To the Fremont Unified School District Community:

I’m Lily Mei, a 2008 candidate for the Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) Board of Education. I have two children in Fremont public schools, and I love our community. I can think of no greater honor than being your voice on the FUSD Board of Education.

As a Board member, I will work to ensure that our district provides an educational experience our children will be proud to look back on as they grow and have families of their own. I solemnly pledge to you that, if elected, I will focus my energies on making the Fremont Unified School District effective and accountable.

I appreciate our diverse community, as well as the great contributions of every culture and individual. I promise to address the issues important to you. When new issues arise, I will welcome your phone calls, letters, and emails. I will listen to your suggestions and consider your advice. I will bring a face and personal stories to the discussion of education funds when working with state and local legislators.

Daily, I experience the concerns that face our children as well as us. I know what it is like to register a child for school and not be certain whether she will be attending her school in the fall.

As a mother of two children, I am concerned about the safety of our schools, especially when reviewing the recently completed health and safety bond for our schools.

As a former PTA president, I set a precedent by establishing regular town hall meetings to provide concerned parents, educators, and administrators with a cooperative forum to bridge discussions and provide an outlet for their voices.

Like you, I am troubled by the potential impact of drastic educational cuts to our state budget. We’re concerned about staffing and the overcrowding in our school district. We're anxious whether our children are being adequately prepared today for the stages of their lives that lie beyond the Fremont Unified School District. We need an advocate for our children at the city government. I will be your voice.

I have been more than an interested party in these issues. I have reviewed Board Packets and participated in Board meetings for the past two years. I have voiced my opinion at Board Meetings. Additionally, for the past year, I have been serving as the Fremont Council PTA School Board Liaison, which represents all PTAs in Fremont.

I would now welcome the opportunity to attend these same Board meetings as a voting member, and as the voice of the parents and our community. Therefore, I am personally asking for your support to elect me, Lily Mei, to the Fremont Unified School District Board of Education on November 4, 2008.

Thank you!

—Lily Mei