Ute Van Dam is seeking a seat on the Moorpark Unified School District board of education. Three seats are open this year. Two incumbents and four challengers are vying for spots.

Van Dam is a school psychologist in Los Angeles Unified School District and the mother of two teenage boys. Her husband, Mark Van Dam, is a Moorpark City Council Member.

What is your opinion on Measure R? Were funds spent well?

UV:Measure R provided funds for multiple improvements and renovations to most of our schools. New classrooms, playground renovations and uptodate technological improvements were made possible by Measure R. Funds spent were carefully monitored by the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee to ensure monies were used effectively.

What is your opinion on the new bond extension Measure S?

UV: I am a strong proponent of Measure S, which will continue the muchneeded improvements, particularly at the high school.

Should the district reinstate busing for high school students?

UV: Unfortunately, due to significant budget cuts, high school busing was eliminated this year. The students and parents who were directly affected by this cut had to make adjustments, and the city assisted by adjusting public transportation schedules to help meet these needs. If funds becoming available, I think busing at the high school should be reinstated.

Do you support or oppose the late start schedule for middle school students that was implemented last year?

UV: The late start schedule for middle school students initially caused controversy with Moorpark families with concerns with proper supervision of students. The middle school has provided beforeschool supervision on campus to alleviate concerns parents had. The late start schedule benefits the teachers by providing time for teacher training and in-service meetings, which in turn benefits our students. I am in support of the late start schedule.

With the onset of a supertight budget, what issues take priority with you as a possible school board member?

UV: School safety, student achievement and teacher/staff retention.

Do you offer any ideas as to how schools might augment their budgets in the coming years?

UV: Exploring grants, involving community resources, more aggressively renting out school facilities and spending wisely.

What is your stance on "No Child Left Behind"? Does the program continue to have legs in this era of change?

UV: Although NCLB is a great concept, implementing it is very difficult. Improving student performance and increasing teaching quality are two main tenets which appear to have been achieved. Test scores have increased since NCLB was instituted in 2001, and more fully credentialed and qualified teachers are in the classrooms.

What's your opinion of the DARE program? Should it be cut, reduced, expanded? Could the funding that currently goes to DARE be used more efficiently elsewhere?

UV: The DARE program is an excellent program which I experienced firsthand when I was a classroom teacher and as a parent when both my sons received DARE instruction in Moorpark elementary schools. Students, parents and educators love this program. However, currently there is no funding in the school district budget for DARE.

The city funded the DARE program and the high school resource officer for 2008-09 and will hopefully help the school district in the future. The high school resource officer should be a priority to provide a safe campus, and a resource officer at the middle school level should be explored.

What is your opinion regarding the existing home schooling programs for students who aren't doing well in structured school environments?

UV: Home schooling is an option for select students with very specific or special needs, which cannot be found through the public school system. However, Moorpark Unified provides a variety of alternative educational settings and services to best meet the needs of students. Secondary students can choose their education at three campuses: MHS, High School at the College, and Community High School. In addition, MHS offers tutoring, counseling and special education services for those students who qualify.

Could you outline your personal beliefs regarding teaching students about sex. At what age should such classes begin?

The most influential teachers students have are their parents/ guardians. Sex education should be taught at home and reinforced at school. Fifth-grade students have the opportunity to receive growth and development instruction at school, and middle school students can participate in maturity, selfesteem and sex education programs.

Should the school and city relations be improved?

The relationship between the city and the school district has been improving but still has quite a bit of growth to do. Constructive communication and teamwork must continue in order to build trust between the city and school district, which in turn benefits our students.

Funding for crossing guards has always been a point of contention between the city and the district. Who should pay for them? In hard financial times should we cut, expand or maintain the present number of crossing guards?

UV: Crossing guards provide safety for our students; however, those positions are difficult to fill. I think the school district should explore the possibility of being flexible with teacher-assistants' hours in order to have them provide crossing guard duties, and the city should continue to contribute to partially funding these positions.

What is your opinion on the Moorpark Highlands school site issue? Should the district keep the vacant school site for a future school or try to get out of the agreement that was made with the property owner?

UV: The city, school district and Pardee should find an alternative to building a school on this site so that the residents do not shoulder the burden for a school that may not be built.