Walker seeks return to school board

By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

Norman Walker

Norman Walker wants another chance to serve on the Simi Valley Board of Education. Walker was first elected to the board in 1994 and reelected to another four-year term in 1998.

Walker, a private school administrator, did not run for the board again in 2002 because that same year he moved to Northern California to start a new high school. Walker has seven children and two grandchildren who all live in Simi Valley. Among his children, one is a deputy sheriff and another is a highway patrolman.

"We discovered we missed Simi Valley so much and we’re close to our family and missed them terribly," Walker said.

Walker now works as headmaster for Trinity Christian School in Sunland. He spent a year as chief of staff for State Senator Tom McClintock in 1999, then ran for the state assembly seat McClintock vacated in 2000 when he was elected senator. Walker lost to Keith Richman.

During the eight years Walker spent on the Simi Valley Board of Education, a new stadium was built at Royal High School, the Wood Ranch School was constructed, and the district’s financial reserves remained at 4 percent. The reserves have become an election flash point with opinion evenly split on whether or not to use them.

Simi had to make $6.6 million in cuts in order to balance this year’s $133 million budget and using the reserves to restore certain programs are now beign discussed as an option.

"I don’t object to using reserves for that purpose. That’s what they’re there for. But we need a realistic plan to deal with replacing those funds," Walker said. "I get really nervous when you get close to the bottom."

To finance the construciton of new schools, Walker suggests the district sell several existing properties.

"Norman is fiscally responsible and is well-connected with the city and supported by the mayor," said Sue Martinez, president of the Santa Susana High School Performing Arts Center Team.