Los Alamitos School Board Candidates

Three incumbents and two challengers are vying for three open seats on the board of the Los Alamitos Unified School District. A look at the district and the contenders:

THE DISTRICT

Boundaries: Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, Seal Beach; parts of Cypress, Long Beach and Surfside

Enrollment: 8,500, kindergarten-12th grade

Facilities: Six elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, one continuation high school

Board members: Five

THE CANDIDATES

Donna Artukovic

Age: 52

Occupation: Community relations director, Alzheimer’s Assn. of Orange County

Background: Incumbent, appointed 1987; president, fourth district, California PTA; member, South Coast chapter, National Charity League; former member, Orange County School Board Assn.

Major issue: Strengthen ties between school district and community with a plan that includes district newsletter, open forums

Del Clark

Age: 58

Occupation: Training consultant

Background: Incumbent, elected 1992; member, Rossmoor Women’s Club, Orange County Assn. of Training and Development, International Community Council at Cal State Long Beach, California School Board Assn. and Orange County School Board Assn.

Major issues: Manage student population growth to control overcrowding and interdistrict transfers; relocate Orange County High School of Performing Arts from Los Alamitos High School to its own site

M. Kent Gregory

Age: 39

Occupation: Music teacher, grades 4-8

Background: Doctorate in education; arts consultant to California Department of Education; board member, California Music Educators Assn.

Major issue: Reduce number of interdistrict transfer students

Cathie A. Salai

Age: 44

Occupation: Homemaker

Background: Active in PTAs at Los Alamitos Elementary School, McAuliffe Middle School and Los Alamitos High School; Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader; former sales manager

Major issue: Allow parents and community to have more input in district’s decision-making

Virginia Wilson

Age: 56

Occupation: Shopping center owner

Background: Incumbent, appointed 1977; executive board member, Casa Youth Shelter; delegate, California School Board Assn. assembly; secretary-treasurer, National Assn. of Federal Impact Schools

Major issue: Continue to lobby federal and state governments for money for school district

Sources: Individual candidates, Los Alamitos Unified School District; Researched by LORI HAYCOX / For The Times