ELECTIONS ’88 ORANGE COUNTY : Fullerton High Schools Race Centers on Decline in Enrollment

Declining enrollment and its result--less state money--are among the issues in the school board race for the Fullerton Joint Union High School District.

The number of students attending district schools has decreased steadily since it peaked at 15,361 in 1973-74. Current enrollment is about 11,450.

Six candidates are running for two seats to be filled Nov. 8. Incumbent Richard T. Gross’ seat has been vacant since August, when he moved from the district. The other seat is that of Joe Merlo, who is seeking reelection.

The other candidates are Leif Christian Fisher, Walter J. McGee, Barbara R. Kilponen, Jesa H. Kreiner and Karin S. de Riszner.

Listed as Volunteer

Kilponen, 47, who lists herself as a parent-community volunteer, said, “As one of five districts in Orange County with continuing declining enrollment, the district loses more than its share of state funding.”

She proposed organizing “a legislative action body” to seek more state money and called for “partnerships with business and professional groups to bring appropriate technology into our schools.”

McGee, 50, an industrial education executive, also cited declining enrollment as the district’s major problem.

“The district needs to divert more of its energies (to) the real budget solution--that of bringing more money in--than on determining what to cut,” he said.

Fisher, 38, a civil engineer, said: “In the face of declining enrollment, we must contend with the rising cost of health care insurance, salary adjustments and other benefit packages” for school district employees.

He said he would “actively pursue increased state funding and support from the local community, civic organizations and businesses.”

Mechanical Engineering

Kreiner, 53, who heads the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Cal State Fullerton, said that “predictability of funding” is a major problem in the high school district and that community concerns about money must be “expressed to our elected legislators.”

She also called for reinforcing literacy requirements in the high schools.

De Riszner, 44, a former president of the Children’s League of Fullerton and also former head of several parent-teacher organizations, called for better communication among “community, teachers and administration” to help ensure that “the scarce resources of the district” are allocated wisely.

“I would encourage more substantive discussion at the board meetings to allow the community to become more informed about the decision-making process,” she said.

Incumbent’s Focus

Merlo, 69, who has been on the board since 1981, said he believes the biggest problem facing the school district is the selection of a new superintendent to succeed Robert C. Martin, who has retired.

Like the other candidates, he also cited budget constraints: “With the prudent management of our resources, we should be able to maintain our present small classes in ninth- and 10-grade English and in ninth-grade mathematics.”

He said he strongly supports the district’s policy of allocating lottery funds for goals such as smaller classes and additional staff levels for counseling and elective programs.

FULLERTON JOINT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT CANDIDATES

Six candidates, including one incumbent, are running to fill two seats in Nov. 8 districtwide election.