[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE CONCLUSION OF ALAMEDA BOARD OF EDUCATION TRUSTEE ANNA 
                  ELEFANT'S TENURE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 2003

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Anna Elefant on the 
completion of her second term as trustee of the Alameda Board of 
Education.
  An eight-year veteran on the school board, Ms. Elefant has the 
maximum number of terms allowed under district term limits. In 1997 and 
2001 she served as Board President, and as Board Chair of the 
successful 2001 ``Measure A'' School Parcel Tax Campaign.
  Ms. Elefant has also served the Board as a member of the 
Superintendent's Woodstock Child Development Center Advisory Team, as 
Board Representative to the California School Age Families' Education 
program at Island High School, as Board Chair of the search for a new 
superintendent of schools in 2000, and as Board Representative to the 
City of Alameda Economic Task Force.
  Ms. Elefant is a passionate advocate of educational excellence. She 
has supported innovative programs such as year-round education, 
developmental education, and open enrollment for special programs.
  A persistent lobbyist, she has worked at state and local levels to 
increase funding for the Alameda Unified School District. In November 
of 2001 she successfully rallied the community to pass the city's first 
school funding parcel tax. She provided courageous leadership to settle 
a historic 3-year closed salary contract,, and helped district employee 
groups in rebuilding trust in the district.
  The mother of three children attending Alameda public schools, Ms. 
Elefant was the first PTA co-president of Bay Farm Elementary School 
when it opened its doors in 1992.
  I am honored to commend Anna Elefant for her years of service to the 
Alameda Board of Education. A dedicated member of the Board of 
Education, Elefant has continually worked to expand the District's 
vision of meeting the educational needs of all students.

                          ____________________