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Tag Archives | Burbank School Board

Photo: FLLewis / Media City G -- Superintendent Matt Hill of the Burbank Unified School District the speaker at the Burbank Noon Kiwanis Club meeting/luncheon at the Burbank Community YMCA 321 East Magnolia Boulevard Burbank August 26, 2015

Superintendent Matt Hill speaks to Burbank Kiwanis club

By on Friday, August 28, 2015

The new superintendent of Burbank schools, Matt Hill, is making the rounds here in B-town as he continues a personal campaign of “100 days of listening ” Launched on July first, Hill told me in an email that during his first  100 days on the job he plans on “visiting all of our schools, attending PTA meetings, community event(s), sending out a survey to all students, parents, and employees, etc. I want to hear everyone’s thoughts on what is working well and where we have opportunities for improvement.” On day 56... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis / Media City G -- Dr. David Gordon steps aside to switch chairs with newly elected mayor Bob Frutos at city council reorganization meeting May 1, 2015

Photo Gallery: Burbank gets a new mayor

By on Friday, May 1, 2015

As expected Burbank vice-mayor, Bob Frutos, got the votes from his colleagues to move into the mayor’s position. The vote was unanimous. Frutos, a veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, was elected to city council in 2013 and will be serving as mayor for one year. Frutos takes over the job from Dr. David Gordon who will continue to service out his term as a council member. It happened this morning at the annual city council reorganization meeting at City Hall. There was standing room only in the city... Read More →

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Burbank election 2015 sign

2015 Burbank General Election endorsements

By on Monday, March 23, 2015

The ballots for the April 14, 2015 Burbank General Municipal Election have begun arriving in the mailboxes and mail slots of the city’s registered voters.  In the city council race there’s a run-off involving incumbent Emily Gabel-Luddy, Will Rogers, Juan Guillen, and  Chris Rizzotti. Development is still the hot topic as we head into the final weeks of the campaign. Recently, the long simmering controversy surrounding overbuilt homes or McMansions came to a head at City Hall. Residents showed up in... Read More →

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candidates forum red white and blue graphic

Election News: Forum, ballot order, and endorsements

By on Saturday, March 14, 2015

A Burbank City Council candidates’ forum is coming up on Wednesday, March 25. Voters will get a chance to hear the four candidates, competing for two seats, discuss the issues and problems facing the city. The candidates who made it out of the primary and are now in a runoff incumbent Emily Gabel-Luddy, Will Rogers, Juan Guillen, and Chris Rizzotti. The forum is sponsored by the Burbank Chamber of Commerce and will be held at the Buena Vista Library. Start time 7:30 p.m. Ballot Order... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis / Media City G -- Armond Aghakhanian at the League of Women Voters of Glendale/Burbank forum Burbank January 20, 2015

Election News: Burbank City Council members make endorsements

By on Friday, March 6, 2015

Today Burbank School Board candidate, Dr.  Armond Aghakhanian, announced the endorsement of Burbank City Council vice-mayor, Bob Frutos. On his Facebook page,  Aghakhanian made the announcement and wrote, “I am truly honored and humbled for the level of support our campaign is receiving from our community. This includes Burbank community leaders and organizations.” Three other council members, Emily Gabel-Luddy, Jess Talamantes, and Gary Bric already have endorsed Aghakhanian. In the general election set for next month on April 14, Aghakhanian is up against Greg Sousa for the... Read More →

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Photo courtesy Jesse "Tangk" Tangkhpanya

Burbank Primary Election follow-up: Concessions and thank-yous

By on Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Burbank School Board candidate, Jesse “Tangk”  Tangkhpanya, did not do well in yesterday’s Burbank primary.  Tangk is a relative newcomer to Burbank with some impressive credentials. However, he finished last in a field of six candidates vying for three seats on the board.  Still, the gracious concession post he put up on his Facebook page makes him a winner in my book. Also, Tangk emailed me a copy of his concession post today and here it is. The results are in, and the voters have spoken. I... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis / Media City G -- Election workers sorted ballots for the primary election at Burbank City Hall February 24, 2015

Some surprises in the 2015 Burbank primary results

By on Wednesday, February 25, 2015

The complete count of the ballots cast in the Burbank Primary Nominating Election wrapped up late last night and there were some surprises. The process began at City Hall minutes after the election ballot deadline of 7 p.m. The precinct results started appearing on a monitor at City Hall and on the Burbank city website shortly after 8 p.m. City Council race Incumbent Emily Gabel-Luddy jumped out in front of the pack of city council candidates with the first precinct numbers and held onto the lead to the... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis / Media City G -- Numerous political signs line a fence of a resident at Verdugo Avenue and Buena Vista Street in Burbank February 23, 2015

Election News: Campaign signs and the Burbank ballot count

By on Monday, February 23, 2015

The Burbank landscape is dotted with political signs from the various candidates campaigning for the two seats on the city council and the three seats on the Burbank School Board. While most are the typical yard signs you see during the election season — some of the 2015 candidates have come up with some creative alternatives. Love the super-sized Sharon Springer ice cream cone sign. Springer is one of seven candidates running for Burbank City Council. Another council contender, Elise Stearns- Niesen, has a huge banner displayed on the front... Read More →

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Photo: Grey Reyna / Freelancer / Media City G -- (l-r) 2015 Burbank School Board candidates S. Ferguson, A.Aghakhanian, R.Reynolds,J.Tangkhpanya, G.Sousa, and V.Hovanessian seated at a table during a candidates' forum inside Woody's Cafeteria at Woodbury University in Burbank February 4, 2015

Burbank School board candidates’ forum at Woodbury University

By on Saturday, February 14, 2015

The six candidates running for three open seats on the Burbank School Board were in the spotlight at a Woodbury University forum earlier this month. At the February 4 political event, the candidates mingled and chatted with each other as well as with members of the audience before and after the forum. The audience was not as large as for the previous Burbank City Council candidates’ forum. The candidates took every opportunity to work the room and meet as many potential voters as possible. The forum was a... Read More →

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candidates forum red white and blue graphic

Burbank school board candidates at Woodbury U. forum tonight

By on Wednesday, February 4, 2015

  The six candidates vying for three seats on the Burbank Board of Education will be front and center this evening at a forum on the Woodbury University campus in Burbank. That forum begins at 7 p.m. in the Woody Cafeteria.  The candidates are Steve Ferguson, Dr. Armond Aghakhanian, Roberta Reynolds, Jesse “Tangk” Tangkhpanya, Greg Sousa, and Vahe Hovanessian. Last month, on January 20, the candidates were quizzed at the League of Women Voters of Glendale/Burbank forum held at Burbank City Hall.  Some of the ideas and... Read More →

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Primary Election graphic

UPDATED: Burbank 2015 school board candidate statements on YouTube

By on Monday, January 26, 2015

Less than a month to go until the Burbank Primary on February 24, 2015. On the mail in ballot, 6 candidates vying for three seats on the school board. Their candidate statements are on YouTube and here on Media City Groove in this post.  (7 city council candidate statements are here) Updated: On Monday, March 2, 2015 I got an email from Burbank public information officer Drew Sugars saying: “We had taken down the individual candidate statements of those who... Read More →

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watching tv clip art

Election Buzz: Latest on candidates’ forums, meet and greets, and endorsements

By on Sunday, January 18, 2015

Good news for voters and folks who want to be in the know. You can now watch the upcoming Burbank candidates forums live from the comfort of your own living room or wherever you do your TV watching. The forums for city council and school board candidates are sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Glendale/ Burbank. Earlier, league president, Thomas Carson, told the public, in a letter to the Leader and Media City Groove, the forums would be taped and broadcast... Read More →

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Photo courtesy University of Alabama

Greg Sousa wants to be an independent voice on the Burbank School Board

By on Saturday, January 17, 2015

Greg Sousa, a Burbank parent, is one of six candidates competing for three open seats on the Burbank School Board. Sousa, a veteran and graduate student in law, wants to be the independent voice for parents on the board. Here are his answers to the questions I sent out to school board candidates in the 2015 city elections.   1. What are the biggest problems facing the Burbank school district? And what solutions do you have for those problems? The biggest problem facing the Burbank Unified School District is the... Read More →

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Photo courtesy Vahe Hovanessian

Attorney Vahe Hovanessian hopes to be elected to the Burbank School Board

By on Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Vahe Hovanessian wears a lot of hats. Community activist, volunteer, parent, and practicing attorney are some of them. Still, Hovanessian is out campaigning to convince the voters his experience and ideas are what are needed on the Burbank School Board. Hovanessian says he has a strong commitment to Burbank Unified School District. He attended Burbank schools and has a child in 1st grade. Hovanessian’s answers to the questions I emailed out to most of the school board candidates are below. 1.  What are the biggest problems facing the Burbank School District? And what... Read More →

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Photo courtesy Dr. Armond Aghakhanian

Updated: Dr. Armond Aghakhanian is campaigning for a seat on the Burbank School Board

By on Monday, January 12, 2015

Dr. Armond Aghakhanian is a parent and a teacher campaigning for one of three open seats on the Burbank School Board  in the 2015 city elections. Dr. Aghakhanian has more than a decade of experience in education and business. He has an MBA and a Doctorate in Education. Aghakhanian  is making a second run for the Burbank Board of Education. In 2013, he failed to get enough votes in the primary to qualify for the general election ballot. Below are his answers to a series of questions I emailed out to... Read More →

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Photo courtesy Roberta Reynolds

Burbank School Board President Roberta Reynolds is seeking a third term

By on Thursday, January 8, 2015

  Roberta Reynolds is President of the Burbank Board of Education and she is running for a third term. Reynolds is a pharmacist and lifetime resident of the city who attended Burbank schools. Recently, Reynolds sent me responses to a series of questions I emailed to all of the school board candidates in the 2015 city elections. The exception is Steve Ferguson who answered similar questions in a video interview last fall. Reynolds emphasized her experience and willingness to seek input from others as key reasons she should... Read More →

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Photo courtesy Jesse "Tangk" Tangkhpanya

Candidate Jesse Tangk shares ideas for improving Burbank schools

By on Monday, January 5, 2015

Jesse “Tangk” Tangkhpanya is a newcomer to city politics with a very aggressive campaign. Since announcing his candidacy for the Burbank School Board last November, Tangk has sent out numerous news releases, set up a camapaign website and Facebook page, and produced several videos (see below). In a matter of a few weeks, the 29 year-old labor representative has gained some awareness among the voters for the upcoming primary on February 24. Becky Moore, the parent of a student who attended Burbank schools, wrote... Read More →

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Video interview with Burbank School Board candidate Steve Ferguson

By on Saturday, November 29, 2014

Communications consultant and community activist, Steve Ferguson, is among several candidates making a run for three open seats on the Burbank School Board in the February 24, 2015 Burbank Municipal Primary Election. Earlier this month, Ferguson, sat down with me for a one-on-one video interview. The ground rules, no questions in advance and no subject was off-limits. In the interview, Ferguson talks about the solutions for the problems facing the school district as well as the views, values, and ideals that define his candidacy. Here’s that... Read More →

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Photo: FLLewis / Media City G --- Burbank School Board candidate Steve Ferguson interviewed in Glendale November 15, 2014

A one-on-one with Burbank School Board candidate Steve Ferguson

By on Friday, November 28, 2014

Recently, I sat down with Burbank School Board candidate, Steve Ferguson. He announced his candidacy last month. No questions in advance. No subject was off-limits. In the one-on-one interview, Ferguson answers some tough questions about his candidacy, the state of Burbank schools, and what he sees as solutions to some of the district’s problems. That interview will be posted on Media City Groove tomorrow.

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Jesse Tangkhpanya candidate for Burbank School Board

Another Burbank School Board candidate kicks off campaign

By on Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Labor relations representative, Jesse Tangkhpanya, is not well known around Burbank, but he’s taking action to try to quickly change that. Media City Groove was the first to report that Tangkhpanya pulled nomination papers last week for the Burbank School Board. Three seats on that board will be on the February 24, 2015 Burbank Primary Election mail-in ballot. Tangkhpanya sent out a letter  to the local media announcing his candidacy earlier this week. Tangkhpanya, who has lived in Burbank only since early 2012, doesn’t have the kind... Read More →

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Election campaigns graphic

UPDATED: Election Buzz: Candidates are off and running in 2015 Burbank campaigns

By on Sunday, November 9, 2014

While some candidates are still in the exploratory stage, several others are already sprinting in the race for two seats on the Burbank City Council and three seats on the Burbank School Board. Veteran journalist, Will Rogers, claims he and his team have already knocked on around 5,000 doors. In a blog post on his website, Rogers says the goal is to “… get to all of the estimated 34,000 households in the city by the end of January.” Last Tuesday, Election Day, I... Read More →

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Steve Ferguson Burbank Unified School District Board member/clerk

Steve Ferguson announces candidacy for Burbank School Board

By on Friday, October 31, 2014

Well known activist and communications consultant, Steve Ferguson, is making a second run for the Burbank Board of Education. Ferguson finished third in the 2013 General Election for two seats on that board, behind Charlene Tabet and Larry Applebaum. In the 2015 municipal elections, February 24 and April 14, three board seats will be on the mail in ballots. Board members up for re-election are Roberta Reynolds, Ted Bunch, and Dave Kemp. Ferguson, who is a long time resident, was educated in Burbank schools. Ferguson’s commitment to... Read More →

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