DECISION ’92 : VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS

Briggs Elementary School District

Three candidates, including one incumbent, are running for two seats on the board to represent the two-school, 340-student district in Santa Paula. The loser in the three-person race has been promised a two-year appointment to the board.

Carolyn (Jauregui) Bowker

Age: 45

Occupation: Owner of a farm management business.

Education: Associate of arts degree from Ventura College.

Background: Appointed to a two-year term on the school board earlier this month; member of the Ventura County Farm Bureau and the newly formed Briggs Elementary School Trust Foundation.

Issues: Bowker wants to help the foundation to re-establish the school’s music program, the victim of budget cuts two years ago. She seeks to establish an awards program that recognizes the district’s outstanding teachers.

Ron Merson

Age: 39

Occupation: Auto shop supervisor for Limoneira Co.

Education: Master’s degree in business administration from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Background: School board member for four years; president of the Limoneira Credit Union; member of the Santa Paula American Youth Soccer Organization and the Santa Paula Optimist Club; former board member of the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce.

Issues: Merson promotes his experience on the board as vital to keeping the school district operating within its budget. His top priority is to continue to improve and expand the district’s reading and writing programs.

Ralph Ramos

Age: 33

Occupation: Machinist for Northrop Corp.

Education: Graduate of Santa Paula Union High School.

Background: Appointed to school board 1 1/2 years ago; has one child in the school district and another beginning school next year; lifelong Santa Paula resident; only Latino on the school board.

Issues: Ramos wants to continue to improve the district’s drug and gang prevention programs by getting parents more involved. He wants to ensure that the district remains financially sound without sacrificing academic programs.

Hueneme Elementary School District Four candidates, including one incumbent, are running for two seats on the school board. The district includes 10 schools and 7,000 students in the cities of Port Hueneme and Oxnard. Rosie Magallanes Age: 41 Occupation: Program specialist with the Ventura County Public Social Service Agency. Education: Graduate of Oxnard High School and Ventura College.

Background: Girl Scout leader; member of the Hueneme PTA; former member of district’s Student Attendance Review Board and School Improvement Committee; recipient of the school district’s Honorary Service Award in 1990.

Issues: Magallanes seeks to continue improvement of bilingual education in the district, which has a student population that is 52% Latino. She wants to develop workshops for parents to keep them informed on social issues like teen pregnancy, drug abuse and AIDS. Marla A. Petal Age: 37 Occupation: Special education program consultant. Education: Master’s degree in social work from University of Houston, with continued studies at UCLA in social planning and public services. Background: Member of several national special education organizations, including the Assn. for Children with Learning Disabilities, Team of Advocates for Special Kids and Assn. for Severe Handicaps. Issues: Petal vows to lobby Sacramento lawmakers for more education funding and also work to reduce class size. She also wants to create a new outreach program to get parents more involved in education system. Rafael (Ralph) Ramos Age: 35 Occupation: Owns and operates Oxnard-based Pacific Labor Services, which provides unskilled labor to municipalities and agricultural businesses. Education: Attended Ventura College and studied business administration for three years at Cal State Northridge. Background: Business owner since 1986; active member of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce, Oxnard Lion’s Club and the Oxnard Employer Advisory Council. Issues: Ramos wants to use his business experience to help the district overcome financial troubles that plague education. Seeing the difficulty of his poorly educated employees, he seeks to help prepare students get good jobs and make a better living. Herbert C. Templeman Age: 69 Occupation: Physician/surgeon. Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Wayne State University in Detroit and a medical degree from the College of Osteopathic Surgeons at Los Angeles. Background: School board member for 33 years; president of the Hueneme Rotary Club; member of the Hueneme Chamber of Commerce and the American Osteopathic Assn. Issues: Templeman wants to ensure that the district maintains its strong bilingual education program. He also seeks to convert Blackstock Elementary School to a new high-tech grade school with the help of private business. Mesa Union Elementary School District Three candidates, including one incumbent, are running for two school board seats. The 340-student district includes an elementary and junior high school under one roof just west of the community of Somis. James Edward Niles Age: 41 Occupation: Executive director of Moorpark College Foundation. Education: Bachelor’s degree in history from Cal Lutheran University. Background: Taught physical education at Moorpark College for nine years. He also has served as public information officer at Moorpark College and one term as chairman of the California Community College Commission on Public Information. Issues: Niles vows to help protect the district’s current education programs from budget cutbacks threatened by continuing reductions in state funding. He believes his educational background makes him well qualified to serve on the school board. Susan Bing Prosser Age: 44 Occupation: Homemaker. Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Michigan. Also studied urban policies at Yale University. Background: Extensive experience in government jobs, including assistant director of general services for Sonoma County; senior management analyst for the city of Sacramento; budget analyst for Ventura County; assistant manager with the Camrosa Water District, and assistant to the city manager in Jackson, Mich. She has two children attending schools in the district. Issues: Prosser seeks to get parents more involved in making district policies by forming parent committees that would advise the board on budget and education goals. She said her experience in government has prepared her well to serve on the board and wants to make a civic contribution. Karen A. Stearns Age: 48 Occupation: Homemaker. Education: Bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Kansas. Background: School board member since 1983; member of Las Patronas, an auxiliary group that helps to raise money for preschools that serve handicapped children; past member of the Mesa Education Foundation. Issues: Stearns wants to continue improving the district’s bilingual education program, which she considers vital in preventing students from dropping out of school later. She underscores her nine year’s experience on the school board as an advantage over her challengers. Ojai Unified School District Seven candidates are listed on the ballot as running for two available seats on the school board, although one candidate has withdrawn from the contest. The race is wide open because the two incumbents have decided not to seek reelection. Daryl Biberston Age: 51 Occupation: Retired Los Angeles County firefighter. Education: Graduated high school and two years of college. Background: Not available. Issues: Biberston withdrew from the race because he is moving out of state. His name will remain on the ballot. Alan Fletcher Age: 38 Occupation: Director of operations for Nexxus Products Co. Education: Bachelor’s degree in marine biology from UC Santa Barbara. Background: Board member on Meiner Oaks School PTA for past three years; two children in the Ojai schools system; attends school board meetings regularly. Issues: Fletcher seeks more community and parental involvement in schools and wants to increase local control of curricula and how to spend state funds. He wants to contain health-care costs for employees. Bruce A. Johnston Age: 39 Occupation: Sales manager for Betz Industrial. Education: Bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemical engineering from UC Davis. Background: Engineering background; business experience; fund-raising chairman for United Way. Issues: Johnston wants to publicize positive things in education and get recognition for teachers. He seeks to remove red tape so teachers can perform efficiently. He favors requiring community service for high school students and wants to get retirees more involved in schools. Karen A. McBride Age: 51 Occupation: Homemaker Education: Bachelor’s degree in history and sociology from the University of Utah. Background: Personnel assistant in State Department, Washington, D.C.; part-time medical assistant and office manager for an Ojai medical practice; put four children through Ojai schools; volunteered in classrooms at all grade levels; substitute school teacher; past officer in the PTA. Issues: McBride seeks to raise test scores for students and improve the vocational education system in the high school. She opposes any school-voucher system and wants the district to put a priority on classroom funding during the budget crisis. Tim Peddicord Age: 41 Occupation: Science teacher in the Oxnard Elementary School District. Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science from UC Santa Barbara; bachelor’s degree in zoology; two years of graduate work. Background: Chairman, Fremont Intermediate School science department; GATE science teacher; member of committee that helped design science classrooms for Bob Frank Intermediate School in Oxnard Elementary School District; Oxnard School District curriculum planning committee; two children in Ojai schools. Issues: Peddicord wants to find alternative sources of income for schools, including soliciting modest contributions from local businesses. He supports a school bond issue to pay for air conditioning and school materials. He wants to increase the number of instructional aides in classrooms. Frank Stephenson Age: 51 Occupation: Educational consultant. Education: Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Colby College in Maine. Background: Taught math while in the Army; former director of admissions at Colby College; former school board member in Maine; former director of admissions at Thacher School in Ojai; two children have gone to Ojai schools; as an educational consultant, he helps place students in colleges and universities through the United States and Europe. Issues: Stephenson wants to prepare more students for jobs after graduation through vocational education. He seeks to encourage parents to take a more active role in their children’s education. David A. Watson Age: 41 Occupation: Dentist Education: Bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Brigham Young University; dental degree from USC. Background: Spent four years in the Navy; involved in Sunkist School PTA; has four children headed for the district; missionary in Southern United States for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Issues: Watson wants to solicit corporate sponsorships for materials and supplies in schools. He would like to see more emphasis on vocational training as early as junior high. Oxnard Elementary School District Three candidates are running for two at-large seats on the governing board of the 12,500-student district. One incumbent and two challengers are competing in a campaign in which school financing and a possible unification with high school districts are the most debated issues. Susan E. Alvarez Age: 40 Occupation: Physical therapist in private practice. Education: Bachelor’s degree in health science from Cal State Northridge. Background: Physical therapist for 17 years, past seven years specializing in home care; mother of two students in district schools; active in Parent Teachers Assn. for six years, including four years as secretary of Juanita School PTA; volunteer with YMCA’s Indian Maidens. Issues: Alvarez wants to increase parents’ participation in schools and, if elected, vows to visit schools and neighborhood council meetings to make herself more accessible. She promises to protect classroom spending from budget cuts. She said she wants to take a cautious approach to merging with other school districts. Strongly opposes voucher plan to subsidize private schools. Charles Ray Johnson Age: 50 Occupation: Owner, Johnson’s Television and Video. Education: Vocational degree from National Trade School in Los Angeles. Background: Incumbent school board member for nine years; fought for passage of $40-million school bond; strong supporter of year-round education and returning students to neighborhood schools; past president of Oxnard Chamber of Commerce and Kern School PTA. Issues: Johnson wants to pursue merging with the Oxnard Union High School District to save money and ensure continuity of curricula. He believes a businesslike approach to district finances is essential, and favors fiscal prudence to secure district financial health. He also opposes voucher plan for private education. Dorothie Sterling Age: 65 Occupation: Retired in 1985 after 35 years as elementary school teacher. Education: Bachelor’s degree in education from Cal State Fresno. Background: School board member 1985 to 1990; lost reelection in 1990; supported neighborhood schools during her first term; also supported $40-million school bond and year-round education; member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, PTA 12th District and Oxnard’s Council on Aging. Issues: Sterling’s top priority is keeping the district financially sound despite cutbacks in state funding. She has no position on proposals to merge the district with others, but supports coordinating elementary and high school curricula. She vows to restore music classes and arts program.

Oxnard Union High School District

Nine candidates are vying for two seats on the Oxnard Union High School board as the district presses forward with controversial plans to build a new Oxnard High on undeveloped farmland west of the city. The district must also build a second campus east of Oxnard to accommodate growing enrollment.

Carlos Jose De Moss Age: 37 Occupation: Air traffic specialist for the Federal Aviation Administration. Education: High school graduate, three years of college. Background: Spent six years in the Army and National Guard; office manager; two children in Hueneme schools; bilingual.

Issues: De Moss wants to save dollars by reducing electives and focusing on core subjects. He also would save money by privatizing maintenance, food service and media departments. Another goal is to focus on programs to prevent drug use, gangs and teen sex. Roy Lockwood Age: 72 Occupation: Retired federal fire chief Education: Decline to state Background: Decline to state Issues: Decline to state Paul J. Kowalski Age: 30 Occupation: Director of private company that develops education technology programs. Education: Master’s degree in business administration from the University of LaVerne. Background: Member of education committee for the Ventura County Economic Development Assn.; volunteer for Boys & Girls Club of Port Hueneme; one child in the Hueneme Elementary school system. Issues: Kowalski wants to increase test scores in the district and to include the latest technology on new campuses. He envisions teachers as “guides” instead of lecturers and would like to see more community involvement in schools. Marvin Petal Age: 63 Occupation: Retired journalist Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Washington; some postgraduate work. Background: Instructor for UNESCO; volunteer work for shut-ins in Santa Monica; raised three children through the public schools system. Issues: Petal’s priority is to raise SAT scores and educational standards and to reduce the drop-out rate. He encourages cooperation between the district’s high schools and their feeder elementary school districts. Steve W. Stocks Age: 67 Occupation: Retired educator. Education: Master’s in education from USC. Background: President of Oxnard Union High School District board; board member for four years; teacher for five years and an administrator in Oxnard Union High School District for 31 years. Issues: Stocks’ priority is to complete the construction of a replacement school for Oxnard High and a new campus on the east side of Oxnard. He also stresses the importance of using limited tax dollars prudently and focusing on core subjects, such as reading, writing and math. Shirley Bumpus Age: 38 Occupation: Janitorial contractor Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration from University of Michigan. Background: Chairwoman of the Oxnard High School Site Council; member of district’s Educational Task Force; member of Oxnard High School Boosters; two children going through the school district; officer in the Ventura County chapter of Black America Political Assn. of California; member of 20th Century Onyx Club; member of Bethel-AME Church. Issues: If elected, Bumpus would emphasize smaller class sizes and better prepare students for college. She favors requiring classes in multiculturalism. Fred A. Judy Age: 52 Occupation: Counselor and teacher Education: Ph.D. in psychology from Valley Christian University; bachelor’s degree in human resource management from Pepperdine University. Background: Founder and chairman of the board of Zoe Christian Center in Oxnard; retired from 15-year-stint with Navy; substitute teacher for Port Hueneme and Oxnard schools, specializing in dealing with potential drop-outs. Issues: Judy believes the resources of established organizations, such as El Concilio del Condado de Ventura, should be used on high school campuses. He thinks vocational training should be increased and wants businesses to become more involved with schools. He also would require classes on multiculturalism to promote racial understanding. Preston Marshall Ransone Age: 55 Occupation: Movie and television writer-producer. Education: Bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Nebraska; graduate work in business administration at Georgia State University. Background: Retired Army lieutenant colonel after 31-year military career; three children went through school district. Issues: Ransone believes the gates around campuses should be removed as a symbolic gesture that the district is open to new ideas. He thinks teachers should have greater latitude to set curricula and create programs. He supports holding back-to-school nights in individual neighborhoods to increase parental participation. Fred Schwartz Age: 68 Occupation: Retired aerospace engineer for Lockheed. Education: Master’s degree in electrical engineering from UCLA. Background: Engineering consultant; fluent in French; bit player in the Cabrillo Music Theater productions; one child raised through public school system. Issues: Schwartz wants to reduce the number of administrators and use the money saved for teachers’ salaries. He thinks academic standards should be raised so students are competitive with their counterparts in Europe and Japan.

Pleasant Valley School District Four candidates, including one incumbent, are competing for two open seats on the Pleasant Valley school board at a time when the district grapples with overcrowding and difficulties in raising money to build new schools and maintain existing buildings. Ricardo A. Amador Age: 45 Occupation: School administrator. Education: Bachelor’s degree in child psychology from Cal State Northridge. Master’s degree in education from USC. Teaching credentials in early childhood education, standard elementary teaching, administrative services and community college education. Background: Served on the Pleasant Valley school board for 10 months; El Rio school board member for one four-year term; 20 years experience in public education, from teaching to administration. Issues: Proposes using developers’ fees to assist with building a new school; supports year-round education to solve overcrowding and to keep children in their neighborhood; wants the district to propose another school bond initiative to local voters. Juan Lozano Age: 44 Occupation: Defense Department technical consultant. Education: Bachelor of science degree in aviation management from National University in San Diego; strong electronics background. Background: Served in the Navy for 10 years; two tours of duty in Vietnam; naval reservist for 13 years. Issues: Lozano wants the district to place more emphasis on mathematics and science by bringing in technical professionals as guest lecturers and mentors. He proposes using volunteers to work with students at risk of dropping out of school and wants to establish educational standards for all district schools. Richard Paradyse Age: 34 Occupation: Air traffic supervisor. Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Connecticut. Master’s degree in criminal justice from University of South Florida. Background: Social worker for 10 years. Issues: Paradyse supports bonds to increase funding for schools. He favors eliminating bus service for all schoolchildren except those who live farthest from school. He also supports operating year-round schools to diminish overcrowding. Robert Rexford Age: 48 Occupation: Foster Freeze franchise owner. Education: Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley in industrial psychology. Master’s degree in hospital administration from the University of Washington, Seattle. Background: Hospital personnel manager and administrator for a decade; western regional personnel administrator for MCI for two years; fast-food business owner in Oxnard for 10 years. Issues: Rexford is against the Pleasant Valley district annexing Camarillo and Rio Mesa high schools. But he favors sharing maintenance and other services with adjoining school districts to save money. He wants to recruit high-tech industries to help develop schools’ curricula. He favors a slow transition to year-round schools to ease overcrowding.

Santa Clara Elementary School District Two candidates are competing for one seat on the school board of the tiny, 35-student district in Santa Paula. The district’s “Little Red School House” is the county’s last remaining one-room school, serving students in kindergarten to sixth grade. Deann K. Hobson Age: 30 Occupation: Businesswoman Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and law degree from American University. Background: Native Santa Paula; attended Santa Clara Elementary School District. Issues: With her lengthy academic experience, Hobson said she believes she can help improve and expand instructional programs at the one-school district. She has two children attending the school. Gayle Reed Age: 28 Occupation: Homemaker Education: Attending her first semester at Ventura College. Background: She was appointed to school board in January. Reed has also worked as a volunteer teacher’s aide in the district for three years. Issues: Reed wants to make sure the district’s two teachers continue to take Spanish-language courses to enhance the district’s bilingual program. If elected, she said she would seek to have the district construct a new building so it can handle seventh- and eighth-grade classes. Now, the district’s seventh- and eighth-graders are sent to other schools in Santa Paula or Fillmore.

Santa Paula Elementary School District Seven candidates, including one incumbent, are running for two seats on the school board at a time when the district is grappling with whether it can afford to give raises to teachers and school support staff. Karen Cottingham Age: 33 Occupation: Property manager for a homeowner association. Education: Graduated high school in San Diego; one year of college. Background: Two children in Santa Paula schools; member of district advisory committee; school site representative at several Santa Paula schools; president of Parent-Faculty Club at Glen City School; member of Task Force 2000 and the strategic planning committee. Issues: Cottingham would like to see more sharing of information between the board, parents and teachers. She wants to explore the possibility of unification with the high school district for continuity of instruction and to save money. She also supports switching some elementary campuses to year-round instruction. Co Engelhart Age: 55 Occupation: Retired technician for General Telephone. Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering and economics from the University of Amsterdam. Background: Former Santa Paula elementary school board member from 1978 to 1983; Santa Paula Union High School District board member from 1984 to 1988; Santa Paula Community Library board member; United Way board member; delegate to the California School Board Assn.; four children went through Santa Paula schools. Issues: Engelhart wants to emphasize computer skills in lower grades. He wants to raise morale among teachers by allowing them to stay at teaching levels they prefer. He favors cutting administrators, if necessary, to save money for school maintenance and starting a self-funding health-insurance plan for part-time employees. Joe Michael Gonzalez Age: 32 Occupation: Computer operations manager at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. Education: Graduate of computer studies at Sawyer College in Ventura; associate of arts degree from Ventura College. Background: Attended and graduated from Santa Paula schools; one child in Santa Paula schools. Issues: Gonzalez wants to strengthen communication between teachers, administrators and parents. He wants to keep funding in the classroom, cutting administrative costs if needed. He supports making school facilities open to social workers meeting with low-income families. He vows to refuse any stipend or benefits offered to school board members. Patricia (Patty) Harrison Age: 34 Occupation: Real estate agent. Education: Graduated from Camarillo High School; two years of college. Background: Instructional aide in the Ventura Unified School District for five years; involved in PTA in Ventura schools; past board member of Saticoy and Santa Paula Little Leagues; president of Parent-Student-Teacher Organization at Isbell School; active in several Santa Paula school fund-raising, advisory and planning groups; has four children in Santa Paula schools. Issues: Harrison wants to increase educational standards by encouraging greater parental involvement. She wants to provide opportunities for advising parents on guiding their children’s education and seeks to include the community in board decisions. Eugene E. Marzec Age: 66 Occupation: Retired school administrator for Santa Paula Elementary School District. Education: Bachelor’s degree in education from University of Illinois; master’s degree in educational administration from University of North Illinois. Background: Incumbent school board member since 1988; Santa Paula Elementary School District administrator for 26 years, including stints as vice principal, principal and assistant superintendent; member of Santa Paula Kiwanis; member of Santa Paula Library Commission. Issues: Marzec is concerned about maintaining good communication among the board, school district employees and parents. He believes board members should frequently visit school sites to stay in touch and should reach out to the community for advice on budget matters and other concerns. Benjamin F. Saiz Age: 44 Occupation: Parole officer with the California Youth Authority in East Los Angeles. Education: Master’s degree in Mexican-American studies from San Jose State; one year of graduate work in urban planning and U.S. history. Background: California community college instructor’s and supervisor’s credentials; community college instructor since 1978 in history, Chicano studies and sociology; three children going through the school district. Issues: Saiz wants to hold school board meetings at school sites and provide child care so parents can attend. He wants to review the state funding formula for Santa Paula students to make sure it is the same as in other districts. Suzi Skutley Age: 42 Occupation: Works part time as a bookkeeper and manager of a bookstore. Education: Graduate of Ventura High School; three years of college. Background: Administrative work for Ventura County; legal secretary; officer of Parent Faculty Club at Thelma B. Bedell School; two children in school district. Issues: Skutley wants to improve parent participation and increase the flow of information between teachers, parents and the superintendent’s office. She wants to make the budget understandable to an average parent and to consult teachers and support staff more often when formulating policy.

Santa Paula Union High School District Four candidates, including two incumbents, are running at large for two seats with four-year terms. Campaign issues include merging the city’s high school and elementary school districts to save money and how much emphasis to place on vocational education. Victor Salas Sr. Age: 60 Occupation: Engineering technician for the Santa Paula Waterworks. Owner, Salas Manufacturing Co., producer of pest-control traps. Education: Graduated Santa Paula High School in 1951. Associate of science degree in engineering from Ventura College. Background: Incumbent school board member since 1988; former Scoutmaster; Santa Paula planning commissioner for seven years; founding president of the Santa Paula Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce; member of the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce; member of the United Way Hispanic Business Committee. Issues: Salas is running on his record of helping improve the high school during the past four years, including beginning to refurbish the school with the use of a $5-million bond issue. He wants to continue improving safety at the school and communication between district staff, teachers and students. He also favors beefing up the school’s vocational training. Al Sandoval Age: 56 Occupation: Owner, A&B; Photo, a photo processing shop. Education: Graduated Santa Paula High School in 1955. Associate of arts degree from Ventura College. Background: School board member for four years; senior class president while at Santa Paula High; past president of the Santa Paula Kiwanis Club; past president of the Santa Paula Jaycees; founding president of the Bobby Socks, a girl’s softball league; former Santa Paula Recreation Department employee; former director of Santa Paula Youth Employment agency. Issues: Sandoval is also proud of the ongoing improvements to the high school and believes the school has become safer for students and teachers through a new anti-gang dress code and closed campus. He says the board has set achievable goals for the staff and established more accountability. He supports more vocational training. Roylene Cunningham Age: 51 Occupation: Librarian at E.P. Foster Library in Ventura. Education: Master’s degree in library science from the University of Denver. Bachelor’s degree in physical sciences from Colorado State University. Background: Seventeen-year city resident; eldest daughter graduated from Santa Paula High as co-valedictorian last year, middle daughter is current junior class president, youngest is not yet in high school; current chairwoman of the District Advisory Council for the Santa Paula Elementary School District. Issues: Cunningham supports making community service a prerequisite for high school graduation. She wants to bolster after-school offerings, especially more athletics for girls. She also seeks to establish more academic-oriented clubs and teams. She favors a mentor-teacher program and adding to library resources within budgetary restraints. Bob Gonzales Age: 41 Occupation: Commander of the Santa Paula Police Department. Education: Graduated Santa Paula High School in 1968. Bachelor of science in criminal justice from the University of La Verne. Associate of science degree in police science from Ventura College. Background: Santa Paula Elementary School District board member since 1985 (his term expires this year); former board member of the Santa Paula Boy’s Club; been involved in Little League and Boy Scouts; former assistant football coach at Santa Paula High; former president of the Santa Paula Police Officers Assn. Issues: Gonzales supports placing students into classes that match their academic potential and segregating disruptive students. He wants more continuity and communication between the high school and elementary school districts on problem students. He advocates merging the elementary and high school districts to cut administrative costs.

Simi Valley Unified School District Five candidates, including two incumbents, are running for three seats on the school board. One campaign issue is whether the district should proceed with plans to reconfigure its schools so that elementary schools would include kindergarten through 5th grade, middle schools 6th through 8th, and high schools 9th through 12th. Judy Barry Age: 49 Occupation: Incumbent; former elementary school teacher. Education: Bachelor’s degree in sociology from Immaculate Heart College; received lifetime teaching credential in 1967. Background: Active with PTA for many years, member of Boys and Girls Club board of directors, first vice president of Ventura Council School Boards Assn., member of Ventura County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission, member of Simi Valley Community Council.

Issues: Barry favors implementing long-range district goals, which include reducing class size and plotting out an individual four-year curriculum for each high school student. She supports the plan to reconfigure the schools and to continue improving the school district’s relationship with governmental agencies and business. Jim King Age: 44 Occupation: Executive director, Simi Valley Family YMCA. Education: Graduated from Granada Hills High in 1966; attended Moorpark College for three years and Cal State Northridge for two years. Background: Vietnam War veteran; worked in retail grocery business and wholesale wine and spirits industry; past board member of the Rotary Club of Simi Valley, past member of Simi Valley Days Committee, founding member of Leadership Simi Valley and member of three amateur radio clubs. Issues: King vows to maximize effectiveness of state education dollars and he supports district plans to reconfigure its schools. He wants the district to complete its scheduled rehabilitation of deteriorated schools so it can develop an effective maintenance plan. Diane Collins Age: 47 Occupation: Incumbent; manager of state and federal programs for Ventura County Transportation Commission. Education: Bachelor’s degree in urban studies and political science from Cal State Northridge. Background: Former program administrator for Southern California Assn. of Governments, past board member of Neighborhood Council 2, soccer coach, girls’ softball coach and Girl Scout leader. Issues: Collins wants to maintain existing programs with highest priority of funding for the classroom. She opposes reconfiguration of the schools and supports establishing a technology and arts magnet high school. Debbie Sandland Age: 38 Occupation: Homemaker and registered nurse at Simi Valley Hospital. Education: Graduated from Simi Valley High in 1972; received associate of arts degree from Moorpark College; received nursing degree from University of State of New York. Background: Great-grandparents settled in Simi Valley in 1889; member of Township Elementary School PTA; has a son in second grade. Issues: She seeks to lower class size and dropout rates. She favors reinstating support services in classrooms such as teachers’ aides. She opposes reconfiguration of schools and wants to minimize closed school board meetings. Jacqueline L. Richardson Age: 41 Occupation: Career consultant. Education: Attended University of Minnesota for two years; received designated subject teaching credential for vocational education from Cal Lutheran University. Background: Spent four years as a vocational education technician at the Simi Valley Unified School District, working with teachers and students as an advocate for non-college-bound students. Resigned in June from her district job as business and government affairs consultant to run for school board. First female chairwoman of Job Training Policy Council of Ventura County; founding member of Simi Valley Education Foundation. Issues: She seeks to preserve vocational programs at high schools and supports developing innovative “charter” schools. She supports the district’s reconfiguration plans, but has concerns about its financial cost.

Somis Union Elementary School District Three candidates, including one incumbent, are running at large for two seats with four-year terms. The small district has one school with about 300 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Incumbent Elizabeth Miller, appointed to the board in February, is not seeking election. Robert Fulkerson Age: 38 Occupation: Owner of Fulkerson Hardware. Education: Bachelor’s degree in public administration from San Diego State University. Background: Incumbent school board member since 1987; lifelong Somis resident; board member of the Camarillo Trade Club and the Las Posas Valley Athletic Assn. Issues: Fulkerson opposed the ouster of Supt. Dale Forgey, a move that spawned a recall effort against three other board members. He is running on his record of supporting the construction of a library building, recently completed. He is also proud of saving the district money by combining bus and lunch programs with nearby Mesa School. A.F. (Drew) Sutherland Age: 39 Occupation: Carpenter; construction foreman. Education: High school graduate. Background: Concerned parent; member of Parents for Quality Education, the group that mounted the recall effort against three board members because of Forgey’s removal and other issues; carpenter and construction supervisor for 19 years. Issues: Sutherland thinks the board should allow more public participation than it does and be more responsive to the wishes of parents. He supports re-establishing the school’s day-care center. John Catano Age: 41 Occupation: Psychiatric technician at Camarillo State Hospital. Education: Associate of Arts degree in architectural design from Bakersfield State College. Background: Somis Education Foundation board member; committee chairman for Boy Scout Troop 3830 in Somis; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission counselor. Issues: Catano wants better education for students and suggests a return to a strong core curriculum aimed at teaching the basics. He thinks the board was correct in not renewing Forgey’s contract, because the administrator’s effectiveness had ebbed. He supports a day-care center at school, if it is run properly.