Next up in our SF school board candidates interview series -- Mr. Omar Khalif! Omar's got a MySpace page, and he's a Scorpio. Khalif's also been endorsed by Gavin Newsom, and is running on a platform promoting neighborhood schools in the Bayview-Hunters Point, and charter schools.

Introduce yourself, and tell us what you currently do.
For the last seven years, I have been an independent contractor with the City and County of San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department. My title is that of the Ombudsman, my duties are to respond to the complaints, of youth at YGC and Log Cabin Ranch. I also ensure that the department stays in compliance with title 15.

Why are you running for the school board? What's your connection to the SF public school system?
I’m running because I have a vested interest in what happens to our schools. My four daughters currently attend several public schools in the district…. HS, MS and ES.

Are you a parent? If so, are you sending your children to public school in San Francisco, and why did you make that choice?
I made the choice because; I believe that you can get a quality education in the public school system if it’s managed right.

Charter schools, how Barry Bonds and Arlene Ackerman are connected, and Omar's truck, all after the jump!

Rank the following in order of importance to the SFUSD. Explain why you ranked your number 1 choice number 1. And if your most important priority for the SF schools isn't listed below, tell us what that priority is.

2. neighborhood school assignments
__school closings
__better union relations with teachers and school staff
__racial and economic diversity in school admissions
__cordiality among SFUSD board members
__improving test scores across the district
1. increasing enrollment

How do you feel about former superintendent Arlene Ackerman's (in)famous "platinum parachute" contract?
Dr. Ackerman platinum parachute will be no different then Barry Bonds parachute, when he decides to pack up and leave. And he hasn't educated one child in SFUSD.

Man, we've listened to some school board meetings on the radio and they're certainly very contentious, what with the angry parents, the angry students, the angry staff, the angry administrators, the angry members of the public, and the angry board members. How do you see yourself balancing all these various interests? Are you a shouter?
No I'm not a shouter I’m a solution finder. You get angry people, when they are not apart of the process. The current school board members, number one, don’t have a lot of time to spend on the serious issues, this could be because of their day gigs, and they are really volunteers not employees of the city. I don't see all of this yelling and screaming at the volunteers at the California Blood Center, when I’m there donating blood every nine weeks. Moreover, you have folks that make much more money, then the five hundred dollars a month the board gets; to get things done right, and I don’t see them getting it right either. Seems to me that everyone likes to play (GOD/JUDGE) from the sideline, but no one wants to get into the game and play. It’s pretty easy to say what you would have done, after someone else has made the mistake…lol

On a similar note, what do you think is going to be the biggest source of conflict for the school board in the next few years? What do you think we should do about that?
IT'S "TIME" to charter a new course of direction. This current model has not worked well for all ethnic groups. However, "CHARTER" schools (i.e.) The KIPP brand have proven results, and can turn on a dime, when it needs to. Fact of the matter is, charter schools, are less encumbered by the bureaucratic barriers that face other public schools, have the potential to spark system-wide change. Finding a superintendent that wants’ to work and stay here in Sf.

How can we encourage San Franciscans (both with children and without) to commit to the public schools?
Offer them a better product. San Francisco's charter schools are attracting families to the public school system. At a time when too many families are leaving the City, charter public schools are bringing them back.

Approximately one out of every four students attending a San Francisco charter school this year either comes from outside The City or was not previously enrolled in a San Francisco Unified school. Approximately one out of three ninth graders that enters a SFUSD high school does not graduate from a district school. San Francisco’s charter schools are helping to reverse this trend by offering more options for students within the public school system.

And hey, you're representing the kids of San Francisco! What was your favorite pop song of the summer?
Hey still TUPAC

and here's your usual SFist interview favorite questions!

What I'm currently reading.
What Schools Boards Can Do Reform Governance for Urban Schools. More of references guide then anything. I make it a point to never go into anything blind.

Favorite Bay Area Stereotype, and whether or not you buy into it
that this is a liberal city. And everyone here is equal.

Favorite local hangout?
My Truck.

You've never lived in SF until
you've gotten involved in the politics

Favorite Bay area politician of past or present
Gavin; he’s BOLD

Now that Mayor Gavin is single, who are you going to set him up with?
I’m sure he doesn’t have a problem

SF would be soooo much better if only
People was really true to themselves. "YES"

Question you'd ask if you were doing this interview
…Why do you think politicians or most adults can't make a firm commitment? Be honest with themselves?