By Alex Wyckoff
Staff Writer
With only three seats available, four Manhattan Beach residents are running for positions on the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board of Trustees, which the city will vote for on Nov. 5.
The candidates, Jennifer Cochran, Christine Cronin-Hurst, Kathleen Paralusz and Ellen Rosenberg, attended a forum on Oct. 2 in the Costa auditorium where they answered questions from residents
“I think it’s important to have these events,” Rosenberg said. “It’s a good opportunity to give information to parents teachers, staff and students.”
Current board members Ida Vanderpoorte and Penny Bordokas will not be seeking re-election. Vanderpoorte has served on the board for two four-year terms, while Bordokas has sat for one.
“After serving on the board for eight years, I think it is time to move on to other things,” Vanderpoorte said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the board.”
Rosenberg is the only incumbent seeking re-election and has decided to run again to see current projects through, such as Measure BB, Mira Costa’s ongoing construction project.
“The completion of the renovations on time and on budget is important,” Rosenberg said. “Costa is 100 years old, and many of our facilities are over fifty years old. We always want to advance.”
After being a financial analyst for the past 22 years, Cronin-Hurst hopes to bring her money management skills to MBUSD.
“I think finance is important; as in the past, our school district has lost the trust of residents when there was not strong financial management,” Cronin-Hurst said.
According to Cochran, she is qualified to manage the budget and has competent leadership qualities as an active Parent-Teacher Association member.
“I believe that it’s our duty to provide an exceptional education and prepare our kids for the future,” Cochran said.
According to Paralusz, she has done a great deal of volunteer work for MBUSD and plans to be involved in the district for years to come.
“I can honestly say that everything I am able to achieve is based on my education,” Paralusz said.
The election will be on Nov. 5 at Manhattan Beach City Hall. Residents can also send in absentee ballots.
“I expect that a board member is going to take the entire school district into consideration,” Vice Principal Ian Drummond said. “It’s important to keep in mind the issues that arise from school to school.”
Leave a Reply