Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District

Nine candidates are running for three seats on the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Board of Trustees in the Nov. 3 election.

Jerry Brakebill

Age: 28.

Occupation: Police officer.

Background: DARE officer for three years; juvenile detective in Yorba Linda; board of directors, East Lake Homeowners Assn.

Priorities: Advocates reducing class size; supports legislation that would give more budget control to local districts; opposes busing past neighborhood schools; proposes obtaining sponsorships for athletic teams; proposes expanding music education in elementary schools.

William Lee Crow

Age: 44.

Occupation: Elementary school teacher.

Background: Business manager for 17 years before becoming a teacher.

Priorities: Proposes merit pay for teachers; advocates reducing class size; would emphasize academic subjects; proposes an abstinence-based sex education program; supports competency testing of teachers.

Roger J. Kavigan

Age: 25.

Occupation: Teacher.

Background: Counselor at Camp Titan, a program for abused and underprivileged children; participated in Orange County Mental Health Care Agency’s project to match adults with children who need role models.

Priorities: Advocates innovative technology in the classroom; proposes finding new sources of funding; would promote more cross-curricular and co-curricular activities.

Judy Miner

Age: 45.

Occupation: Teacher.

Background: Incumbent, elected to the board in 1988.

Priorities: Would seek to maintain quality programs and staff morale despite dwindling resources; would promote state legislation making school spending a higher priority.

Henry D. Montelongo

Age: 39.

Occupation: Teacher.

Background: Intermediate school teacher for 15 years; site director for Rancho Santiago Community College District Adult Learning Center in Orange; reader/evaluator for the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, state Department of Education.

Priorities: Adopt six national education goals identified by U.S. governors at a 1991 convention; open a high school in Yorba Linda based on the America 2000 model; review current curriculum pertaining to limited-English proficiency students; review budget priorities.

Craig T. Olson

Age: 45.

Occupation: Dentist/dental professor.

Background: Worked to save music education at elementary schools; active in PTA; classroom volunteer; lobbied on behalf of the district in Sacramento the last two years.

Priorities: Advocates increased accessibility to board members; supports long-range financial planning to avoid last-minute decisions; supports maximizing use of school facilities to bring in revenue; opposes eliminating music, art and athletics.

Constance Underhill

Age: 50.

Occupation: Incumbent; businesswoman.

Background: Elected to the board in 1990; currently serving as vice president; former PTA president.

Priorities: Maintaining extracurricular activities; managing finances; adressing the issues of the increasing number of non-English-speaking students.

Jesse A. Valdez

Age: 45.

Occupation: Project manager.

Background: Served on district and school committees; PTA vice president; president of various booster clubs; classroom volunteer.

Priorities: Reduce class size; expand Gifted and Talented Education Program to more schools; provide more support to students with limited English proficiency; create a program for parents who seek involvement with children’s education.

Juliet H. Zaidi

Age: 53.

Occupation: College instructor.

Background: Thirty years as a teacher; Wagner Elementary School PTA president; Honorary Service Award recipient in 1991; member of Brookhaven Elementary School site council; member of the superintendent’s budgetary committee in 1987.

Priorities: Advocate spending more on students and teachers and less on administrative costs; would reinstate first-grade reading program; proposes a vocal music program at elementary school level.