Nancy Goldberg, president of the School Board, was enjoying a hearty laugh.

Although she has chosen not to run for a second term, as she promised four years ago, she just had learned juicy news.

And if she had pledged to seek reelection, Ms. Goldberg, a retired and hallowed teacher at Culver City High School, doubtless would have declined.

Her own health is not where it should be, and there has been illness in her family.

But a girl can take time out for fun, too.

Informed that there was no limit on donations in School Board campaigns, she exclaimed, “Dear God! Nobody told me that when I was running.”

She laughed so hard she could not continue for a moment.

“I missed the boat. What can I say?”

The subject arose because the City Council is in the midst of wrestling with campaign finance reform, in the process of establishing limits on both cash and in-kind donations to belatedly conform with state law.

However, School Board campaigns do not qualify in this category.

Does she have any regrets.

Still laughing, Ms. Goldberg joked that “I could have had a whole life with the Mafia. I mean, come on.”