MOORPARK : School Board Will Appoint New Member

The Moorpark school board has decided to appoint a new member rather than hold an election to replace board President Sam K. Nainoa, despite parents’ threats to force a special election for the vacant seat.

The board voted 4 to 0 Tuesday to invite interested residents to apply to serve the year and a half remaining in Nainoa’s term.

Nainoa resigned Friday, saying that travel requirements for a new job would interfere with his board duties.

The board will interview all applicants--who must be registered voters in the city--at a public meeting toward the end of the month before choosing Nainoa’s replacement.

In deciding to choose the new board member themselves, board members cited the costs of holding a special election, estimated at $9,000 to $23,000.

But four parents urged the board Tuesday to call an election, despite the costs.

Helen Taylor, who led a campaign to reduce busing in the district and convert elementary schools to neighborhood schools, warned board members that residents will need only about 180 signatures--1.5% of the voters in the last school board election--to force an election for the vacant seat.

“The public will demand to know how the appointee feels about the issues of school choice, school prayer, condom distribution” and other topics, she said.

Taylor, who said she may apply for Nainoa’s board seat, has advocated a statewide school-voucher system and allowing prayer at Moorpark High School graduations.

Board member Gregory J. Barker said he resented Taylor’s threats to the board. “I feel like we’re being held hostage,” he said.