Ocean View Gears Up for Board Election, New School System : Education: Superintendent begins first full year on job in district reconfigured to include four middle schools. Thirteen buses have been purchased.

HUNTINGTON BEACH —  Major changes are afoot in the Ocean View School District as the new year begins and five candidates seek election to the school board.

Supt. James R. Tarwater is starting his first full year on the job; a new middle school system is in place, and 13 school buses have been purchased for $1 million to meet new transportation demands.

The new middle school system is intended to concentrate programs and teachers in the middle schools and to ease transition into high school. The district was reconfigured so that it now has four middle schools (sixth, seventh and eighth grades) and 11 elementary schools (kindergarten through fifth grade.)

Ocean View schools previously were either kindergarten through sixth grades or kindergarten through eighth grades.

The conversion stirred criticism last year from some parents whose children would be moved from neighborhood schools and bused to other school sites in the district. About 2,500 pupils will be bused to accommodate the conversion to middle schools, Tarwater said.

Another recent development was the desegregation of Oak View School, which had a lopsided majority of Latino students. School officials voluntarily agreed to desegregate in order to comply with the policy of the U.S. Office of Civil Rights, Tarwater said.

The desegregation effort, started last year but continuing in the new year, has resulted in the redrawing of boundaries and the busing of another 659 pupils to several school sites.

Tarwater said the district’s new structure offers more flexibility and additional electives as well as longer class periods because of a class rotation system. It’s gone “extremely smooth” and was well received by youngsters, he said.

The four new middle schools, which previously served kindergarten through eighth grade, are Marine View, Mesa View, Spring View and Vista View. Haven View (kindergarten through sixth) and Crest View (kindergarten through eighth) were closed last year, mainly because of the effects of declining enrollment over the years.

This year’s enrollment, however, has reached 8,807, up 42 pupils from last year but still 24 less than projected.

Voters in November will choose two school board members. Sheila Marcus, a 13-year trustee, is not seeking reelection. The other contested seat is held by Carolyn Hunt, a seven-year incumbent, who is seeking a new four-year term. Longtime board member Charles Osterlund is running for election after a hiatus of two years.

Ocean View School District Board of Trustees

Five candidates are vying for two seats on the Ocean View School District Board of Trustees. The deadline to register to vote is Monday. To register, pick up a form at any post office, library or city hall. For more information, call the county registrar of voters at (714) 567-7600.

Ian C. Harrison

Age: 24.

Occupation: Associate editor, weekly newspaper.

Background: Member, Democratic Club of West Orange County.

Priorities: Wants to improve quality of education in face of budget cuts; seeks to keep students apace with technology through computer literacy; would sell closed schools to raise money; advocates open communication between trustees and parents.

Roger A. Harvey

Age: 45.

Occupation: Director of operations, Professional Assn. of Diving Instructors.

Background: Served on Ocean View School District Master Plan Committee, 1990-91; a member of district’s budget committee, 1989-90.

Priorities: Wants to maintain fiscal responsibility; seeks to successfully reconfigure middle school system; would insist on parental access to teachers and administrators so family values can be expressed.

Carolyn Hunt

Age: 56.

Occupation: Incumbent, director of United Way’s western region office.

Background: Elected to board in 1985; served on Ocean View’s personnel commission and master plan committee on school closure, 1983-85.

Priorities: Wants to see that restructuring succeeds; supports desegregation plan to help children learn to be comfortable with diverse racial groups; wants parents to know where child stands on learning curve.

Charles Osterlund

Age: 58.

Occupation: Educator (school instruction improvements specialist, Narbonne High School in Los Angeles).

Background: Served as Ocean View School District trustee, 1975-90; was member of city’s Human Services Commission for six years.

Priorities: Pledges to work closely with superintendent to cope with district’s financial crisis; would give more voice to committees formed to deal with school issues in timely manner.

Nancy Stuever

Age: 41.

Occupation: Registered nurse, nurse/educator.

Background: Served on district integration advisory committee, 1990-91; served on Vista View School Site Council, 1987-88, 1991-92.

Priorities: Wants pupils to appreciate ethnic differences and disagrees with separating students who don’t speak English; wants to generate income from the district’s property; wants teachers and community to help the school board solve problems.