Irvine Unified Council PTA to host forum for three school board candidates

The Irvine Unified Council PTA is hosting an upcoming "Candidate Forum" for the trio of school board hopefuls in next month’s special election.

The session, which is open to the public, is set to kick off at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13 at the District Office, located at 5050 Barranca Parkway. It will also be aired on IUSD’s cable station for local Cox subscribers (Channel 39) and AT&T U-verse customers (through the government and public television menu). Three candidates are vying to fill the board vacancy in the June 3 special election, which was triggered after petitioners gathered enough signatures to invalidate the appointment process. Carolyn Inmon, a retired teacher, Bob Vu, an educator, scientist and entrepreneur, and Ira Glasky, an attorney, are each looking to secure the seat until November, when the regular board election will be held. As in previous forums, each participant will have an opportunity to make a statement and answer uniform questions from an objective moderator from the League of Women Voters. There will also be a limited amount of time for questions from attendees, who will get an additional chance to speak one-on-one with the candidates after the program. The Irvine Unified Council PTA, which comprises nearly 13,000 members from 33 individual PTA units, has traditionally invited school board candidates to share their views in advance of local elections. “Hosting the Candidate Forum is consistent with PTA’s mission as a strong advocate for public education,” IUCPTA Advocacy Chair Petra Schaefer said. “California’s public schools are facing a significant sea change with Common Core, and Irvine is poised for exponential growth in our schools. We want to ensure all voters can make an informed choice in June.”