Culver City Observer -

Siever Won’t Seek New School Board Seat

Culver City School Board Vice President Patricia Siever will not seek re-election to a second term. Siever cites personal reasons and a desire to spend more time with her family as the reasons for her decision. Siever is a professor at West Los Angles College.

Five candidates filed for three seats on the School Board as of press time.

Filing would have closed on Friday at 5pm, however since one incumbent is not running the filing deadline will be extended by one week.

Two of the three incumbents have completed the filing process, Board President Karlo Silbiger and Board Member Kathy Paspalis.

Three newcomers with their occupations listed have joined the race, Steven Levin, Astrophysicist/Science Educator; Susanne Robbins, Teacher/Instructor; and perennial candidate Robert Zirgulis, Educator/Realtor/Entrepreneur.

Levin is the brother of former Mayor Sandra Levin and has been an active member of United Parents of Culver City. He is a rocket scientist and works at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Robbins is a teacher at Culver City Middle School and an online instructor at UC Irvine. She also runs a company called Ascend Training Solution which specializes in curriculum development of in-house employee training and professional development programs

Zirgulis has made several unsuccessful runs for city council in the past. In each campaign he latched onto an issue and made it the focal point of his campaign. In the school board race he has teamed up with Robert Smith who organizes “Friends of the Natatorium” to support the return of water sports to Culver City High.

The natatorium, an indoor pool located next to Culver City High and Middle School, has been closed for decades due to lack of funding to keep the facility open.

The building has fallen into severe disrepair. Currently students and water sports teams from the school use the Culver City Plunge in Veterans Park for aquatic activities.

The election will be held on Tuesday, November 5.