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By Jorge Casuso
August 7 -- Architect
Ralph Mechur -- a tireless volunteer
and education activist -- is
expected to be appointed to
the School Board Thursday night,
District officials announced
Monday.
Mechur, who has served as president
of the Education Foundation
for the past five years, will
replace Emily Bloomfield, who
resigned from the board to move
east with her family shortly
after being reelected to a four-year
term in Novemner 2006.
Mechur would serve until November
2008, when an electon will be
held to fill the vacated seat
for the next two years.
“Schools are an integral
part of society,” said
Mechur, whose daughter graduated
from the district in 1999. “The
future is our kids. I have a
lot to offer to keep our schools
at the level that they are.
“The challenge is always
to maintain the success that
we’ve had, to close the
achievement gap (between white
and minority students) and to
deal with the continuing financial
issues that face education,”
he said.
Distrit officials praised Mechur’s
commitment and dedication to
the distrcit.
“I think he will make
a marvelous School Board member,”
said Board member Dr. Jose Escarce.
“He has longstanding experience
working on a wide variety of
issues, and he’s incredibly
selfless and passionate.
“He has a committmentmnt
to making the whole district
and the schools better,”
Escarce said. “There aren’t
that many people who devote
as much time to the schools.”
Mechur has served on the School
District’s Facilities
Master Plan Committee, the Measure
“BB” Advisory Committee
and the SMMUSD Capital Improvements
Oversight Committee.
A resident of Santa Monica
for three decades, Mechur has
remained a key player in the
education arena long after his
daughter graduated, helping
to lead a grassroots movement
that pressured the City Council
three years ago to give the
district more than $6 million
in annual funding.
But although he has served
on numerous committees, as well
as on the City’s Architectural
Review Board and Planning Commission,
Mechur has never sought elected
office.
“I thought about it,
but there have always been good
folks,” he said.
When Bloomfield vacated her
seat, Mechur said, “it
just seemed the right time for
me to put my name in and serve.”
Mechur’s experience should
make it easy for him to assume
the post, district officials
said.
“Bringing Mr. Mechur
on board will be a smooth transition
due to his level of involvement,
expertise, and demonstrated
past commitment to the district,”
Board President Kathy Wisnicki
said in a statement issued Monday.
“Mr. Mechur is certain
to be a valuable asset to the
SMMUSD Board of Education,”
said Superintendent Dianne Talarico.
“He brings a wealth of
knowledge to the board based
on his participation on numerous
district committees and advisory
boards during the past several
years.”
Mechur has also held teaching
positions, including Project
Coordinator with the Los Angeles
City Building Educational Programs,
Coordinator with the Hoover
Street School Environmental
Learning Project, and most recently
as a Studio Lecturer at USC’s
School of Architecture.
During his spare time, Mechur
enjoys surfing, playing soccer
and reading.
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