COUNTYWIDE : 2 Board Members Won’t Run Again

Two veteran members of the Ventura County Board of Education said Wednesday that they will not seek reelection in November.

Helen Kranz Merriam and Theodora M. Shoesmith said they will not run in the Nov. 5 election to retain their seats on the board, which oversees the Ventura County superintendent of schools office.

The announcements leave two vacancies on the five-member board.

Merriam was appointed to the board in 1965 and subsequently was elected to five consecutive terms to represent Camarillo, Santa Paula, Ojai, Meiners Oaks, Casitas Springs and Oak View.

Before serving as a board member, Merriam worked for the superintendent’s office as a teacher supervisor from 1940 to 1952. She previously taught for eight years in San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.

“I want to give someone else the opportunity to serve,” Merriam said.

Shoesmith has served since his initial appointment in 1981 and has won election twice to represent Oxnard and Port Hueneme. Previously, she worked for the superintendent’s office for 24 years as a teacher supervisor and as director of elementary education. Before that, she worked as a teacher and principal for 10 years at Somis School.

Shoesmith, 81, said she is moving to Oregon to live near relatives.

The county office operates several special schools and programs for students countywide and acts as an intermediary between the state Department of Education and local school districts. The board meets once a month; board members are paid $20 per meeting.

Candidates interested in running for the board may file papers with the county elections registrar from Monday through Aug. 9.