SIMI VALLEY : Retiring District Head to Be Honored

A reception today will honor Helen Beebe, who is retiring next month as board president of the Simi Valley Unified School District after more than 20 years in various district positions.

Beebe, who has served on the board for nine years, started with the district in 1968 as a junior high school principal and retired in 1981 as director of curriculum. She was appointed to the board in February, 1982, to fill a vacancy created when a member moved, and voters twice returned her to office.

She did not seek reelection this year, saying that she wanted to spend more time volunteering for her church and for the American Cancer Society.

She is credited with pushing for smoke-free campuses and voluntary drug testing for athletes, and was a strong supporter of implementing a middle-school system in the district.

“This community has a good school system, but I don’t think they always appreciate it,” said Beebe, who is 67. “They sometimes get bent out of shape about one issue and forget about the whole picture.”

The two board seats at stake in the Nov. 6 election were filled by political newcomer Carla Kurachi, who had 31.8% of the vote, and businessman Douglas Crosse, who had 20.1%, unseating incumbent Lewis Ross.

The reception for Beebe will begin at 3:30 p.m. at the district’s headquarters, 875 E. Cochran St. Her last school board meeting will be Dec. 4, and the new board will meet Dec. 18.