FIVE SEEK THREE SEATS IN EASTSIDE SCHOOL BOARD INCUMBENTS FACE CHALLENGERS IN RACE.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Five candidates are seeking three seats on the school board for the Eastside Union School District, which has low student test scores and is expecting an enrollment increase.

Charles Cooke and Martha Johnson, seeking re-election, and appointed incumbent David Eubanks face challengers Joanna Gaudi and John Altin Ginn in the Nov. 8 election.

Cooke, a retired Air Force engineer, who has served on the board for 12 years, was first elected in 1981 and served one term, then was elected again in 1997.

Cooke said he enjoys serving on the board and has the time for it. ``I'm doing a good job. I'm able to do it; I have the time. I probably spend from an hour to four or five hours a day on school board matters. I'm very involved,'' Cooke said.

Enrollment growth is one of the major challenges, Cooke said. ``One of the major problems that we see coming is the rapid increase in size. The growth is just building up, and we will get to be quite a bit bigger in the next few years. They are building on almost (every) street corner, it seems,'' Cooke said. ``We have to be sure we handle that problem.''

Remaining funds from the district's $15.5 million bond measure, approved by voters in 1997, are being used to build Columbia Elementary School. Cooke served as bond campaign chairman.

``There are a number of ways being examined to pay for schools. The challenge is to finance school construction, to find the money to do it,'' Cooke said.

While dealing with more students, the district must also work on improving student achievement, he said. The district is being federally monitored because of low test scores.

Eubanks, 38, works as a technology specialist for Fidelity National Title Co. He was appointed in June to replace former trustee Ann Harris, who moved out of the district.

Eubanks said he applied for the board vacancy and is running to keep the seat because he is concerned about the test scores.

``I have three little ones who are going to be going through the system. I wanted to know what I could do to get involved, to do my part in helping improve test scores for the district,'' Eubanks said. ``The district is a failing district. I wanted to do whatever I can to see that trend changes.''

Eubanks said the board can work together to ensure that the superintendent, principals and teachers set high achievement standards and get the support they need to meet benchmarks.

Eubanks said he is pushing for quality instruction, discipline and accountability. ``I think that's something the district needs collectively, and everybody needs to be brought on board with that same mind set in order for things to change,'' Eubanks said. ``We can't have discipline without accountability.''

Eubanks said he supports the steps Superintendent Greg Riccio to improve academics, as by reducing third-grade class sizes that had been increased two years ago in response to cuts in state funding.

Gaudi, 44, owns Country Club Feed and Supply in Acton. She grew up in Eastside and attended district schools. Her sister-in-law Janette Crawford is a board member whose seat is not up for election in November.

``I'm interested in giving back to the community and helping the kids. With all the growth we are having, they are having issues,'' Gaudi said. ``They're not all on standardized curriculum, and test scores have been running low.''

Many students are moving into the district from outside the Antelope Valley, Gaudi noted. ``I'm hoping to spread the same pride and sense of community with these kids,'' Gaudi said.

Gaudi said she will work toward standardizing curriculum so that children at different elementary schools have the same educational background when they enter middle school.

``They are not all on the same page. They can move schools and not be taught the same thing. It's a big issue, especially when they end up all in Cole Middle School and are not reading the same books,'' Gaudi said.

Gaudi said she also would like to make parents welcome at schools, ``making sure when parents do come up with problems, and kids have issues, that the administration and staff is very supportive of that.''

Ginn, 39, is a school maintenance worker in the Lancaster School District. He is a product of Eastside schools, and the last of his three children is in the district.

Ginn said he is running because he would like to play an active role in helping the district improve student test scores.

``As a board member, I would like to work with teachers to give them the tools they need to teach standards to the children so the scores come up,'' Ginn said.

Another goal is to work with district staff to find ways to fund building more school facilities

``As you know, our district is growing. I would work with the district in financing and building more facilities and schools for the larger community that we are becoming,'' Ginn said.

Ginn said another bond measure would have to be discussed. He does not favor forming a special tax district to assess homeowners. ``I do not support a Mello-Roos tax on homes. I believe the community is being taxed pretty hard as it is, and a Mello-Roos will increase the price of homes. I understand the benefits, but negatives weigh there as well,'' Ginn said.

Johnson, 66, is a retiree who used to be a school bus driver and an assistant manager at a retail store. She has served on the board for 18 years and is seeking her fifth four-year term.

``I enjoy it and still feel there are lots of things to do for the kids. I'm running for the kids. That's the only reason I'm there,'' Johnson said.

Johnson said she will work to bring up test scores and provide a better education for district students.

One step was returning to smaller class sizes in third grade. Now, there are 20 students per class in kindergarten through third grade.

The district also is working with an educational consulting firm, Data Works, ``so that everyone is teaching to standards; everyone is getting equal teaching no matter what kind of child you are,'' Johnson said.

``I'm there for the kids. I went to school there. My kids and grandkids went to Eastside. Our hearts are there. I really want something good for all the kids,'' Johnson said.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com