One Contested Race With Four Open Seats On Ev, Wv Boards

Four positions are open on the East Valley and West Valley school boards, but only one is contested.

Homemaker and community volunteer Marie Francis will face off against former East Valley maintenance supervisor Donald Glaser for a spot on the EV school board.

Board members Norma Ventris and Karen Loibl from West Valley and Tim Wick from East Valley are running unopposed.

Francis said she’s running because she has four children in EV schools and wants to ensure they receive a good education. She’s worked extensively with parent teacher organizations and has served on the district’s bond and levy committee.

Two top items on Francis’ list of concerns are passing bonds to ease overcrowding and being pro-active on safety and security.

Glaser was East Valley’s maintenance supervisor for six years before being laid off due to a district reorganization. Glaser, who now is self-employed, said his internal knowledge of the district will help him make decisions about what schools need.

As a board member, Glaser said he’d focus on managing continued population growth in the district and remodeling elementary schools. He also stressed the need to pass bonds and levies to help fund district projects.

East Valley board member Tim Wick, who is running unopposed, is frustrated with state mandates for education which are not accompanied by increased funding.

Wick also is concerned with managing increased growth in the district and said the school board probably will float a bond in the spring for new classrooms.

West Valley board members Norma Ventris and Karen Loibl also are running unopposed.

Ventris stressed the need to ease overcrowding by building new classrooms and to provide security and safety for children.

Among Loibl’s chief concerns are safety and increasing community awareness of funding cuts to education.

, DataTimes MEMO: See candidate profile by name.