SIMI VALLEY : DiFatta to Seek School Board Seat

Simi Valley resident Janice DiFatta has announced her candidacy for one of two open seats on the Simi Valley school board.

DiFatta was the first candidate to file candidacy papers with the Ventura County Elections Division Monday, which was the first day of the filing period that ends Aug. 20.

Trustee Doug Crosse and community activist Sharon Hushka have also announced that they intend to run for seats on the school board.

Positions held by Crosse and board President Carla Kurachi are up for election on the November ballot. Kurachi has not said whether she will seek reelection.

DiFatta, a Simi Valley resident since 1979, has been an active parent in the Simi Valley Unified School District for 12 years and is a past president of the Parent Teacher Assn. Council.

The 42-year-old mother of two said she favors a back-to-basics style of education, focusing on academic fundamentals.

“I feel there is a lot of instability on our board currently,” she said. “I think there needs to be a change of direction and I think we need to stop and focus on what is best for the kids in the Simi Valley district.”

Two of DiFatta’s goals are establishing four-year high schools in Simi Valley and a fundamental junior high school, which emphasizes stricter academic curriculum.

“There is a very strong parent interest in a fundamental junior high school,” she said. “Also, there’s a lot of interest in another fundamental elementary school. I think that would be a step in the right direction.”

DiFatta also encourages greater parent involvement in the district.

“I think generally the parents feel like their input is asked for after the fact,” DiFatta said, adding that the school board should “invite parents to sit on committees and truly value their input.”