Tustin Unified School District

Eight candidates are seeking three open seats on the board of the Tustin Unified School District in the Nov. 3 election. Monday is the deadline to register to vote. To register, pick up a form at any post office, library or city hall. For more information, call the county registrar of voters at (714) 567-7600.

Sally Burrage

Age: 52

Occupation: Community service volunteer

Background: Parent-Teacher Organization board member, 1991-92; vice president of Tustin Public Schools Foundation, 1990-92; current vice president of Tustin Western Little League; Palos Verdes school board member, 1985-89.

Priorities: Would seek outside sources for funding, such as grants and the Tustin Public Schools Foundation; advocates selling closed school sites to raise revenue and improving technology in schools by computers and laser discs; proposes improving and updating facilities.

Gary L. Corlett

Age: 37

Occupation: Engineer/project manager

Background: Director of a Laguna Hills homeowners association, 1984-85; member of architectural committee of a Tustin homeowners association.

Priorities: Advocates controlling class size; would continue to improve Resource Specialist Program (special education) and GATE programs; advocates eliminating deficit spending; would re-evaluate recent board decisions determining high school boundaries and busing.

Irene J. Dardashti

Age: 51

Occupation: School district administrator

Background: Community volunteer; president of Foothill communities association 1991-1992; active in land-use issues in North Tustin; teacher, involved with youth services and enrichment programs.

Priorities: Would link education, business, parents and government to address local educational needs; would emphasize teaching of basic subjects; would actively seek new sources of non-tax funding, especially grant opportunities and cooperation between schools.

Douglass S. Davert

Age: 27

Occupation: Businessman

Background: Grew up in Tustin schools; classroom volunteer for an Anaheim school.

Priorities: Would ensure that all students who fit the criteria for the GATE, remedial and other special education programs are in them; would address the needs of an emerging student population with limited English possibly by expanding English-as-a-second-language programs.

Todd M. Ferguson

Age: 49

Occupation: Junior high school science teacher

Background: PTO co-president at Currie Middle School, 1991-92; chairman of site council of Currie Middle School, 1990-92; member of district middle school sports committee, 1991-92; member of district PTO coordinating council, 1990-91; president of Peppertree homeowners association.

Priorities: Would seek to improve communication with the city and community; would improve child and youth care; would seek outside funding; advocates city and district cooperation in joint facilities use.

Merlin (Bud) Henry

Age: 59

Occupation: Incumbent since 1988; vice president, Board of Education, Tustin Unified School District, 1991-92

Background: Retired colonel in the Army Reserve; chairman, department of marketing and management at Rancho Santiago College; Orange County Academic Decathlon volunteer; UC Berkeley alumnus.

Priorities: Would seek to improve educational programs within budget restraints; proposes making the GATE program more inclusive; would stress teaching of basic skills; would emphasize English proficiency for all students.

Carol McCauley

Age: 49

Occupation: School and community volunteer

Background: Member of site committee for Foothill High School; bilingual chair for school district, 1990; vice chair for community advisory committee for special education 1989-91; secured project READ for the district (teaching reading to dyslexic children), 1989.

Priorities: Advocates a community-oriented school district; believes in emphasizing reading, writing, math and speaking beginning in kindergarten; proposes a district-run day-care center.

Mark Sheridan

Age: 36

Occupation: Major account manager

Background: Manager, administrator; father of two children in Tustin schools.

Priorities: Would plan the budget in terms of long-range goals; advocates strong science, math and English programs; would involve corporate sector in schools by holding seminars and teaching teachers and students the latest advancements in business; believes in teaching sex education and drug awareness.