3 School Boards Select New Officials

Trustees on three school boards in Fullerton and La Habra, at separate meetings this week, chose new presidents, vice presidents and clerks for next year.

Robert A. Singer was named president and Barbara R. Kilponen will be clerk of the Fullerton Joint Union High School District, which governs the secondary schools in Fullerton, La Habra and Buena Park.

Singer, who was first elected in 1982 and has served as board president three times before, said the biggest challenge in the coming year will be hiring a “suitable successor” to retiring Supt. J. Kenneth Jones.

“Finding someone to really lead our district for the next decade will probably be the single most important decision we will make,” he said.

In the Fullerton School District, which governs the elementary and junior high schools in the city, Anthony M. Valla was named president. Vice president will be Robert C. Fisler and the clerk will be Marjorie Pogue.

Linda Navarro Edwards will serve as president of the La Habra City School Board, which governs the elementary and middle schools in La Habra. Vice president is Susan M. Hango and clerk is Nancy S. Zinberg.

Officials at both elementary school districts said the issue that will most likely dominate is reduction of second grade class sizes.

“We hope to start lowering the class sizes early next year, but it’s going to be a challenge,” Edwards said. “It’s not going to be easy.”