Opinion: County school superintendent candidate lacks key credential

BY DAVE PRICE
Daily Post Editor

Chelsea Bonini, the second-grade teacher who is running for San Mateo County superintendent of education, is firing back at a story in the Post that said she lacks the state-mandated credential for the job.

Bonini says her credential to work as a school administrator is “valid,” just like the one held by her opponent, Hector Camacho.

But there are differences. Bonini only holds a “certificate of eligibility,” to use the lingo of the Teacher Credentialing Commission.

“Eligibility” means she has completed the state’s credentialing program but hasn’t received the proper administrative credential. She can only get the proper credential after she secures a job as an administrator. State law only allows candidates with a credential to run for county superintendent.

Different credentials

Bonini’s “certificate of eligibility” is valid — nobody disputes that — but her certificate of eligibility is not the same as holding a valid credential.   

Her opponent, county schools executive director Hector Camacho, holds a “valid” preliminary administrative services credential, which is different from an eligibility certificate. It allows him to hold the county school superintendent’s job, should he be elected.

The Teacher Credentialing Commission uses very specific terminology here, and while the word “valid” appears on the commission’s website next to each candidate’s name, they don’t have the same certification.

An anology

Here’s a way to think about it. The DMV gives licenses to drivers of automobiles. But they’re different than a commercial driver’s license (CDL) necessary to drive a big-rig truck. If you’re pulled over driving a big-rig and don’t have a CDL, you get a ticket. Bonini has a credential to work as a school principal but not that of a superintendent. She’s eligible to seek a superintendent’s credential, but doesn’t have one right now. So, by law, she’s not eligible to be county superintendent.

The law might not be fair in your eyes, but it’s the law, and I would expect a candidate to obey the law. 

It doesn’t mean much that the clerk of elections, Mark Church, put Bonini’s name on the ballot. He admits he didn’t check her credential. He simply saw that she signed a document saying she met the requirements for office, and that was good enough for him. He said he doesn’t remove candidates from the office unless he gets a court order telling him to do so. Camancho didn’t sue. 

It’s up to the voters to deal with this. Bonini is trying to get a job she’s not qualified to have, and Church fell down on the job. Voters, choose wisely.

Editor Dave Price’s column appears on Mondays.