SIMI EDUCATION FOUNDATION BOLSTERS RANKS, SETS GOALS; EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION RAISES FUND-RAISING GOALS.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer

Riding a wave of interest in improving public schools, the Simi Valley Education Foundation is gearing up for renewed efforts at fund raising and support with several new board members.

The foundation has been working to bolster its ranks and bring new members into the organization, following a dry spell in the mid-1990s when little money was being raised and no grants were being given out.

``I think this was a natural evolution,'' foundation president John Lindsey said Wednesday. ``There is a higher energy level, a higher commitment . . . I want us to get as big as it wants to be, to shoot high and aim for the stars.''

To prove that, he said that while the foundation had been raising approximately $7,000 a year for education grants, its new goal is to reach $50,000 this year and up to $100,000 over the next three years.

The foundation recently gave the Simi Valley Unified School District $2,700 to fund this year's Education Enhancement Grants, which are given to teachers to buy supplies and equipment for special classroom programs.

``Teachers are deeply appreciative to have the extra funding for the enrichment of their classrooms,'' said school board president Janice DiFatta, who recently rejoined the foundation board. ``I'm pleased to see the involvement of so many in the community. It is certainly going to have a definite impact on students.''

The foundation was established in 1989 by Lew Roth, a former school board member, as a way of funneling business donations to local schools and awarding grants to teachers for innovative projects.

In the mid-1990s, the grant program fell by the wayside. But since 1998, 29 grants have been given out to teachers to purchase such things as science materials and art supplies, which would normally come out of a teacher's pocket.

Lindsey credits school Superintendent Joyce Mahdesian and the foundation's partnership with the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce for creating a stronger link between the schools and the business community.

Among the new foundation members are Isaac Moradi, developer of the Big Sky housing community, City Councilmen Glen Becerra and Steve Sojka, school board members DiFatta and Ceasar Julian, James Carper of Farmers Insurance Group and Don Hunt, member of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District board.

Some other new members are Frank Kiesler of Simi Valley Landfill, Capt. Mark Layhew of the Simi Valley Police Department and Mark Upson of Countrywide Home Loans.

Lindsey said the fact that the foundation's members are pulled from the city, school district, business community and parks district will help form a group with representatives from various segments of the community.

He said the foundation will continue to raise funds for Education Enhancement Grants, and hopes to expand to include programs that teach people of all ages.

The group's focus also will be implementing a new project dubbed ``warm technology'' - designed to familiarize community members with computers and other technology. To start, the foundation secured a donation of 25 computers for the schools from Countrywide.

And finally, the foundation will establish a job shadowing program that would pair students with business professionals on Groundhog Day each year.

Members said that the one area they will not touch is the political arena; they won't be endorsing candidates or taking stands on educational issues.