Our education choices

As political leaders and others take their election-year jabs at

public education, Newport-Mesa is not immune from the fray.

Sure, many local schools enjoy solid reputations, but we’re always

reminded of the need to improve and get better.

This year, we’re offering two paths for that. In Newport-Mesa Unified,

our suggestion is to stay the course and reelect trustee Martha Fluor to

another term.

At the Coast Community College District we are urging a different

move, replace the long-standing incumbents with the fresh new faces of

Jean Forbath and Daniel Kittredge.

In the Newport-Mesa race, because incumbents Dana Black and David

Brooks are running unopposed, the only contest is between Area 3

incumbent Fluor and challenger Ila Johnson, who jumped in at the last

minute and assured that voters would not go without some choice for the

second school board election in a row.

Johnson deserves much praise for her decision. Instead of complaining

about the district and its policies, she’s trying to do something about

it. Her candidacy, which she says is “outside my comfort zone,” has

created a debate about the board’s leadership that otherwise would have

been lacking this fall.

But while she deserves praise, we’re not ready to back Johnson’s

campaign just yet.

Fluor’s educational background and years of proven dedication have

earned her another four years leading our schools. She is the better one

to help the district tackle the tough issues facing our schools.

And there are plenty. The district still has to its spend the $163

million it will get through the bond and state matching funds. Parents

who want to create a charter school just last week turned in their

proposal. The zero-tolerance policy remains a source of contention. Test

scores need to rise. Newport Beach and Costa Mesa students need to learn

on as level a field as possible.

This board already has had much success handling tricky issues. It got

the bond passed and has gone a long way to restoring the strained

relationship between the district and parents. It needs to continue those

efforts.

As for the Coast Community College District we’ve always admired how

that board seems to keep things smooth on the surface. Hardly ever does

one hear of discord or dissension.

But recently, there’s been some rippling underneath that has

threatened to bubble over the top and has left some concerned that the

district is in need of new leadership.

Which brings us to the two incumbent board members Armando Ruiz and

Paul Berger.

Ruiz and Berger are respected leaders with many, many years of

experience at running the district and they should be commended for the

job they’ve done.

But after much thought, we’ve come to the difficult conclusion that

both Ruiz and Berger may have been at it too long.

And we’re not the only ones who feel that way. The district’s teacher

union, after many years of support, has also chosen not to endorse both

Berger and Ruiz.

Ruiz was swept into power in 1983 and Berger in 1987. That puts both

of them two decades removed from the current crop of students at the

district’s schools, Orange Coast, Golden West and Coastline community

colleges.

And while those schools have much success in the areas of curriculum,

vocation and transfers to four-year schools, it’s time for new ideas, new

energy and debate on the college board.

Forbath and Kittredge can provide just that.

Forbath, who is squaring off against Berger, is well known in Costa

Mesa as the founder of Share of Selves, the largest poverty relief agency

in Orange County. A former college professor and high school teacher, she

has blazed a trail for the poor and destitute in our communities for more

than two decades.

Forbath has proven she is committed to the community and with her

experience, she will bring the sense of purpose and spirit of activism

that is needed on the college board.

In addition she and Kittredge have vowed to improve salaries of Coast

district teachers, which were ranked 60th out of the 71 college districts

in the state in a state teachers association study.

Kittredge, the product of a community college education, has earned

his stripes as an activist fighting development along the Bolsa Chica

wetlands in Huntington Beach.

On the education front, Kittredge, who is running against Ruiz, has

done his homework and understands the needs of the community college

students.

He supports smaller class sizes, enhanced technology skills training

and securing consistent college funding from the state.

Next week, we urge our readers to do their part to improve education.

Vote for Martha Fluor in Newport-Mesa and Jean Forbath and Daniel

Kittredge in Coast Community College District.