Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Las Virgenes Unified School District elections (2013)
2015 →
|
 |
Method of election Elections What was at stake? Key deadlines Additional elections External links |
Las Virgenes Unified School District Los Angeles County, California ballot measures Local ballot measures, California |
 |
Three seats on the school board for Las Virgenes Unified School District were up for district wide elections that were held on November 5, 2013. Lesli Stein, Angela Cutbill and Mary Jo Ammon defeated Dallas B. Lawrence, Ray Pearl and Sharon Kaiser for the three at-large seats.
About the district
Las Virgenes School District is located in Western Los Angeles County, California in Calabasas, California. As of the 2010 Census, it was home to 23,058 residents.[1]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Demographics
As of 2013, the median household income in Calabasas was $118,182 compared to $61,632 for the state of California. 64.8% of Calabasas residents aged 25 years and older attained a bachelor's degree compared to 30.2% in California. The US Census also showed the poverty rate in Calabasas was 6.5% compared to 14.4% for the entire state. The US Census also found that 97.1% of Calabasas residents aged 25 years and older attained a high school degree compared to a 80.8% in California.[3]
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Method of board member selection
Las Virgines Unified School District School Board consists of five members, all of whom are elected to four year terms. All board members represent the district at large. Board member terms are staggered so that at least two members, but no more than three are to be elected each odd numbered year on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. There are no primary elections. Three seats were up for election on November 5, 2013. The two remaining seats were up for election on November 3, 2015.
Elections
2013
Candidates
- Mary Jo Ammon
- Library Specialist
- Angela Cutbill
- Community volunteer
- Dallas B. Lawrence
- Teacher
- Ray Pearl
- Non-profit executive director
- Lesli Stein
- Incumbent board member
Election results
On November 5, 2013, Lesli Stein, Angela Cutbill and Mary Jo Ammon were elected to the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education. However, Dallas B. Lawrence received the most votes from Westlake Village, a precinct that counts its votes separately, and finished 3rd in the election.
| Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education, General Election, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan |  Lesli Stein |
25.4% | 2,549 | |
| Nonpartisan | Angela Cutbill |
22% | 2,212 | |
| Nonpartisan | Mary Jo Ammon |
19.5% | 1,958 | |
| Nonpartisan | Dallas B. Lawrence | 18.4% | 1,846 | |
| Nonpartisan | Ray Pearl | 14.7% | 1,481 | |
| Total Votes | 10,046 | |||
| Source: Los Angeles County Clerk, "NOVEMBER 5, 2013 - LOCAL & MUNI CONSOLIDATED ELECTION Final Official Election Returns" accessed December 12, 2013 | ||||
Funding
No expenditures or contributions were reported during the election to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
Endorsements
Mary Jo Ammon received official endorsements from all current LVUSD Board members, the mayors of Westlake Village, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, and Hidden Hills. Angela Cutbill received official endorsements from the Las Virgenes Educators Association, four current LVUSD Board members and the mayor of Agoura Hills. Dallas B. Lawrence received official endorsements from the California State Assembleymen Jeff Gorell, Brooks Firestone, and Jim Cunneen. Ray Pearl received official endorsements from current LVUSD Board member David Moorman, the mayor of Calabasas, and the mayor of Agoura Hills. Lesli Stein received official endorsements from all current LVUSD Board members, the mayors of Westlake Village, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, and Hidden Hills.[4]
Election history
2011
On November 8, 2011, two seats on the Las Virgenes Unified School District Board of Education were up for election. Candidates Jill M. Gaines and Cindy Iser were unopposed and won the uncontested election.
What was at stake?
Three at-large seats were up for election on November 5, 2013, including the seats of the President and Board Clerk. Incumbent President Lesli Stein filed seeking re-election.
Issues
Implementation of Common Core
$2.2 million was awarded to Las Virgenes Unified School District in order to prepare for the implementation of Common Core. The district was allowed to spend that money on teacher training, technology and instructional materials before the Common Core took effect in 2014. Some parents in the district expressed concerns that the STAR system of pupil evaluation had been used to determine placement into honors and advanced programs in the district. Assistant Superintendent Mary Schillinger said "Given the short runway for gearing up to the Common Core State Standards, and the significant shifts in the focus of the new standards, transition needs to begin this year. This cannot fully occur if there continues to be accountability to the current standards and STAR. Doing away with STAR in math, English/language arts, and social studies gives the green light for implementation of the common core state standards and the associated shifts in instruction."[5]
Key deadlines
The following dates were key deadlines for the Las Virgines Unified School District election in 2013:[6]
| Deadline | Event |
|---|---|
| July 15, 2013 | First day to file a petition of candidacy |
| August 9, 2013 | Close of filing period for petition of candidacy |
| October 21, 2013 | Last day to register to vote in school election |
| October 29, 2013 | Final day to apply to vote by mail |
| November 5, 2013 | Election Day |
Additional elections on the ballot
The ballot for the November 5, 2013 election in Los Angeles County also featured elections for local and municipal positions, such as elections for City Clerk, City Treasurer, Mayor and City Council.[7]
See also
- California school board elections draw over 200 candidates
- School board elections review: Voters opt for experience over new blood in nation's largest school districts
- School board election wrap-up: Incumbents re-elected overwhelmingly in November 5 elections
- California
- Las Virgenes Unified School District, California
- List of school board elections in 2013
- Los Angeles County, California ballot measures
- Local ballot measures, California
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ US Census Bureau, "Calabasas, California Quick Facts" accessed September 30, 2013
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCensus1 - ↑ US Census Bureau, "Calabasas, California Quick Facts" accessed September 30, 2013
- ↑ SmartVoter.org, "Governing Board Member; Las Virgenes Unified School District Voter Information," accessed November 5, 2013
- ↑ Stephanie Bertholdo The Acorn, "Common Core a game-changer for schools," September 12, 2013
- ↑ [http://www.lavote.net/voter/PDFS/CALENDAR_EVENTS/11052013.pdf LA Votes, "TENTATIVE CALENDAR OF EVENTS " accessed September 30, 2013
- ↑ LA Vote, "FINAL LIST OF QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO APPEAR ON THE BALLOT" accessed October 1, 2013
| ||||||||||
