“We are thrilled to nominate these stellar candidates to Edison's Board of Directors,” said Chris Whittle, Edison's Founder and CEO. “These new Board nominees—John Balousek, Ronald Fortune, Paul Lincoln, and Lowell Robinson--represent a tremendous move for Edison. Each one of them possesses extraordinary credentials, experience and intelligence.”

Current outside board members who have been nominated for another term on the Board of Directors include: Joan Ganz Cooney, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Sesame Workshop; Reverend Floyd H. Flake, President (Interim), Wilberforce University; and Timothy P. Shriver, President & CEO, Special Olympics, Inc.

Edison executives who have been nominated for another term on the Board of Directors include: H. Christopher Whittle, Founder & Chief Executive Officer; Benno C. Schmidt, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Directors; Christopher D. Cerf, President & Chief Operating Officer; and Charles J. Delaney, Vice Chairman.

These nominations follow some recent changes on the Board. In July 2002, Jeffrey T. Leeds, Jonathan Newcomb and William F. Weld stepped down from the Board in order to consider participating in a financing arrangement with the Company that would cause them to no longer be independent. This financing was subsequently completed. At approximately the same time, Charles J. Delaney joined the Company as vice chairman and thus was no longer an independent director. Leeds, Newcomb and Delaney had comprised the Finance and Audit Committee.

Following are brief biographies of the new nominees to Edison’s Board of Directors:

John B. Balousek John B. Balousek currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Central Garden & Pet Company, Aptimus, Inc., Interland, Inc. and Geoworks Corporation. From 1998 to 1999, Mr. Balousek served as executive vice president and a founder of PhotoAlley.com, a San Francisco-based start-up company providing electronic commerce services. From March 1996 to July 1996, he served as chairman and chief executive officer of True North Technologies, a digital and interactive services company of True North Communications. From 1991 to February 1996, Mr. Balousek served as president, chief operating officer and director of Foote Cone & Belding Communications, Inc. (“FCB”) a global advertising and communications company. From 1979, he served in various positions at FCB, and earlier he worked in brand management at Proctor & Gamble.

Ronald F. Fortune Ronald F. Fortune is the founder of Edumetrics Learning, an early stage startup focused on building educational content for students at schools and home. From 1990 until December 1999, Mr. Fortune was the president and chief executive officer of Computer Curriculum Corporation (“CCC”), an educational software company. Prior to becoming chief executive officer of CCC, he was CCC’s chief operating officer (1988-1990), vice president of sales (1986-1988) and sales representative (1979-1986). He has served as a member of California’s Information Technology Council and as vice president of the Board of Directors for the Software and information Industry Association (formerly Software Publishers Association). Mr. Fortune has served as president of CEO Forum, a Washington, D.C. based organization advocating the use of technology in schools, and is currently a senior advisor to Project Pipeline, a nonprofit teacher recruitment and credentialing institution. He has served as a classroom teacher and as an administrator.

Paul A. Lincoln From April 1995 through November 2002, Paul A. Lincoln served as the director of education for the Essex Local Education Authority (“LEA”), one of the three largest school districts in the United Kingdom with 200,000 students and 580 schools. Mr. Lincoln taught in United Kingdom secondary schools for 19 years before holding a series of posts in the Essex LEA senior management team, including that of deputy director from 1993 until April 1995. Mr. Lincoln has served on various national committees and task forces. His particular education interests and expertise include research in financing, policy and practice, special educational needs and developing education leaders of the future.

Lowell W. Robinson Lowell W. Robinson was senior executive vice president and chief financial officer for HotJobs.com from 2000 to February 2002, when the company was sold to YAHOO Inc. From 1997 until 1999, Mr. Robinson was executive vice president, Global Business Services and chief financial officer of PRT Group Inc. From 1994 until 1997, Mr. Robinson was executive vice president and chief financial officer at ADVO, Inc. Mr. Robinson spent eight years at Citigroup (1986-1993) where he was vice president and chief financial officer for The Traveler’s Managed Care and Employee Benefits Operations from 1991 to 1993; the chief financial officer for Citicorp’s Global Insurance and Capital Investments Divisions from 1988 to 1991; and the controller for Citicorp’s Consumer Services Group—International from 1986-1988. Prior to joining Citigroup, Mr. Robinson was director of finance and operations for Uncle Ben’s Inc., the domestic and international rice subsidiary of Mars, Inc. From 1973 to 1983, Mr. Robinson held senior financial positions at Kraft/General Foods. Mr. Robinson received his master’s of business administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Business and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin.

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