First New Board in a Decade for SVUSD

The Saddleback Valley Unified School District's board hasn't had a new member in more than a decade.

But that changed Tuesday night when two parents with a history of PTA leadership were sworn in to fill seats vacated by two retiring members.

Dolores Winchell and Dennis Walsh were ceremonially sworn in by the retiring board members they replaced, Dore Gilbert, a member  for 29 years, and Nancy Kirkpatrick, who served for 13 years. The district did not have an election in November, because Winchell and Walsh were the only candidates who sought the positions.

"My No. 1 priority is going to be to keep us fiscally responsible," Winchell said after the meeting. Winchell lives in Lake Forest. Her children attend Serrano Intermediate School and Laguna Hills High School, where she was PTA president this year.

Winchell has also held leadership positions with the Saddleback Valley Council PTA, made up of leaders from all of the district's 25 schools, and served on the citizen committee that oversees how the district spends Measure B bond money to improve schools.

"I've got a lot to learn, but I also know a lot about how the district operates," Winchell said. "I think that's going to help me."

Walsh, also of Lake Forest, has three grown children who attended Saddleback Valley schools. Most recently he served as parliamentarian of the Saddleback Valley Council PTA.

"Honesty is important, and being open and honest with the community," Walsh said after the meeting. "I've been involved with PTA for 10 years. I just wanted to do more. We didn't run to try to leapfrog into some other job. I ran because I wanted to do it."

The board also reorganized itself for the 2011 calendar year, electing Suzie R. Swartz its president, Ginny Fay Aitkens as vice president and Winchell as clerk.

"It's going to be really healthy for the district. The change is good," Swartz said of Winchell and Walsh. "I'm excited. I've known them both for years, and I expect they will bring fresh eyes and new questions we haven't thought about in a while. It energizes me."

Like all California school districts, Saddleback Valley Unified expects to face more fiscal challenges in the future, including declining enrollment and education cuts in the state budget.

Geri Partida, the district's assistant superintendent for business, gave the board a sobering summary of the financial challenges it can expect to face in the coming years, including a projected $9-million deficit in the 2012-13 school year.

 "The district is lean, so it's going to be a very difficult task to come with more reductions," Partida said.