As I write my penultimate column, I reflect on the most critical issues confronting our region’s future progress and economic vitality. There is little doubt that the quality of public education is number one.

None of county Superintendent of Schools Jon Gundry’s secret contracts and subsequent under-sight reaches the level of the latest bad deal.

Writing once a week on the subject of education since being elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Education has been a privilege. In two weeks I will pen my 300th and last column.

Public comments are the most impractical form of political communication ever devised by good government advocates.

The Santa Clara County Office of Education is a disaster. But is it FUBAR? According to a recent county Board of Education trustee, yes, the situation is completely FUBAR.

Each house of the California legislature recently produced a bill that calls for our state to get 50 percent of its energy from renewable resources by the end of 2030. It’s a goal that many of us on the side of progress can support wholeheartedly. But, as usual, there's a twist.

Last week was amazing. The Supreme Court delivered two major victories to move our country forward, the President exhibited strength and eloquence in the aftermath of a tragedy, and a young woman of unparalleled courage graced us with her presence.

There is a new beginning in California for economic development and ending mass incarceration. Yesterday, Gov. Jerry Brown agreed to allot an additional $265 million to fund early education for low-income children.

Once in a while, real journalism rears its fierce head to expose issues that are actually germane to the public and need public scrutiny. San Jose Inside’s recent reports on the county Superintendent of Schools fall into this category.

County schools chief Jon Gundry would prefer we not talk about the quarter-million dollar contract he set up with a mystery company, which, for all intents and purposes, exists to funnel taxpayer money.

Local leaders in transportation, education, housing and equity convened last week in Mountain View’s Computer History Museum for the 2015 Silicon Valley Regional Economic Forum.

Three years since a study to look at school district consolidation in Santa Clara County, we have not been able to make any progress due to the controversial nature of the topic.

The notoriously poor-performing Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters is back at the public trough, asking the Board of Supervisors (BOS) for millions more in taxpayer money for electronic equipment that may never be needed.

I implore you to take an extra moment this week and reach out to thank a teacher for the extraordinary work they do each and every day.

Going to the city attorney or county counsel for outside legal advice is like going to a proctologist for a head injury. Yes, they are doctors—but they are not the right kind of doctor. Moreover, government attorneys do not represent individuals, they represent the government entity and their advice on legal matters pertaining to political questions is often wrong.

Annual reports given to the Santa Clara County Board of Education this past weekend show that local charter schools are not reflective of their communities when it comes to accepting special education students.