ELECTION A TALE OF TWO CITIES MOJAVE SCHOOLS RACE SPLIT OVER ADDING NEW CAMPUS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

MOJAVE - With the Mojave Unified School District planning to ask California City voters to approve a tax to raise money for a high school, the board election will determine if California City maintains its 3-2 majority on the board.

Five candidates are vying Nov. 7 for two seats on the district board, which represents Mojave and California City but is divided over the issue of whether to build a high school in California City.

Incumbent Wayne Dickerson faces challengers Connie Biehl, a Mojave homemaker and former school board member; Richard Hall, a California City private prison safety manager and former trustee; Polly Solomon, a retired Mojave schoolteacher; and Fred Watts, a systems safety engineer from California City.

Incumbent Keith Gainey of Mojave decided not to run for re-election.

Cut the commute 

The residents in California City have long desired a high school in their community to spare students a twice-daily bus ride of some 15 miles to Mojave High School.

Mojave residents fear that could result in the closing of Mojave High School, since about 65 percent to 70 percent of the 565 students at Mojave High come from California City. California City has a population of 9,200 people, and Mojave has 3,800, officials said.

The district board must decide whether to call a March 13 election asking California City voters to approve a property tax to raise $11.5 million for a high school and elementary school.

The district also wants to attempt passage of a districtwide parcel tax to obtain money needed to match state modernization aid, most of which would benefit schools in Mojave.

'Not feasible'

Biehl, 47, served on the school board from 1994 to 1998. She said she is running again because she has two children in the district.

``I am very involved and concerned with their education. I want to be there for parents and the children. I think I'm still in tune with what's going on,'' Biehl said.

Biehl said building a high school in California City is not feasible because the district doesn't have the money.

``My position is that our school isn't at capacity yet. I'm not against a high school as long as it doesn't affect the district as a whole,'' Biehl said. ``There's a time and a place, and building of new schools is a good thing, but at what cost?''

While California City voters will tax themselves to get construction funds, the district will still have to pay for hiring teachers and other costs that could affect already-established programs, Biehl said.

Biehl said she wants to see the district focus more on education and kids than administrative matters. She criticized the district's prior administration under former Superintendent Wallace McCormick.

``They were focusing on creation of new positions and dealing with the process of trying to build a high school when we are in the middle of declining enrollment,'' Biehl said. ``I'm not against any schools being built when they are needed.''

Building support

Dickerson, 50, has been on the board for eight years and is seeking his third term. He lives in California City, where he is the police chief. He is running again to see through to completion the construction of a high school.

``We are right in the middle of new construction for a high school and elementary school, and I wanted to finish that up. We are eligible to receive state funds,'' Dickerson said. ``If people want to pay for it, we should have one.''

Dickerson noted that California City is the only town of its size that does not have a high school.

``There always has been this division between Mojave and California City. We've promised that any money raised in Mojave will stay in Mojave, and whatever is raised in California City will stay in California City, so neither side will think they are paying for anyone else,'' Dickerson said.

Dickerson said he wants to continue raising academic standards for students. This year the board approved requiring students pass algebra in order to graduate.

``I you set a higher goal, these kids will reach them,'' Dickerson said.

Dickerson said the district also launched a program designed to help students prepare for entering four-year colleges. The program teaches students good study habits, and features guest speakers and visits to college campuses.

'Accommodate parents'

Hall, 60, works as a safety manager for the California City Correctional Center. He served on the school board from 1990-1994 and is a former California City mayor.

Hall said he is in favor of building a high school in California City.

``I'm interested in seeing that some of the things that was started on the board, that we continue the progress. We started discussion on a high school in California City, and consolidating some of the other schools. I want to be a part of continuing that discussion,'' Hall said.

Hall said he would like to get parents more involved in their children's education. One way would be to schedule board meetings at times when it's convenient for parents.

``I really think parents have an interest in their children's education, but because of trying to make a living, it's kind of difficult,'' Hall said. ``We have to be cognizant of that and make some concessions. We tend to set up meetings for our convenience and not so much trying to accommodate the parents. If weekends are the only time, then I think that should be an option.''

Safety first

Solomon, 64, retired from teaching in January 1999 after working 30 years in the district.

Solomon said she would support a high school in California City only when it's feasible and if it's not at the expense of Mojave High School. While Cal City residents are willing to build the school by taxing themselves, maintenance of the school would come out of the district's budget, she said.

``I do not know if it is feasible. We have a declining student population,'' Solomon said. ``We need to make sure if they get a high school out there, it will not destroy the high school in Mojave.''

Solomon said she is running for office because she didn't like the way things were going in the district. ``We've had budget problems, teachers who come, don't stay long, and working on emergency waivers,'' Solomon said.

Solomon said the district lost 40 teachers last year out of a staff of 120 to 130 teachers. The majority of them left to work at other districts or retired, Solomon said.

``My first objective is to have safe schools, safe physically, and safe in that teachers won't fear a budget crunch,'' Solomon said. ``Kids are being intimidated by other kids. Teachers are intimidated by possible loss of jobs or programs because of budget cuts. They are made to feel really insecure.''

``I want to see qualified people working for the district, qualified teachers with credentials teaching in their major or minor fields. I want to see classified staff where people are qualified to do what they are doing,'' Solomon said.

Solomon said she would work to give teaching and nonteaching staff raises. ``It's time teachers got a salary increase, and classified (employees) got a salary increase. If you want good people, you are going to have to pay for them,'' said Solomon, who was a union negotiator for teachers.

Reset priorities

Watts, 65, works as a consultant to NASA. Watts also is vice chairman of the California City planning commission.

Watts said he favors building a high school in California City, saying it doesn't make sense that the majority of Mojave High School's students are being bused in from California City.

``I can understand their opposition in Mojave. They have had a high school all these years,'' Watts said. ``Mojave won't have to pay for it. California City would pay for it.''

Watts said he is running because he felt he could be a positive influence and wanted to help improve test scores, which he said were low. ``I don't think the schools are teaching kids what they really need to know to get into college,'' Watts said. ``If you look at the SAT scores, they are pretty poor. There are some exceptions, but overall the SATs are dismally poor.''

Watts said he would work to get more parental involvement by providing more activities. ``We can't do anything, we can't really improve schools if parents don't take an active interest in their children,'' Watts said.

Watts said district funds is being apportioned incorrectly, being spent on computers and facilities and not on things that students need, such as books and supplies.