SAUGUS DISTRICT PRESIDENT LEAVING POST WITH PRIDE.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

Eileen Connolly should have her hands full with five children, but somehow she's managed to fill in her spare time with such roles as school board president, antique dealer, stock trader and soccer coach.

On Tuesday, the 45-year-old Saugus resident will hang up one of those hats. She is stepping down from the governing board of the Saugus Union School District after serving for 10 years.

``I will miss the school district,'' said Connolly, who has her signature on four of her five kids' elementary school diplomas. ``But I wouldn't be surprised if I run again for public office.''

Connolly, who now has two children in college, two in high school and one still in the Saugus district, is considering a run for the Santa Clarita City Council or the governing board of College of the Canyons.

The self-described ``typical mom'' said she originally ran for the Saugus board because it was something she had to do.

``I think I'm typical of the parents in the community,'' Connolly said. ``They would run for the board in a minute if they saw the opportunity.''

Connolly was inspired to run for the board 12 years ago when her oldest daughter was in the fourth grade, and placed in a classroom that was half third-grade pupils.

She learned from school officials that mixed classes were arranged by order of the school board.

Connolly, who disliked the system, went directly to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder's Office to file campaign papers for the school board. It was two days before the filing cutoff date.

She ran unsuccessfully for the board, but won a seat when she tried again two years later, unseating an incumbent.

``Just running on a whim got me motivated,'' said Connolly. ``I was now dying to be on the board.''

Since her election, the district has fewer split classes, plunging from 80 percent of all classes to 10 percent, she said.

``This practice has stopped over my time on the board,'' she said. ``Now they handpick the students for a well-formed class.''

When she joined the board, Connolly was surprised to learn that the job came with a stipend of $200 a month.

``I thought it was a volunteer position,'' she said.

During her tenure on the board, more avenues have opened for community input allowing parents and others opportunities to address the board about items not on the official agenda, she said.

And she is retiring from the board based on one of the reasons she originally sought election.

``I really do believe in term limits,'' said Connolly. ``The schools and communities do change. For me not to leave would be two-faced.''

When Connolly won election 10 years ago, there were just eight schools in the district. Now there are 13, and in the next 10 years officials expect to operate 20 campuses. Managing growth in the district has been one of her top accomplishments, she said.

``We bought and built this building,'' said Connolly, referring to the district headquarters in the Valencia Industrial Center. ``We have five new schools, a bus barn and a transportation facility.''

``Alone you get nothing done,'' said Connolly. ``We all worked together.''

Some of her proudest moments on the board come as three district schools received national recognition and were named Blue Ribbon Schools, and several other campuses were designated California Distinguished Schools.

``We are the most awarded school district of our size in the state of California,'' Connolly said. ``We're an excellent district, have excellent teachers and run a great program.''

While growth is inevitable, Connolly said she hopes the schools within the district are able to keep their independence.

``I hope we can keep that little-district feeling,'' said Connolly. ``Hopefully we'll be able to manage it as if it's still five or six schools.''

Connolly said she opposes efforts in Canyon Country to form a unified school district following a proposal that involves taking over three Saugus district elementaries and four schools now in the William S. Hart Union High School District.

Now she toys with the idea of running for City Council or the College of the Canyons board.

First she plans to take the CBEST exam to obtain an emergency teaching credential and become a substitute teacher.

``It was something that I couldn't do when I was on the board,'' she said.

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PHOTO After 10 years of service, Eileen Connolly, president of the Saugus Union School District is getting ready to step down.

Bhavna Mistry/Special to the Daily News