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School Services of California, Inc.
Community College Update
October 17, 1996
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Wilson Appoints Marian Bergeson as DiMarco's Successor

There must be something about former California School Board Association (CSBA) Presidents from Orange County that fit the job, since Governor Pete Wilson has selected Marian Bergeson to follow the current Secretary of Child Development and Education, Maureen DiMarco. The major difference between these two pro-education former school board members and former CSBA presidents is their party affiliation. DiMarco is a Democrat, while Bergeson is a long-time, staunch Orange County Republican with a supportive constituency in the county she so adequately represented as an Assembly Member and Senator.

The press release announcing the Governor's choice reads: "The challenge before us is to build upon our progress to carry forward with the reforms and innovation that not only will shrink class size, but also will raise standards, restore basics and return competition to the classroom. I can think of no one better prepared to take on that challenge than Supervisor Marian Bergeson."

The press release continues: "During her tenure in the California Legislature, improving the state's education system was a top priority for Bergeson. She was a member of both the Assembly and Senate Education Committees and was a member of the State Allocation Board, whose policies and funding decisions are vital to California's public education system."

" ... Bergeson began her career in public service as a kindergarten teacher in Santa Monica in the 1950s. In 1964, Bergeson was first elected to the Newport-Mesa Unified School Board. In 1975, she was elected President of the California School Boards Association. Her years of outstanding service and commitment to her community led to the dedication of an elementary school in Laguna Niguel in her honor &emdash; the Marian Bergeson Elementary School." Her former district, Newport-Mesa, also dedicated a facility to honor her name &emdash; its new aquatic center is named the Marian Bergeson Aquatic Center.

School Services welcomes Marian back to Sacramento and to the arena of education. She is a good friend and colleague of ours at SSC &emdash; and a strong advocate for education. We wish her great success in her new position of leadership.

&emdash; Carol Berg
[Posted 10/15/96]