Larkspur-Corte Madera school board race draws 4 candidates

Four candidates, including an incumbent, are vying for two seats on the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District board of trustees in the Nov. 5 elections.

The incumbent, Beth Blair, was elected in November 2022 to fill the unexpired term of Jill Sellers. Sellers stepped down with two years left on her term.

The other candidates are seeking to fill either Blair’s seat or that of trustee Annie Sherman, who declined to seek reelection. They are Charlie Furcolo, a finance specialist; Rachel Hudson, an attorney; and Ava Fruin, an education technology director.

The two winners will join a board that oversees a district of 1,174 students, two elementary schools, a middle school and an annual budget of about $25 million.

Blair, 42, a resident of Corte Madera, is an educational consultant and a parent of two children in the district.

Blair, who attended public school from kindergarten through 12th grade, is a former public school teacher, coach and administrator. She works for a national education nonprofit that works with public school district leaders and teachers in California.

Over the last two years, Blair said she has “developed a deep understanding of our district, our goals and where our community believes we should improve and focus our time and resources.”

If reelected, Blair said her top priority would be “increasing achievement for all students.” In addition to ensuring that all students achieve at least one year’s growth, she said she would specifically aim to “close the gap between our subgroups, including students with IEPs and English language learners.” IEPs are individual educational plans for students with special needs.

Also, Blair said she would push to “accelerate our students’ achievement to ensure all students are challenged and so that we see an increase in the students meeting and exceeding standards.” She also has backed the hiring of additional intervention staff to further that goal, and would support increasing communication with students and families about each pupil’s progress.

Furcolo, 42, a resident of Corte Madera, has two children at Neil Cummins Elementary School. He is head of Sustainable Solutions, an equity sales and trading firm and investment bank.

Furcolo also volunteers as an assistant coach in youth sports teams, including baseball and flag football. He said he has strong public school roots in his background.

“My family has a long history of supporting public education in the state of Massachusetts, where I grew up,” Furcolo said. “This really instilled a passion for education and giving back, which are core values for me and my family.”

If elected, Furcolo said he would bring “a different perspective.” He said he would use his 18 years of “leading a global business that mobilizes capital towards solving some the world’s biggest challenges as it relates to climate, sustainability and social impact” to inform academics and growth in the district.

Furcolo said that areas he would hope to impact include climate, generative artificial intelligence, social media and health. He said he would support raising the academic standards and creating well-rounded leaders.

“Our world is changing fast — is our curriculum keeping up?” Furcolo said.

Hudson, 42, is a resident of Larkspur. She has two children — one in third grade in the district and the other who will enter kindergarten in two years. Hudson has also been a volunteer at her older son’s school for three years, and she previously taught at an elementary school in China for a year after college.

If elected, Hudson said she would support the district’s “ambitious” new achievement growth plan for all students. At the same time, the district needs “a diverse set of viewpoints and experiences on the board” to be sure “to take the varied needs of the students in the district into account,” Hudson said.

That includes students who have special needs, such as Hudson’s son, who was found to be hard of hearing in a screening at school, she said.

“We are so grateful for the early detection and the services he receives,” she said. The services are “helping him to thrive and get the most out of school and as he moves through the world,” she said.

Because of her son’s experience, Hudson said she would be able to “give voice to those who need extra support and services to ensure that they are not left behind.”

“I see the world in a different way because of my son,” Hudson said. “I will bring that diverse point of view to all that I do for the district.”

Fruin, 37, is a resident of Corte Madera and has three children in the district. She attended Marin public schools and is a former educator. Currently, she is director of learning experience at General Assembly, an education technology firm.

“I lead teams that create innovative learning solutions,” Fruin said. That and her day-to-day involvement in the district as a parent, would allow her to give “a fresh perspective” on the board, she said.

“My unique background provides me with an understanding of both the academic and operational aspects of education,” she said.

If elected, Fruin said she would support additional efforts to promote equity and inclusion.

“My focus is on closing opportunity gaps, supporting mental health, wellness and safety, and ensuring all students have access to the resources they need,” Fruin said. “My goal is to foster a collaborative environment where educators and families work together for student success.”

Specifically, she said she would back “targeted support that meets students where they are.”

“This means implementing inclusive curricula that reflect the diverse experiences of our students, expanding mental health, wellness and safety services and fostering a sense of belonging for all,” she said.