Sorted by date Results 851 - 875 of 879
Dear Editor: The upcoming School Board election presents an opportunity for our community to elect someone who is truly invested in our children’s future: Sue Robins. Sue is an amazing educator, as evidenced by her work as a CCMS Science teacher. Her tireless preparation and attention to detail enabled her to deliver curriculum to students that was challenging, interesting, and relevant. Sue created an educational environment where students with a range of abilities thrived. As a reflection o...
Four years ago after sitting down with then candidate Kathy Paspalis, I decided to endorse her based on her goals and objectives that she was focused on. Four years later, I am proud to endorse Kathy for reelection to the Board of Education as she not only has achieved much of what she strived to do, but did it with drive, passion and intelligence. It is her passion for the job and fierce commitment to our children combined with not being afraid to ruffle a few feathers that makes Kathy a...
As a committed sustainability advocate, I strongly support Karlo Silbiger for School Board. Karlo has been the most active and vocal supporter on the School Board for installing the new solar energy system. This system will bring in a guaranteed $8.5 million in unrestricted money to our general school fund. The revenues from solar energy can be used to pay for anything the Culver City School Board feels is necessary for our students’ education – from hiring new teachers, to upgrading facilities...
Are your readers aware how swimming is taught in our schools in Culver City? Students are required to lay flat on a medicine ball in the gym and are supposed to simulate a breast stroke through the air. Sound ridiculous? Especially when nearby, we have a 20,000 sq ft. Natatorium swimming pool that has been left to deteriorate to a horrid state. Closing the Culver City School Natatorium swimming pool meant closing the door to those students, teachers, and even the community who need to have a...
Where’s the $28,000 dollars? The past five years have seen disastrous budget cuts Karlo Silbiger advised during The League of Woman’s Voter/PTA Council candidate forum Thursday evening October 3. So why then did he, Nancy and Patricia vote to spend $28,000 to an outside consulting firm to investigate placing a bond measure on our November ballot then do nothing to track, monitor, direct, report on those efforts until the fateful night the plug was pulled on placing a bond measure on the bal...
As we move into the last month of the School Board campaign, we as parents and citizens of Culver City need to do our research and elect the best possible candidates for our children and the city. What Board composition would best represent us as a community? I am interested in electing parents that have been successful leaders in their careers and involved volunteers in the schools for years rather than those that have had other priorities. I am not interested in electing those who are...
I saw the article about your new web site and checked it out. It’s great. Congratulations. I bet it will boost sales too. Also, thank you for the coverage on the EarthFest LA event held at West. Best Wishes. Michelle Long-Coffee Public Relations / Advertising West Los Angeles College...
Put our kids first on November 5th – re-elect Kathy Paspalis and vote in Steve Levin and Sue Robins. Paspalis’ matchless work ethic and her training as an attorney are invaluable. Her oversight ensured that the District’s recent exciting capital improvement projects – new sports facilities and a solar initiative – were well managed and cost-effective. She is forthright, asks the tough questions, and is an engaged listener. Our District needs leaders; Kathy is just that. Steve Levin will brin...
The School Board elections are just around the corner, and I will be voting for Claudia Vizcarra and Karlo Silbiger. Claudia may be a newcomer to the school board election, but she is not a newcomer to the world of education and Culver City. She is a parent with two children in Culver City schools. She is Chief of Staff and Education Policy Director for Los Angeles School Board Vice-President Steve Zimmer. Every day she works with educators, parents and community leaders to better Los Angeles...
Dear Editor, As a sitting School Board member, I respond to the more practical qualities of my new colleagues. With such a full field of candidates, each of us will find the three individuals who best represent our values. I have advocated for Karlo Silbiger, my incumbent colleague on the Board, and newcomer Claudia Vizcarra. In each case, the values and compassion I have lived with these past 76 years resonate in the attitudes and decisions of these two candidates. I request that my community...
Dear Editor, It is with great pride that I support Kathy Paspalis because of her tireless work ethic and grass roots passion for our schools. Kathy is constantly available to parents and staff alike. She is always present at school events not only for her children's school but for all of our schools in Culver City. I particularly appreciate Kathy's knowledge about the issues that face our schools and our community. You will always know where Kathy stands on an issue. Kathy Paspalis is someone...
Dear Editor, I have a “Re-Elect Kathy Paspalis” sign proudly displayed on my lawn. It’s not only an attractive sign it also stands for doing what’s right for our students. I had the pleasure of working alongside Kathy for two years on the Culver City Board of Education, the very board that she seeks reelection. I do not have to speculate as to what Kathy would do if elected, I’ve seen what she does, firsthand. Working on any board takes intelligence, preparedness, collaboration and cooperati...
The Friends of the Culver City Youth Health Center which provides free health care to students on campus, was invited by principal Dylan Farris to set up a booth at the high school for their Club Day. What an incredible event. We couldn't believe how well organized it was. The students set up what looked like about 40 booths in about 10 minutes, the event lasted 40 minutes, and then they broke it all down in five minutes. They were so hard working and so helpful. We were excited to be part of...
Dear Editor, Friends … Neighbors….Culver Citizens. Today, the future of our schools stands on the edge of a precipice. Not because of any budget crisis – we’ve shown that we can be resourceful, creative, determined and tireless in finding ways to adapt and maintain the quality of our schools. Not for lack of dynamic leadership – parents and other community members are as involved as ever, and our administrative team is as strong as it’s been in years. The danger is of our own making. We...
The United States post office will soon have different hours. Here on Jefferson and Sepulveda one soon can transact business Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Help is one step away. I'm certain if Culver City registered voters are asked, "Who is Sebastian Ridley-Thomas?" there just might be 10 hands that go up. Consequently, in the next election for the 54th Assembly District I venture to say the county supervisor's son will have so many mailings the...
A “progressive” candidate or merely political? There was a time, not too long ago, when our School Board was a board of action. Years of budget cuts necessitated CCUSD to be decisive. The last such Board limited class size, tightened requirements for remaining a permit student and laid plans to finally spend dollars that sat unused for over 15 years while cutting costs and increasing test scores. Alas for those days. When there was a lack of information from which to make a decision it was deman...
Kathy Paspalis is running for re-election to the Culver City School Board. Kathy is a trusted friend, and hard-working Culver City elected colleague. Kathy has the experience, energy, and commitment to tackle the challenges confronting our schools and I am confident that she will continue to focus her incredible work ethic, dedication and passion to serving the children and youth of Culver City. With your support Kathy will continue to work with our dedicated team of educators to ensure that...
As I read about the current debate on the school capital improvement and repair bond, and hear the many voices regarding the decision of three school board members to delay their position on the proposed bond measure to repair the schools and fund capital improvements, it occurs to me the real issue here is not the bond, but one of community leadership. I have not heard anyone debate whether the Culver City schools need repairs. In fact, even the three board members that acted to kill the bond...
Why Claudia Vizcarra should be elected to the CCUSD Board… When we advocate for another person’s abilities, we usually offer support for our contentions. But, what makes my support of one or another candidate more insightful or valuable than someone else’s? Serving on the CCUSD School Board has proven to me that public office and its requirements are very difficult to ascertain prior to election. I am motivated to speak for the unique skills and abilities of school board candidate Claudia Vizca...
I’d like to start by saying that I agree with Crystal Alexander’s statement, “It doesn’t take a union endorsement or a degree in education to make an effective School Board Member. Being able to make good business decisions do.” I want to thank the three School Board Members who made a good business decision by voting back in July not to put the school bond on the November ballot as it was proposed at that time. Crystal states that the City Council was smart for putting the Sales Tax increase...
If you're interested in local politics, last week's endorsement singling out just one of the school board incumbents and choosing a relative newcomer shouldn't come as much of a surprise. If you're a parent that wants to improve our aging school facilities, however, the Democratic Club's endorsement is not a good sign at all. Some background: Annual turnout for school board elections usually barely cracks the 1300 mark with barely 15% of parents voting - endorsements like these help cash-starved...
The Culver City Chamber of Commerce is in business to: …”promote the commercial and economic growth of Culver City, and to foster civic improvements that benefit the general welfare of those who live, work and visit here…” (copied from their website http://www.culvercitychamber.com) So wherein lies the motivation to endorse Steve Levin and Sue Robbins, or any candidate for that matter, for the upcoming school board elections? And how should we voting citizens weigh such an endorsement? The Cha...
We are the founding members of the Going Green Group of Tara Hill Condominiums located at Indian Wood Road and Jefferson Blvd. in Culver City. As you are aware, the complex is situated adjacent to the PXP Oil Field and on an earthquake fault line. We are writing to urge that the Culver City Council ban hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") in and under our city until the practice is proven to be safe. If the oil companies want to engage in fracking in our community they should be required to...
The lack of funding in our schools has always been an issue. When our two sons, who are now in their forties, attended Culver schools there were complaints about unfulfilled needs just as there is now. Unfortunately there never is enough money for everything that needs to be done in a school district, whether it involves maintenance, supplies, or staffing. In the past 40 years or so there have been several school bond issues and parcel tax votes to benefit our schools, and if memory serves me correctly three out of four of them passed. Before...
Dear Editor: The lack of funding in our schools has always been an issue. When our two sons, who are now in their forties, attended Culver schools there were complaints about unfulfilled needs just as there is now. Unfortunately there never is enough money for everything that needs to be done in a school district, whether it involves maintenance, supplies, or staffing. In the past 40 years or so there have been several school bond issues and parcel tax votes to benefit our schools, and if memory serves me correctly three out of four of them...
