Bonnie Bruce

A divided Huntington Beach Union High School District Board of Trustees has appointed a consultant in early-childhood development to become its new member, overriding two trustees' pleas to add a business executive to the board. Bonnie Bruce, who also heads up an anti-drug abuse foundation, will join the board at its next scheduled meeting, a closed session Sept. 5. She succeeds David Warfield, who resigned in June.

A divided Huntington Beach Union High School District Board of Trustees has appointed a consultant in early-childhood development to become its new member, overriding two trustees' pleas to add a business executive to the board. Bonnie Bruce, who also heads up an anti-drug abuse foundation, will join the board at its next scheduled meeting, a closed session Sept. 5. She succeeds David Warfield, who resigned in June.

Candidates have from now until Aug. 11 to submit their declaration for candidacy for several school board seats in the Huntington Beach area. The seats held by Catherine McGough and Brian E. Rechsteiner are up in the Huntington Beach City School District. In the Huntington Beach Union High School District, Bonnie Bruce's seat will become open. Julie Hoxsie and Joanne N. Lew of the Fountain Valley School District will have to run again to keep their seats.

Seniors at Ocean View High School may be able to graduate on campus for the first time in 1999, after the school board this week voted to buy bleachers to seat 1,000. Trustees of the Huntington Beach Union High School District approved the stadium-like seating at a cost of $3,000. Students and teachers have complained for years that the school lacks bleachers to host home sports events and graduation ceremonies. "This board owes the community this facility," Trustee Bonnie Bruce said.

Random searches for drugs by police dogs will continue in September at seven high schools in Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley and Westminster, school district trustees announced this week. Huntington Beach Union High School District trustees said they have received broad support for the program from students and parents. Huntington Beach Police Lt. W. Clyde Stuart, who supervised campus visits by the canine teams, said the searches uncovered no measurable amounts of drugs.

The Huntington Beach Union High School Board of Trustees will probably forgo a special election and appoint a new member to replace President Linda Moulton-Patterson, who was elected this week to the Huntington Beach City Council, board members said this week. Trustees are expected to take up the matter at their Dec. 11 meeting. Moulton-Patterson, the top vote-getter in last week's race for four council seats, has been on the school board since 1983.

The Huntington Beach Union High School District board, which had been scheduled to appoint a new member by the end of the month, has extended its application deadline because of lack of response. The district, which had planned to end its nomination period Wednesday, will continue accepting applications to fill the board vacancy until 4:30 p.m. Jan. 23, spokeswoman Carole Thomas said. Trustees are now expected to appoint a new member at their Feb. 12 meeting.

Trustees of the Huntington Beach Union High School District on Wednesday announced three finalists they are considering for appointment to their board. The district residents still competing to fill the board's vacant seat are: Barbara McDowell, a retired school psychologist; Michael Simons, a pediatrician, and Frank Stoutenburgh, an airline manager. The board chose the finalists after interviewing eight candidates during its meeting Tuesday night. One applicant did not attend the meeting.

Despite pleas and protests from teachers and parents, trustees of the Huntington Beach Union High School District voted to cut about $600,000 from 1995-96 school expenses and to seek another $1.1 million reduction in pay or benefits given to employees. The district's overall budget for next year is about $78 million. The proposed pay or benefits cuts could only be effective if negotiated with employee unions.

Three candidates, including two incumbents, are seeking two open seats on the Huntington Beach Union High School District Board of Trustees. A look at the race: The District Boundaries: Huntington Beach, parts of Fountain Valley and Westminster Enrollment: 13,500 Facilities: Six high schools, one continuation high school, one adult school Trustees: Five The Candidates * Bonnie Bruce Age: 52 Occupation: Early- childhood specialist, business owner.