THE RACE FOR HUNTINGTON BEACH UNION HIGH SCHOOL BOARD

Angelique Flores

Michael Simons is a 30-year Huntington Beach resident. Three of his

children graduated from schools in the Huntington Beach Union High School

District.

“The children of our communities and their education are my highest

priority,” Simons said.

The most important issue the district faces is accountability to the

students, their parents and the community, he said.

“The district must continue to enable our students to become

independent thinkers who are able to become successful adults,” Simons

said. “We must also prepare them to pass the new high school exit exam,

while continuing our above average SAT and AP [Advanced Placement]

scores.”

Simons, an incumbent serving his second term, said the district must

continue to assure parents that their children have a safe and secure

learning environment with all the tools necessary for success.

“We must demonstrate to the community that we will make prudent fiscal

decisions that will maintain financial stability,” he said.

Simons is a gubernatorial appointee for the Board of Podiatric

Medicine for the California Department of Consumer Affairs and the

president of the Orange County Podiatric Medical Assn.Simons, a

podiatrist, earned his bachelor’s degree in zoology at Michigan State

University. He went on to earn his master’s degree in medical education

and his doctorate at the California College of Podiatric Medicine. He

uses his education background to train student doctors.

BIO: MICHAEL SIMONS

* Age: 56

* Family: Wife Judy, sons Ben and Brad, stepson Jeff, stepdaughter

Jennifer, and three step-grandchildren

* Community Activism: Huntington Beach Union High School District

trustee, Community Services Commission for the city of Huntington Beach,

Infrastructure Advisory Committee for the city of Huntington Beach,

Educational Enrichment Foundation, Huntington Beach High School site

council, Robinwood Little League Board of Directors, Huntington Beach

Sunrise Rotary and Michigan State University Orange County Alumni Assn.

Board of Directors

* Contact: (714) 536-3840

MICHAEL SIMONS ON:

* THE DISTRICT’S BIGGEST CHALLENGES:Simons said the district’s

facilities will pose the greatest challenge in the near future, adding

that trustees are faced with many of the same infrastructure problems

that face the district’s cities.

“Our aging campuses are in need of major repair and renovation.

Increasing enrollment and class-size reduction is causing an impact on

classroom space.”

Simons said the recent bond measure, while unsuccessful, enabled the

district to receive $40 million.

“This leaves $100 million in repairs for the future. We need to find

ways to fund this with as little impact on the community as possible.

Meanwhile, we must continue to maintain and upgrade our facilities with

available funds.”

* PLANS TO DEMOLISH BUILDING NO. 300:

“Structural and geotechnical engineers have recommended that . . . the

building should be demolished. Repair in place is not cost-effective.”

Building No. 300, he added, houses specialized programs with unusual

space requirements, including the band and choral rooms, auto and wood

shops, and the kitchen and cafeteria.

“School and district staff, parents and students are working together

to develop plans for accommodating those programs both during

construction and afterward.

“We need to be committed to the safety of the students and staff at

Fountain Valley High School and to the protection of the programs at the

school.”