The following is re-printed from the Palos Verdes Peninsula News

---

Name: Barbara Lucky

Age: 49

Occupation: School Law Attorney

Education: B.A. and teaching credential from UCLA; J.D. from University of San Diego, School of Law

Years on file Hill: 19+

Lucky: Among all the candidates currently running for school board, I am unique because I have actually worked in a school district at the highest level, as the attorney for the district. At Long Beach Unified, where I worked for eight years, I sat weekly with the school board and daily with the superintendent, giving legal advice and helping to devise district policies for current and future needs.

I am also very involved with the schools. I am currently co-president of PTA and on School Site Council at Vista Grande Elementary on the executive board of Athletic Boosters at Peninsula High, a Miraleste volunteer and involved with AYSO, Little League, PVBA and Art at Your Fingertips.

If you are elected, what would be the first issue you'd lake to see addressed?

Because I happen to have experience in school law and have worked with school boards directly, I can tell you that what passes as "business as usual" in Palos Verdes Unified is not what happens in a "well-run" school district.

Instead of a united school board working together toward the common good of all students, we currently have five individuals pursuing five different agendas. The end result is constant chaos, bickering and micro-management by the board.

If elected, I would refocus the school board to its proper role of policy-maker and long-range planner. I would restore teamwork and mutual trust among board members

What is your opinion of parents having access to school vouchers?

I am absolutely opposed to school vouchers. These vouchers would be used by parents to pay for part of all of the tuition at private schools. In effect, the taxpayers of this state would be paying for these vouchers. I don't believe that taxpayers should not be footing the bill for anyone at private schools.

What is your opinion of the recent land deal between the city of Palos Verdes Estates and the PVPUSD?

The Education Code only addresses sales and leases land. It does not directly address the question of a perpetual open space easement which was granted by the school district to Palos Verdes Estates at Malaga Cove School.

In addition, two school board trustees and two PVE City Councilmen are uneasy about the deal, even after being advised by their own attorneys.

In this type of a situation, with split boards (3-2), a more prudent approach to this issue would have been to ask County Counsel, a higher legal authority, for a written legal opinion as to the propriety of the agreement. County Counsel is an impartial department in county government which has both the expertise in school law and land use to make such rulings.

Since PVE had one more year to allocate the money, there was time for such an opinion to be sought.

What do you think about the 1991 consolidation?

The 1991 consolidation happened because of years of declining student enrollment, which meant less money from the state for the school district.

However, for the last six years, there has been a steady growth in student population at the elementary level. Coupled with Governor Wilson's 20-to-1 class size reduction program in grades K-3, our elementary schools are now full, even with the addition of portables and kindergarten satellites.

The intermediate schools are also experiencing growth. All of this will impact the high school eventually.

There is an immediate need for a long range K-12 facilities use plan. A task force modeled after the PVPUSD Intermediate Design Team should be used.

What do you feel about the issue of Eastview residents being allowed into the PVPUSD?

I am in favor of allowing Eastview residents into PVPUSD. Just this year, Eastview residents s have been allowed to attend school in PVPUSD via the interdistrict permit process. So far, 54 students have come through.

However, this is not a permanent solution. Assemblyman Kuykendall has introduced legislation that would include Eastview residents in the PVPUSD on a permanent basis. I would support such a permanent solution.