Oak Park candidates share ideas, opinions

Candidates for Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) and Oak Park Unified School District (OPUSD) discussed a wide range of issues at a candidates’ forum last week, including traffic in the community and the need for a better zero-tolerance policy at the high school.

Four candidates are running for two open seats on each board. The general election is Nov. 7.

"I would like to develop an educational program to get people to look at their speedometers more often," said 40-year-old Deena Parry, a candidate for the MAC.

Parry, fellow challengers Ronold Rishe and Marv Walters, and incumbent Todd Haines, all expressed fear about the influx of teenage drivers at Oak Park High if the proposed 3,050-home Ahmanson Ranch project is built in eastern Ventura County.

Rishe and Walters said since if the project moves forward, Oak Park will need financial compensation.

Walters said the community deserves more services from Ventura County.

"One of my goals is to see the MAC get its share of [government] funds, said Walters, 59. "We have been paying much more [tax money] into the county coffers than we have been getting back."

Rishe, 46, said he wants to impose term limits on the MAC.

"We have lots and lots of very talented people who deserve the time and opportunity to give their input, too," Rishe said.

Rishe called for the formation of a teen panel and a senior citizens panel on the MAC.

One member of the audience questioned why so many stoplights are necessary on Kanan Road. Haines, the 37-year-old MAC chairman, called the lights a "necessary evil."

"I’m willing to put up with it because I think it makes the road safe for children," Haines said.

Former OPUSD teacher Walt Griffin served as the forum moderator. Hosting the event was the Community Foundation for Oak Park, a nonprofit organization providing the community with volunteers and grants since 1979.

The candidates for OPUSD include incumbents Jan Iceland, 53, and Jim Kalember, 54, and challengers Kevin Carr, 44, and Steve Henning, 38.

Kalember said the school district is working to revise its zero tolerance policy so that first time offenders aren’t immediately expelled.

"What is zero tolerance? Zero tolerance is the girl who had a Tylenol in her pocketbook in Kentucky and got expelled from school. I don’t think anybody in Oak Park has a heart that hard," Kalember said.

Henning agreed.

"If somebody does something wrong it doesn’t have to be the death sentence," he said. "Let’s coach them."

Henning, a math teacher, said he would like to see more rewards given to successful students and more emphasis placed on core classes than elective classes.

Iceland, a two-time board chairperson, said she honored her earlier campaign promises by keeping budget cuts away from the classroom. Iceland wants more community and parent involvement in the schools and promised to keep students mindful of career opportunities

‘‘Our [Performing Arts Academy at Oak Park High School] is giving students a taste of life in the entertainment world with classes taught by professionals in their field," Iceland said.

All candidates were asked what they thought about excessive homework for kids.

"I think homework is essential, but it should be meaningful," Carr said. "It shouldn’t be busy work."

Carr wants to expand high school schedules to cut back on the need for summer school, and wants to give advanced students an earlier opportunity to take algebra and biology.

Henning charged the district with resting on its laurels, but Kalember said, "This is not status quo education. This is cutting edge education … We have a lot of work to do but our schools are fine and working well."