Judy Jordan stepping down from board of education

Judy Jordan, a 16-year membeof the Las Virgenes Unified SchooDistrict Board of Education, announced last week she will not run

for reelection. Jordan said that although she’s enjoyed her tenure on the school board, it was “time to move on.” Other board members, including Pat Schulz, expressed theigratitude to Jordan for her dedication to education. Schultz said, “will miss (Jordan) personally,” adding that Jordan was a great mentoTerilyn Finders noted that Jordan used her board position as an excuse to read “anything and everything” related to children and education. She added that she expected Jordan’s interest in education to remain strong.

Gordon Whitehead, the current board president, noted that Jordan was his mentor as well and that she will be missed.

Jordan holds a unique honor in the school district. A member of the board of trustees since 1989, Jordan has been one of the longest sitting board members in the history of the school district, established in 1948.

When Jordan started, “There were no computers, no answering machines,” she said.

A former teacher, Jordan said she first ran for the school board because she wanted to be in a position to make decisions, especially regarding important school financing.

Jordan has served on the district’s legislative committee for many years, including election to the Delegates Assembly in 1991. She’s continued to work in public policy because of her background teaching history and government, she said.

Whitehead and Cindy Iser, a four-year board member, have filed their intent to run for another term, but Jordan’s retirement has opened the door for two contenders to fill her position—Dave Moorman and Joann Melancon, both community volunteers.

Moorman has served five years on the Parent-Faculty Association of Sumac Elementary School, including three years as president. He co-chaired the grassroots organization Citizens For Preserving Quality Education, the group that was instrumental in passing Measure E, the $98-per-year parcel tax that preserved school programs and small classroom sizes during California’s economic crisis.

Moorman, a business owner, now serves as secretary of the Las Virgenes Educational Foundation, which is working on business and city/ school partnerships. The foundation raised about $1 million when school funding was pulled from the state and vital school programs were threatened.

“Despite a flawed and often self-defeating educational system in California, our community, our students and our district choose to excel,” Moorman said on his website www.dave4lvusd.org. “My goal is to pool our knowledge and resources to find ways to go beyond limitations and place the future of our community—our children— first.”

Calabasas resident Joann Melancon has been co-president of the Parent-Faculty Club at Calabasas High School for three years. She is also in her third year as executive vice president of the Las Virgenes Special Education Parents Teachers Association. She maintains a website at www.joannm.com.

Melancon said that if elected she intends to improve communication between the school board and the community so it’s “more parentfriendly.” Melancon would like to ensure that the limited school funding available to the school district is used to meet the priorities of the community and that both the school district and the parents determine those priorities, she said.