School board candidate Normandin focuses on retaining teachers, fiscal strength

Carol Normandin wants to let voters know what the Laguna Beach School District board does.

“That sounds simple,” Normandin said, “but I’d like to explain it to them so they understand what to expect from the school board.”

Normandin is one of four candidates seeking three spots on the five-member board. Her competition is Dee Perry, a retired Laguna Beach Unified teacher; Annette Gibson, a registered nurse; and incumbent Ketta Brown.

Betsy Jenkins and Theresa O’Hare are not running for reelection.

Normandin says Jenkins and O’Hare stepping down is one of the biggest issues facing the board.

“They’re both parents who are so active in the schools, and we’re losing that,” said Normandin, adding that she has followed in O’Hare’s footsteps by building a strong fundraising base for the district before running for the school board.

A volunteer organizer at SchoolPower, a Laguna Beach-based education foundation that raises money privately for the Laguna Beach School District, Normandin has helped organize the annual Community Campaign for 10 years.

The foundation raised about $735,000 in private donations and grants in 2013.

Normandin began volunteering in 2005, when her oldest child enrolled in kindergarten at Top of the World Elementary School. Since then, she says she has helped raise millions for area schools.

The 49-year old mother of three is building her campaign on a platform that includes bolstering the fiscal strength of the district, hiring more teachers and retaining those with talent.

“I think retention and hiring, hiring, hiring is important to the school board right now,” Normandin said.

Normandin says her experience as a headhunter for her small business, The Normandin Group LLC, gives her an edge when seeking and attracting the “right talent” in the district.

“I have a lot of experience in retention,” Normandin said. “Companies would hire me to help them retain [employees].”

Additionally, Normandin says she would stress communication between teachers, parents and the school board.

“Because I’m so involved, I can hear all that stuff but other people don’t,” Normandin said. “We can’t expect everyone in public school to be able to go to a meeting to learn something.”

Normandin has also served on the Development Board of the Laguna Beach Community Foundation, which grants money to local nonprofit groups.

Since her kids enrolled in Laguna Beach schools, Normandin has regularly volunteered to read to children in the classroom, garden with students and occasionally paint.

“I’ve gardened since my daughter was in first grade. I love it,” Normandin said. “And reading? There’s nothing like reading to little kids.”