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.

At a certain point one has to wonder if this has been Superintendent Jon Gundry’s plan all along: change disclosure policies on consulting contracts; discreetly hand out a bunch of big-dollar deals; fire the internal watchdogs; and rule through fear and intimidation so any other objectors resign.

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.

A child porn and abuse scandal—as well as public scrutiny on how the county schools chief spends taxpayer dollars behind closed doors—has sent the Santa Clara County Office of Education into lockdown mode. The stonewalling includes violations of the Public Records Act.

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.

Madison Nguyen, San Jose’s former vice-mayor and a current candidate for the 27th Assembly District, published an op-ed Thursday calling for the creation of University of California, San Jose.

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.

Jon Gundry, Santa Clara County’s chief education official, has a math problem. And he hasn’t been showing his work.

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.

In an unusual set of circumstances, Jon Gundry, Santa Clara County’s superintendent of schools, has recommended a quarter-million dollar contract with a mystery company that has no online presence.

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 Santa Clara County Office of Education on Tuesday announced the appointment of Rosemary Kamei to fill a vacant board seat.

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.

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.

An Atlanta judge last week sentenced eight public school teachers, principals and administrators to jail for conspiring to inflate students' state test scores. The sentencing was a tragic end to the Atlanta testing scandals that began in 2009.