First of two parts
[img]626|left|Robert Zirgulis||no_popup[/img] If Robert Zirgulis is elected to the School Board three months from Monday night, he means to take the same aggressive, idea-rich approach to Board office that he has to a diverse, adventure-jammed life.
No chairs in the living room of his life.
He scarcely seems to have time to relax.
Although Mr. Zirgulis has lived in Culver City for 25 years, he also has been around the world three times — not just as a tourist. He has stopped, examined, worked, researched, conducted business, studied, learned.
He may be a first-time candidate, but he is wily enough to know that the lifeblood of a newcomer is planting and keeping his name before the eyes of the public, especially those who never have heard of or do not know how to pronounce his Lithuanian name, ZEER-goo-liss.
Will Rivals Accept?
He promises to issue what is a creative, daunting and perhaps unprecedented challenge to his rivals in the race — who have until Aug. 7 to sign up for the three open seats. More about that in a moment.
He knows the domestic side of life, too, having raised three children by himself.
He holds unvarnished views about political correctness and indoctrination of personal views by teachers.
A graduate of Santa Monica High School, where he was a high-volume activist just as political students were becoming fashionable, he has been a substitute teacher in the School District for the past two years.
He has formed crisp views culled from his detailed observations.
As he has wended from campus to campus, he has made copious mental notes about what is right and about what is acutely in need of muscular reform and reconfiguration.
It does not hurt Mr. Zirgulis’s candidacy that he looks like what he says.
He is husky, full-faced and open-faced, as friendly as a family member, all beneath a fulsome shock of gray hair casually divided in the center.
Shy is for other people.
He is the antithesis of a man who will cower in the corner until he verifies the direction of the wind.
His steely and unerring eyes attest to his honesty and authenticity.
No Time to Wait
He will not be wasting time as a School Board member rocking back and practicing chin-stroking. He vows he will be there to work and improve the District.
“One of the reasons I am going into this race is to shake up the School Board,” he told the newspaper. He names names. Mr. Zirgulis accuses Board member Steve Gourley of being “anti-business,” a conviction he repeated, which he believes has been an impediment for the District.
“Being a substitute teacher,” he goes on, “I have had an opportunity to meet every one of the students in the Culver City school system. I have met some of the candidates’ children. And they are all fine kids.
“But, as a substitute teacher, I have a better perspective (than other candidates) because I have been to every school. I have seen what is going on. I know what needs to be fixed.
“I have basically taught virtually all of the students during the last two years.
“One of the first things I am going to do if elected is, I am going to resign as a substitute teacher. I will volunteer, for free, to be a substitute teacher.
“I will call on all of the candidates — if elected — to volunteer as substitute teachers, to save the School District money. That way, they will have a real perspective of what is going on.”
How does Mr. Zirgulis expect the field —currently Alan Elmont, Roger Maxwell, Kathy Paspalis and Karlo Silbiger — to respond? “I would hope, if they really care about the schools and want to see something, that they will say ‘why not?’ What is wrong with donating some time?
“Before they cut and fire teachers, they should volunteer to help the schools by making a symbolic gesture, saving the School District money and volunteering. All they have to do is pass the Cbest test. If they can’t pass the Cbest test, they are not qualified for anything.”
As you can see, the next 90 days should spawn very frisky campaigning.
A year ago at this time, Mr. Zirgulis most recently was in the news.
He was a strong voice during the torrid, summer-long dispute between an oil drilling company, PXP, and the community over expanding PXP’s reach in the Inglewood Oil Field.
Says Mr. Zirgulis:
“I was part of a group that said we would not be having budget shortfalls in the School District if we were getting royalties from the oil wells. Our feeling was:
“Drill here. Drill now.
“Instead of sending millions or billions of dollars to corrupt oil potentates in the Middle East, why don’t we use our resources here? When the case went before the Board of Supervisors, I probablywas the only one who read the whole environmental impact report,” even though the outcome of the case did not suit Mr. Zirgulis and his fellow advocates.
(To be continued)
