Las Virgenes Candidates Vow Not to Fix Schools

The old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” could be the campaign slogan for the four candidates running in the Nov. 3 election for two seats on the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education.

This 80-square-mile district on the western edge of Los Angeles County appears to be running smoothly. That may be the reason the candidates say they are happy with the current board’s policies and, if elected, would not propose radical changes for the 8,500-student district. It also may account for the fact that this year’s race is sporting the smallest field of candidates in the district’s 24-year history.

As far as academics go, there are few complaints with the district’s performance.

In the past four years, Las Virgenes students have posted average scores in the 90th percentile and above on the standardized California Assessment Program test of basic academic skills.

In the last three years, five of the district’s 12 schools have received top honors.

Schools Honored

Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills was named one of the four best junior high schools in California in 1985 by the National and Secondary School Recognition Program.

In 1986, Lupin Hill Elementary School in Calabasas and White Oak Elementary School in Westlake Village were among 270 elementary schools nationwide given awards for excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. Just a few weeks ago, Calabasas and Agoura high schools were nominated for the state’s Distinguished Secondary School Award along with 120 high schools statewide.

The relationship between the district and its employees appears to be good, as well. Last month, the teachers’ union signed a three-year contract to establish a pay scale ranging from $22,800 to $39,051 in the first year. The union representing other district employees signed a similar pact.

Although next week’s election comes a year after a divisive battle over busing to alleviate crowded conditions at Lindero Canyon Middle School, educators and parents agree that anger has subsided. And, they add, there are few controversial issues on the horizon.

This peaceful legacy is one of the reasons board veterans Betty DeSantis and Richard Koppel decided not to run for reelection, opening up the two positions for newcomers.

“The last race was more controversial, with school-boundary changes and things like that,” said Amy Berns, who is making her second bid for the board. “This year, there just aren’t any strong issues.”

Berns, 38, describes herself as a parent, teacher and psychologist. She said she is focusing her campaign on listening to parents’ concerns, which range from reducing class size to streamlining the selection process for high school honors classes and adding more art, music and vocational classes to the district’s curriculum.

“I’m going to make their concerns my agenda when I get on the board,” Berns said.

David L. Kopal, a self-employed certified public accountant, said he is not unhappy with the district’s accomplishments.

“I’m a concerned parent who believes his 20 years of financial experience can help the school district,” said Kopal, 39. “It’s unfortunate that so many educational decisions are based on financial considerations, but they are, and I believe my background will help me make reasoned decisions.”

Kopal said he believes the district needs to reduce class size, increase the amount of money allocated to expand facilities, structure the curriculum to challenge students, and improve relations between the board and the community.

Candidate Ken Swor, 52, is a former teacher who works as a movie production manager. He is worried about large class sizes, lack of money to build or expand campuses and the difficulty of maintaining the district’s good reputation.

Keeping District Good

“The challenge is how to keep a good district good,” Swor said. “I think the current school board has been able to do that, and I hope to continue that tradition.”

Swor also stressed that his financial background would be helpful in making decisions.

“In the movie business, you learn to put the money where it does the most good, in front of the camera,” Swor said. “In education, it’s the same thing. You have to put the money in the classroom because that’s where it will do the most good.”

Rounding out the ballot is Roger Wakefield, 55, a teacher at Chatsworth High School. He once served on the Oak Park Board of Education, but was forced to resign when he moved out of the district.

Wakefield said he wants to improve the relationship between the school board and the community. “There seems to be an adversary type of relationship. . . . It doesn’t have to be that way.”

He also believes that being an active teacher gives him special insights that would help him on the board.

“I understand the concept that lay people should run things, but I always believe that you need someone who works in the pits to help make the decisions,” he said.