Candidate hopes for big Gaines in election
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Jill Gaines

Jill Gaines, a candidate for one of two seats open on the board of the Las Virgenes Unified School District, would use her experience as a chief financial officer to tackle funding issues that plague the district.

Board member Pat Schulz has announced she would not run for reelection, while board President Terilyn Finders is seeking a third term. Dana Greenspan is also running for a seat.

"I believe my background first as a teacher and then as a chief financial officer gives me a unique perspective to bring to the board," Gaines said. "While I understand and have firsthand experience in working with students, I can also read a budget and understand financial decisionmaking. I am and have always been passionate about education.

"While I would love to lower class size, add staff and programming, we are confined by budget constraints," Gaines said. "I think in today's schools we need to look outside the conventional box for funding by seeking partnerships with private entities and local universities for funding and programming opportunities."

If elected, Gaines said she would network with local businesses and the greater community to foster partnerships.

Even though Gaines' expertise in the financial arena is critical, she also pledged to reform the curriculum.

"Our students are extremely limited in their elective opportunities in both middle and high schools," Gaines said. "Oftentimes our students are forced to make choices between academics and electives."

Gaines would also like to introduce foreign languages in elementary school. "A child's propensity for language acquisition is best when they are young," she said. "Many of our students do not have the opportunity to take a foreign language until high school. We live in a highly educated, high-performing district where we should be opening doors for our students, not closing them."

Gaines has garnered broad support from the community. She said parents, government leaders, teachers and current school board members- including Schulz- support her bid for the school board.

"I have the endorsement of the entire city councils of Calabasas and Agoura Hills, the mayor pro tem of Westlake Village, the mayor of Hidden Hills, and the entire current Las Virgenes board of education," Gaines said.

"People have come out to support me because I have demonstrated my commitment to the district over the past several years as a PFC (Parent Faculty Club) president, cochair of the successful Measure G campaign, and in other roles," she said.

"I think our current school board is doing an excellent job," Gaines said. "Still, I think I can bring a new, fresh perspective" to the board.