CAL POLY - A Cal Poly business instructor is the first candidate to announce her intention to replace Patricia Andreen on the San Luis Coastal school board.

Marketing and economics lecturer Lisa Simon has announced her intention to run for the seat currently held by Andreen, who is in a November runoff for county supervisor. Andreen's term on the school board expires this year.

Simon volunteers in her children's schools in the district and is a consultant for local businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Two years ago, Simon was appointed by Superintendent Steven Ladd to his advisory committee.

That citizen group explored a series of issues for Ladd, including a parcel tax and a poll to gauge public opinion on the issue. The advisory committee recommended that the district put the notion on hold after the poll indicated there was not enough public support to pass it.

Simon believes her varied experiences in education and business -- as well as volunteering in her children's schools -- provides her a foundation to be a strong board member.

"All of that brings together a package that would help guide the district," she said.

Simon said a couple of the big issues on the horizon for the district include budget troubles and meeting the needs of more students.

After cuts of roughly $10 million since 2000, San Luis Coastal may not have any cuts this year thanks to rising property tax revenues.

Simon would like to see the program for gifted students re-energized and more done for the dozens of students who leave San Luis Obispo High School each year to enroll in Templeton's Independent Study Program.

"I don't believe we're meeting everyone's needs," she said.

Simon earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Brandeis University and a master's in business administration from USC. At Cal Poly, she was named the Outstanding Faculty for Business Administration in the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 school years.

Simon's husband, Ivan, is an English teacher at San Luis Obispo High School.

San Luis Coastal already has two school board members whose wives are long-time employees of the district. Dr. Glenn Oelker's wife is an elementary school counselor, and trustee Chris Ungar's wife is an elementary school teacher.