Schools / Education news : LAGUNA BEACH : Foundation Raises Additional $80,000

Capping a record-breaking fund drive, School Power presented an $80,000 check to the Laguna Beach School Board this week, bringing to $230,300 the amount the organization has raised for the school district this year.

While School Power, the district’s educational foundation and largest fund-raising organization, makes large donations each year, the group responded to Orange County’s financial crisis by launching a special “bankruptcy recovery” campaign in May.

Among money-raising projects were 10-K runs, dinner dances and golf tournaments. Those efforts brought in the extra $80,000, director Jacqueline Ryan said.

School Power gave the district $150,300 in October, she said.

FULLERTON

Board Vice President Moves Up in Ranks

Rosamaria Gomez-Amaro has been chosen to head the Fullerton School Board’s trustees.

Board President Marjorie Pogue handed the gavel to Gomez-Amaro at this week’s board meeting. Karen M.B. Chavez and Anthony M. Valla were selected to serve as vice president and clerk of the board, respectively.

Gomez-Amaro, 49, said she plans to hold informal meetings with the public so that parents can voice concerns about the district, its schools and related issues. “We need to be more open to criticisms and support of the district,” she said.

Gomez-Amaro is Cal State Fullerton’s director of affirmative action. She was elected to the Fullerton School Board in 1992 and served as vice president this past year.

TUSTIN

Leader of Board to Serve Second Term

Jane Bauer, president of the Tustin Unified School District’s board of trustees, has been appointed to a second term for 1996.

At its meeting this week, the board also elected Jonathan Abelove as vice president and clerk for the second consecutive year.

Bauer, a tax attorney with a practice in Tustin, has served on the school board since 1985.

LAGUNA BEACH

Trustees Choose New Board President

Janet S. Vickers has been elected president of the Laguna Beach School Board.

At this week’s board meeting, trustees also chose Susan Mas as clerk for the coming year.

Vickers was recalled from the school board in 1987 after a group called Citizens Unified for Responsible Education targeted her, Carl E. Schwarz and Charlene Ragatz for voting to allow former Laguna Beach High School football coach Cedrick W. Hardman to continue as a volunteer despite his arrest on felony charges.

Vickers was reelected to the school board in 1992.

--BY MIMI KO CRUZ, LESLIE EARNEST AND JOHN POPE