connected Southern California contractor the board chose to manage Alum Rock’s multimillion-dollar bond construction projects.

Bauer’s questions led to a state investigation and a scathing audit of bond spending and contracting. Alum Rock’s “fiscal independence” was revoked, and the Santa Clara County Board of Education is taking over responsibility for auditing and other oversight.

At various times this summer, the board seemed ready to fire Bauer. This brought out government, business and nonprofit leaders to support the superintendent — particularly her ability to engage community partners to help the kids. Both San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Dave Cortese are among her fans.

All summer long, The Mercury News’ Sharon Noguchi reported, no one from the public spoke against Bauer at a board meeting.

But, like many of the Alum Rock board’s adventures, the way her contract was renewed was, oh, let’s say unconventional.

While president of the board, the erratic Khanh Tran, one of the Del Terra faithful, had seemed to be gunning for Bauer. He placed the contract vote on last week’s agenda — but in the interim he was deposed in a power play that made his erstwhile ally, Esau Herrera, president. Last week Tran joined Quintero and Karen Martinez in voting yes to extend the superintendent’s contract — then left the meeting.

His seat and Herrera’s are up next year, along with Quintero’s. (Tran says he’s running for Congress next year, and that’s great news for Alum Rock.)

Bauer’s rational, morale-building practices and ideas for the schools, and the broad support they’ve won, are in stark contrast to the chaos of board leadership and some members’ allegiance to Del Terra.

Keeping Bauer will provide more stability. But true stability can only come with changes on the board.