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May 03. 2015 2:00AM Our View: Our picks for Medford School Board Medford School District voters have choices for three of the four School Board positions on the May 10 ballot. We recommend district voters retain Kim Wallan in Position 5 and elect Janet Lightheart in Position 6 and Lilia Caballero in Position 7. Karen Starchvick, running unopposed for Position 4, is a longtime school advocate and will make a fine addition to the board. The race for Position 5 pits Wallan, the incumbent, against challenger Michael Campbell. Both are competent, but our nod goes to Wallan for her experience and her willingness to speak her mind even when it may ruffle feathers. Campbell, the co-owner of a group of cellular stores, is bright and well-spoken and we hope he stays involved with the schools in some capacity. Wallan, a retired attorney and the mother of three graduates of Medford schools, played a prominent role during last year's teachers strike, resulting in friction with strikers and their supporters, but says she is working hard to mend fences this year. She was a prime mover in pushing for a new superintendent and supports the effort to create educational "pathways" that district officials hope will encourage more students to connect with their schools — and graduate. For Position 6, we choose Lightheart, both because we think she will be a valuable addition to the board and because her opponent, perennial candidate Curt Ankerberg, would be a disruptive, negative influence. Lightheart is the mother of six Medford students, two of whom have graduated. She has been an active volunteer and is pursuing a master's degree in teaching at Southern Oregon University. She's also fluent in Spanish, having attended high school in Colombia, where her parents were missionaries. The race for Position 7 attracted three candidates: Lilia Caballero, cultural liaison coordinator for the Medford Police Department, Kevin Christiansen, a construction manager for the Jackson County Roads Department and Don Libby, chief financial officer for a security company he owns. Christiansen previously served on the School Board from 2007 to 2010, but is vague about his goals for another term and does not seem particularly current on today's issues. Libby does not have a college degree, in part, he told a Mail Tribune reporter, because the idea of returning to school after graduating from South Medford High School in 2002 made him "upchuck a little in my mouth." If that's his reaction to education, the School Board is probably not a good fit. Caballero, a valley resident for more than 25 years, has three children who graduated from Medford high schools. She serves on an impressive list of local agency boards and committees, including the Hispanic Interagency Committee and the Jackson County Gang Task Force. She is passionate about increasing the district's low graduation rate and about involving parents in their children's education, especially Hispanic parents who may be intimidated about asking to participate. Caballero would maintain a connection between the Hispanic community and the district that otherwise would be lost with the departure of Board Member Marlene Yesquen, who is not running for re-election to Position 7. We recommend voters elect Kim Wallan, Janet Lightheart and Lilia Caballero to the Medford School Board. http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150503/opinion/150509928 © 2016 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->