CANDIDATES QUESTIONED ON ISSUES; GREEN, YARAS DIFFER ON BUSES, BOND FUNDS.Byline: Paul O'Donoghue Staff Writer Views on school busing and bonds were among the main issues separating the two candidates running for the school board who squared off this week during a televised forum. Candidate Ted Green said he was opposed to both, saying he was a longtime long·time adj. Having existed or persisted for a long time: a longtime friend; a longtime resident of Detroit. longtime Adjective opponent of busing and didn't want the school bonds to squeeze the taxpayers. Fellow candidate Mindy Yaras said busing helps children from different backgrounds mix and school bonds could be necessary to help renovate campuses. ``I have always been against busing,'' said Green, who is making his third bid for a seat on the board. ``I would like to see busing kids from one end of town to the other . . . eliminated.'' Yaras, who is trying to regain the seat she was appointed to and then ousted from earlier this year after voters petitioned for a special election, said busing allows children to mix with those they might not otherwise meet. ``We are enabling our children to get along with one another. That is what we are doing,'' she said. The issues were among about two dozen questions asked by voters Tuesday at the only candidates forum scheduled before the July 20 special election to fill the vacant seat on the five-member board. About 30 people attended the forum, which was televised live and is to be rebroadcast next week. Sponsored by the PTA PTA or parent-teacher association: see parent education. Parents Council, the forum was moderated by Nancy Grasmehr, former president of the Ventura County League of Women Voters League of Women Voters, voluntary public service organization of U.S. citizens. Organized in 1920 in Chicago as an outgrowth of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, it had as its original nucleus the leaders of the latter organization. . Green indicated he was opposed to bonds, saying he didn't want ``squeezing of local taxpayers'' and said the district should seek more federal and state money. Yaras said bonds might be necessary for the district to modernize mod·ern·ize v. mo·dern·ized, mo·dern·iz·ing, mo·dern·iz·es v.tr. To make modern in appearance, style, or character; update. v.intr. To accept or adopt modern ways, ideas, or style. and keep up with technology. Among other questions raised - including some from the audience - were those about the candidates' qualifications for the job, school security, principals' decision-making decision-making, n the process of coming to a conclusion or making a judgment. decision-making, evidence-based, n a type of informal decision-making that combines clinical expertise, patient concerns, and evidence gathered from powers, plans for attracting more experienced teachers to the district and bilingual education bilingual education, the sanctioned use of more than one language in U.S. education. The Bilingual Education Act (1968), combined with a Supreme Court decision (1974) mandating help for students with limited English proficiency, requires instruction in the native . In opening statements at the forum, Green, 51, who is a taxpayer educator with the Internal Revenue Service, stressed that his financial expertise combined with 15 years of community work experience and education make him the better candidate. ``I have longevity longevity (lŏnjĕv`ĭtē), term denoting the length or duration of the life of an animal or plant, often used to indicate an unusually long life. ,'' he said, ``I have qualifications and I have walked the district.'' Yaras, 42, emphasized her experience as a member of the PTA and her 11-year involvement with the district as a classroom volunteer. She took credit for increasing from 11 to 719 the number of volunteers helping out in the district's schools. Both support making a second language a requirement for all primary students, beefing up school security and calling for more parent involvement in the schools. The vacancy VACANCY. A place which is empty. The term is principally applied to cases where an office is not filled. 2. By the constitution of the United States, the president has the power to fill up vacancies that may happen during the recess of the senate. on the board was created when a successful petition drive by former Mayor Eloise Brown resulted in Yaras' ouster ouster n. 1) the wrongful dispossession (putting out) of a rightful owner or tenant of real property, forcing the party pushed out of the premises to bring a lawsuit to regain possession. from the board in March. Yaras had been appointed by the board in January to finish out the term of Clint Clint is the diminutive word for the given name Clinton and may refer to: People:
Board members said they appointed Yaras, from 10 residents who had applied, to save the district the $21,000 cost of holding a special election. Brown attended the Tuesday night forum and pronounced herself pleased that the election is taking place despite the cost because it allows voters to scrutinize scru·ti·nize tr.v. scru·ti·nized, scru·ti·niz·ing, scru·ti·niz·es To examine or observe with great care; inspect critically. scru and question the candidates. ``I think elected officials should be elected,'' she said. ``Believe me, any candidate who is elected will be better qualified for the job.'' ON TV The school board candidates forum is scheduled to be rebroadcast on Channel 10, the city government station, at 6 p.m. Tuesday and July 15, and at 1 p.m. July 17. CAPTION(S): Box BOX: ON TV (See text) |
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